Abstract:

The School of Tourism and Hospitality (ESHT), Polytechnic Institute of Porto (P.Porto) undergraduate hotel management and restaurant and catering management students are required to complete an 800-hour work placement program in the private sector during one semester of their academic cycle, for which they will receive 30 ECTS. The student, ESHT's representative, and the representative of the host entity sign a "Student Placement Programme Agreement" that outlines the work placement terms. An ESHT teaching staff member and a hotel supervisor are directly responsible for evaluating the written report submitted at the conclusion of the program and the trainee's performance, correspondingly.
The purpose of our study is to examine the students’ perspectives and expectations concerning the internal marketing of the company where they are interning, evaluating the way the company receives and integrates them. It also aims to determine whether the implementation of some particular Internal Marketing components in the Hotel Industry actually adds to strategic advantages, taking into account the trainees' pleasure and motivation and how that is manifested in superior customer service. As results, we intend to offer information and tools for hospitality managers working with trainees, and our goal is to bring a fresh perspective on IM in hospitality services. In order to do this, our research explores how IM may empower trainees in their work and how IM can affect trainees' motivation and satisfaction. We firmly believe that important ramifications for hospitality managers will be emphasized, and managers will consider the worth of their trainees/potential employees under a new light. In order to gain first-hand perspectives from people working as trainees (as part of their degree program), we will gather primary data through questionnaires and interviews, as part of our methodology.
We think the results will clearly show internal marketing can help organizations attract, engage, and retain top talent, leading to better managerial outcomes and improved human resources approaches for both the interns and the organization.

Keywords:

Internal marketing, internship, students' expectations, quality of service.