internships

intern perks

Mentorship & Networking

Resort Discounts

Health Club Access

FAQS

Does Grand Traverse Resort and Spa provide housing?
Answer: Grand Traverse Resort and Spa does not provide onsite housing. We will do our best to assist students in finding affordable housing in the Traverse City area, however it is ultimately the responsibility of the student to secure their own housing.

Are internships paid?
Answer: All of the internship positions at Grand Traverse Resort and Spa are paid.

Is there an opportunity for growth and full time employment once the internship program is completed?
Answer: Yes! Many of our interns have stayed on with the organization or returned in a full time role once they have graduated from school.

What does an intern’s schedule look like?
Answer: Each intern’s schedule will differ depending on the position they have been hired for. We are a resort property, meaning we are open 24/7, 365 days a year. Some positions work primarily on weekdays, while other’s busiest times may be during the weekends. With most positions, interns can expect to work a full 40 hours each week.

How many interns are admitted to the program each season?
Answer: Our intern classes tend to be 18-24 students on average.

Does an internship have to be required for my degree to be eligible for the program?
Answer: Yes. All interns admitted to the program must NEED an internship to fulfill their graduation requirements.

What are the dates of the internship program?
Answer: Specific program dates vary each year due to changing school schedules and other factors, but the general expectation for the program is to start early to mid-May and end mid-August.

program perks

All interns will receive the following perks:

Mentorship/networking opportunities with our Executive Committee team members, as well as your fellow interns
Group projects involving event planning and resort property management
Special intern outings throughout the summer
25% off at our food and beverage outlets
30% off at our retail shops
30% off services and retail items at Spa Grand Traverse
Access to our Health Club facility and fitness classes at a discounted rate
Access to our golf courses and lessons at our Golf Academy at a discounted rate\
Eligible for $55++/night discounted room rate (can also be used for friends/family)
Eligible for room rate discounts at participating hotels in Michigan

how to apply

To apply for an internship position, please visit our careers page at grandtraverseresort.com/careers. Here, you will be able to view all available internship positions. Please apply for any internship position that interests you (you can apply for multiple positions). From there, your application will be reviewed by the hiring managers and you will be contacted via email or phone if the managers would like to set up an interview. If you have any questions, please contact the Human Resources office at 231-634-6502 or [email protected]

barefoot podcast

Grand Traverse Resort and Spa is fortunate to bring on a summer intern class every year. This hands-on, paid experience gives college students a front row seat to what it is like working in the hospitality industry. From the front desk and housekeeping to golf operations, food & beverage, marketing, and engineering, there is an opportunity for everyone. Hear from five of our 2021 interns about what their summer was like working and learning at Grand Traverse Resort and Spa.

What our interns have to say

how it works

Once you have been accepted into the Internship Program, you will receive a welcome gift to help prepare you for the fun-filled and challenging experience that a Grand Traverse Resort and Spa internship offers! When you arrive to beautiful Traverse City, Michigan, you will quickly see why we are a top tourist location in Michigan. You will have time to explore an abundance of beaches, trails, wineries, breweries, and much more! Grand Traverse Resort and Spa works hard to create a program that is more than just a summer job. Throughout our program, you are able to get your feet wet in a couple different areas of the hospitality industry.

We'll start your summer off right with a New Hire Celebration designed to introduce you to your fellow interns and company culture and traditions. Afterward, our interns will take part in an outing where they’ll get a chance to meet with Resort leadership. These mentor opportunities will continue throughout the internship program, as we will occasionally have members of our Executive Team speak with our intern class during our intern luncheons. Once the internship kicks off, you will be introduced to your first team project. Grand Traverse Resort and Spa has teamed up with Cesim: Business Simulation Games to give you and your team the chance to operate your very own resort & restaurant property. This project gives students more insight into how and why decisions are made, as well as how they affect the bigger picture. The Cesim simulation will run the course of six weeks and will consist of weekly meetings where you will get to see how your property compares with the properties of other intern teams! Week 6 will tell us who's team will earn bragging rights for the remainder of the summer program!

After wrapping up the simulation portion of the program, we will move into the next stage of the internship – Event Planning. This project can be done independently or in groups. For this project, interns are expected to plan, market, and execute an event of their choosing! Employees at Grand Traverse Resort and Spa are welcome to join several different employee committees - Employee Appreciation Committee, Wellness Committee, Green Committee, Impact Committee, and Safety Committee. Interns are more than welcome to team up with one of these committees to host an event or they can choose to create a new event on their own. As mentioned, interns are able to team up with each other for their event or complete this event portion individually.

Finally, we will wrap up the program with intern presentations and a graduation reception! This is your chance to show off what you've accomplished this summer, whether it's a deeper dive into one of the special events you helped plan, a critique of your department or training program, or just an overview of your experience. Just like the event portion of the program, this can be an independent or group presentation. Once we finish the presentations, we'll sit down to a graduation feast, present you with your certificate of completion, and send you off in style!

What our interns are saying

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I have loved taking advantage of all the great opportunities the resort offers like golf, health club access, and much more.

Will Ciske

Food & Beverage Intern

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If you are going to pursue an internship at GTRS, make sure that you set high expectations for yourself and your managers. The staff here really want to help you succeed, so make sure that you aren't afraid to ask questions or ask to learn new things.

Emma Franklin

"I Do" Shop Intern

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The resort offers many opportunities to shadow different departments so even if the exact position you were hoping to get isn't available, I still recommend applying for a different position. The resort is also in a great location so after work and on days off there is always something fun you can do!

Symantha Clark

Retail Intern

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My biggest takeaway is that teamwork is essential. A resort cannot run without all hands-on deck... I also learned that housekeeping is truly the backbone of GTRS.l

Riley Salowich

Housekeeping Intern

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My biggest takeaway from my experience here at GTRS is just how much I have learned about enhancing the guest's experience. From making guests feel heard to perfecting even the smallest of details. Overall, I have gained confidence in my execution of enhancing the guest's experience.

Clare Sanshie

Health Club Intern

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If you get the opportunity to work as an intern at GTRS, take it. There haven't been many places where I can say it was fun inside and outside of work. As far as advice, be ready to be pushed and remember to have fun.

Collin Brickner

Lobby Ambassador Intern

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The atmosphere at the resort is very friendly and is like a family. If you work hard and put your best foot forward you will make lots of friends and memories!