Kristen Oliszewicz

Recreation and Tourism Major
University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana
Summer 2009 intern

"My summer internship at Hostelling International Chicago was a wonderful experience because of the people I met and the work responsibilities I was given.  The staff was friendly and welcoming.  Living with other interns in the hostel was a great way to meet new people and find out about things giong on in the city.  As a Public Relations Intern, I had legitimate responsibilities such as conducting focus groups, contacting governmental officials, and planning a fundraising event.  My supervisor ensured that I was continuously learning and was able to accommodate my school's requirements so that I received credit for the internship.  HI-Chicago exceeded all of my expectations."

Sales & Marketing

"Interning at Hostelling International was one of the best experiences I ever had. I learned so much about marketing that I never could have learned anywhere else. This was due to the size of the organization and HI's key position in the tourism industry for Chicago.

The size of the organization allowed me to learn about a wide range of areas such as basic analysis, reports, and customer service. I also was able to make a difference by attending and participating in staff and marketing meetings.

HI's key position in the tourism industry also let me see an aspect of Chicago that I would not have seen anywhere else. Since a main part of marketing is making contacts, I was able to attend numerous events that were the highlight of my internship. Attending these events gave me the confidence to build relationships with strangers and to see how they can become beneficial for the organization."

"Interning at HI-Chicago was an exceptional experience. Working specifically with the Cultural Kitchen program provided opportunities to help inspire a global perspective in youth. It was great to encourage students to broaden their world view and see them get excited about learning about other cultures and traveling in the US and abroad. HI-Chicago is an exciting and dynamic environment!"