Alumna Olivia Burke's Global Journey in Hospitality

“Working in hotels and helping to make a vacation special for even just one person is so fulfilling to me, because it means that I was a part of helping to create that lifelong memory and to bring a smile to people's faces,” said Olivia Burke, a Dedman College of Hospitality alumna, when describing her passion for hospitality. Taking tastes of Northwest Florida with her to her journey at Dedman, Burke has immersed herself in a lot of cultures.

Growing up amid the beaches and hotels of Panama City Beach, Florida, Burke was destined to become a standout within the industry. Many of her summers were spent working at hotels owned by her mom’s side of the family. Talking to guests and witnessing behind-the-scenes operations sparked a special place in her heart. Soon enough, an annual summer job turned into a passion when Burke discovered Dedman.

While she had background knowledge, Olivia credits her professors and classes for shaping her career even more. One of her favorite courses, International Protocol and Service, taught by Dr. Kimberly Harris, became a turning point.

“It was the first time that I really got to learn about the hospitality of other cultures and what that looks like on an in-depth view, and it truly sparked my desire to work abroad, to take part in another culture and learn about how they serve,” Burke expressed.

Burke graduated from the Dedman College of Hospitality with her bachelor’s in hospitality and tourism management in 2022. Although she had originally secured an internship in the Bahamas, the misfortune of the COVID-19 pandemic had other plans and her first overseas experience was cancelled. International internships are one of the greatest opportunities Dedman offers for students like Burke. She began to pursue her master’s in hospitality entrepreneurship in 2023, the same year that the New Zealand internship started. Upon stumbling across an Instagram post, Burke applied.

Before she knew it, Burke had taken her passion abroad and extended her six-month internship contract. The Crown Plaza in Auckland soon became her new home for the next year. Living in New Zealand’s largest city granted her with even greater memories and growth. She explored new streets, new people, and even a love for a new sport (as the New Zealanders’ national sport of rugby assimilated its way to Burke’s heart). One of her most memorable moments was assisting the Reservations Manager with room blocks, bookings, and talking to the Springboks, South Africa’s national rugby team.

Beyond new hobbies, this internship molded Burke professionally. Getting hands-on experience in different positions of the industry is every college student’s goal. She started as a front desk agent but quickly expanded her roles by asking to learn more. Burke immersed herself by rotating from front desk, reservations, night audit to even food and beverage. Furthermore, honing her confidence and troubleshooting skills when helping guests from around the world.

“I became more confident in speaking up for myself and asking to be taught new things that I might not have gotten the opportunity to learn otherwise,” Burke said.

The Crown Plaza is a hotspot for gaining a global perspective in hospitality. The contrasting influences of Eastern traditions pushed Burke to explore a new culture of hotel management. She became more attentive and proactive when meeting the diverse needs of each guest. Her experience in New Zealand Burke broadened her horizons, and she encourages every Dedman student to take advantage of these international opportunities.

“There is no easier way to help someone else than to actually be able to put yourself in their shoes. I learned so much during my working hours of the internship, but I learned just as much, if not more, as being a traveler in a foreign country far away from home.”

“There is no easier way to help someone else than to actually be able to put yourself in their shoes. I learned so much during my working hours of the internship, but I learned just as much, if not more, as being a traveler in a foreign country far away from home.”

This decision clearly paid off for Burke after graduating from her master’s. Today, she is part of Marriott’s Voyage Program in Charlotte, North Carolina, learning the management side of a full-service hotel. She plans to take this experience to her future endeavors. After completing the elite program, Burke aspires to continue as an Operations Manager within Marriott for a few years before returning home to help run her family’s hotels in Panama City Beach.

Check out more pictures from Burke's trip to New Zealand on our Instagram.