Intern

Highgate is a leading real estate investment and hospitality management company with over $15 billion of assets under management and a global portfolio of more than 400 hotels spanning North America, Europe, the Caribbean, and Latin America.

With a 30-year track record as an innovator in the hospitality industry, this forward-thinking company provides expert guidance through all stages of the property cycle, from planning and development through recapitalization or disposition. Highgate continues to demonstrate success in developing a diverse portfolio of bespoke lifestyle hotel brands, legacy brands, and independent hotels and resorts, featuring contemporary programming and digital acumen. The company utilizes industry-leading revenue management tools that efficiently identify and predict evolving market dynamics to drive outperformance and maximize asset value.

With an executive team of seasoned hospitality leaders and corporate offices worldwide, Highgate is a trusted partner for top ownership groups and major hotel brands. www.highgate.com

Located in historic Old Town, Southernmost Beach Resort expands over 6 acres on a serene part of the island with Atlantic Ocean front views, gorgeous Key West architecture, and all the amenities you desire in a beach resort. Just a short walk or bike ride from Key West's boutique shops, art galleries, eclectic restaurants, and non-stop nightlife, the resort spans over two city blocks and offers guest rooms that are located within easy reach of both the beach and world-famous Duval Street.

The Hotel Operations Intern will gain hands-on exposure to the daily operations of a hotel, with rotations through key departments such as Front Office, Housekeeping, Food & Beverage, Engineering, Sales, Finance, and Human Resources. This internship is designed for students or recent graduates interested in building a career in hospitality operations and hotel leadership.

The intern will work alongside hotel leaders and department teams to better understand how each area contributes to the guest experience, associate engagement, financial performance, and overall success of the hotel.

Participate in a structured rotation through hotel operating departments, including Front Office, Housekeeping, Food & Beverage, and other key areas as assigned.
• Shadow department leaders to learn daily operating procedures, service standards, staffing models, and guest service expectations.
• Assist with front desk operations, guest check-in/check-out, service recovery, guest requests, and lobby engagement.
• Support Housekeeping leadership with room inspection processes, room readiness tracking, inventory control, and coordination with the Front Office.
• Assist Food & Beverage teams with restaurant, banquet, bar, or event operations, depending on hotel offerings.
• Learn how Engineering and Maintenance support guest satisfaction, safety, preventive maintenance, and property upkeep.
• Attend operational meetings, pre-shift meetings, standups, and leadership check-ins where appropriate.
• Support special projects related to guest satisfaction, associate engagement, operational efficiency, revenue opportunities, or process improvement.
• Review hotel performance indicators, including guest satisfaction scores, occupancy, service trends, labor productivity, and financial basics.
• Assist with administrative tasks, reporting, scheduling support, and communication between departments.
• Demonstrate a warm, professional, and service-focused attitude with guests, associates, and leadership.
• Follow all hotel policies, brand standards, safety procedures, confidentiality expectations, and grooming standards.

• Currently enrolled in, or recently graduated from, a hospitality, business, tourism, culinary, or related degree program preferred.
• Strong interest in hotel operations, hospitality leadership, guest service, and career growth within the hotel industry.
• Previous hotel, restaurant, customer service, retail, or campus leadership experience is a plus.
• Excellent communication, interpersonal, and organizational skills.
• Professional demeanor with a positive attitude and willingness to learn.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced, guest-facing environment.
• Flexible schedule, including the ability to work mornings, evenings, weekends, and holidays as needed.
• Basic proficiency in Microsoft Office, including Outlook, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
• Ability to stand, walk, and move throughout the property for extended periods of time.