Info

Work with a 3 Star hotel that caters for business people and tourists. Have opportunities to work in various departments - front office, housekeeping, food & beverage service and production.

A Hospitality Work Experience internship is an excellent way to observe experts in your field and learn how they work in India. The experience you gain will be an excellent entry on your CV or Résumé as well as being invaluable to you in the future. No qualifications are required.

Our Hospitality Work Experience placement is based in the delightful bustling city of Madurai in the southern state of Tamil Nadu.

PROJECT OVERVIEW
Our Hospitality Work Experience placement will give you a fantastic insight into the workings of a hotel in a different country. We work with a 3 star property that strives to provide rooms that are clean and comfortable, with friendly attentive service at a value conscious price. They endeavour to combine international standards of efficiency with the traditional Indian hospitality.

The hotel has brilliant facilities, including 85 air-conditioned rooms, a Health club, a Foreign Currency Exchange, Banqueting halls, and Wi-Fi facilities. There is also a multi-cuisine restaurant that offers a variety of culinary delights from Continental, Indian and Chinese cuisines. They also have a bar offering cocktails, mocktails and bar snacks!

Dependent on your experience and your area of interest you can work in one, or all of the following departments:

-Front Office

-House Keeping

-Food and Beverage Production (a diploma in Catering is required to work in this department as they have strict food preparation and hygiene levels to adhere to)

-Food and Beverage Service

Generally, you will be given an all round experience, with your time shared between the departments. You'll be able to choose if you wish to work on Saturdays, as this is the busiest day of the week. You can discuss this in the detailed induction you will be given on arrival at the hotel, in which you'll also be informed of the hotel rules and will have the opportunity to express any special interests you have so that the hotel can tailor make your volunteering experience to incorporate these!

WHAT YOU'LL GAIN FROM DOING THIS PROJECT:

*An exciting, never-to-be-forgotten adventure into beautiful India and it's fascinating culture.
*New skills, more confidence, a greater understanding of a different culture, invaluable personal and professional development.
*An entry on your CV or résumé that will put you head and shoulders above most others in the job market
*And best of all ... an unforgettable experience!

WORK CONTENT
Your time will usually be divided between the three main departments: Front Office, House Keeping and Food and Beverage Service. If you are qualified, you can also spend time working in the Food and Beverage Production department. These departments revolve around shift work, but you will not be required to work an entire shift. All of the staff are very friendly and helpful and they will make you feel extremely welcome.

Where you spend the majority of your time will depend very much on what you’d like to get out of your placement and in your area of interest in hospitality. Once we know what you want maximum exposure to, as well as the kind of experience you want to gain most, we'll arrange for you to be placed in the most suitable institution. We want to ensure that you gain the maximum benefit and experience from your placement.

Please contact us if you have a particular area that you would like to gain experience in that is not listed here and we will do our best to arrange an appropriate placement for you.

FRONT OFFICE
The duties that are included in a Front Office position consist of (to name a few): receiving guests, briefing the guests about the facilities in their rooms and in the hotel, maintaining the Check in Check out Register, attending phone calls and describing weekend trips and local sight seeing trips to Guests.

Front Office staff have two shift times: From 7am - 4pm and from 2pm - 11pm.

HOUSEKEEPING
The duties of the House Keeping staff include: servicing rooms, collating data to know which rooms must be serviced and when to service the rooms as a 'stay' or as a 'departure,' general upkeep of the hotel, arranging flowers in all areas of the hotel, helping with laundry services, checking in and checking out services, handling of guests valuables and other belongings.

Housekeepers have two shift times: From 7am - 4pm and from 2pm - 9pm.

FOOD AND BEVERAGE (F&B) SERVICE
The hotel has both buffet and a la carte menus. The duties of the food and beverage service staff include: setting the tables, preparing the buffet lunch and dinner table, banquet booking, arranging conferences and working in the bar.

The F&B Service staff also work in shifts, with two shifts from 7am - 4pm and from 2pm - 11pm daily.

FOOD AND BEVERAGE PRODUCTION
All food preparations are dependent on the shift. If you wish to work in the food and beverage production department you must have a diploma in Catering. This is because they maintain the highest standards of quality and hygiene at the hotel.

The F&B Production department also works by the same shift pattern as the other departments, from 7am - 4pm and from 2pm - 11pm. You will not be required to work an entire shift.

Requirements: You do not need any qualifications to apply for a hospitality placement. We do ask however that you are enthusiastic, self motivated and confident in working both alone and as part of a team. Ideally you should have an interest in the area of hospitality that you’d like to work in, or be studying towards. If you wish to work in the Food and Beverage Production department you will require a diploma in Catering.

Please contact us if you have a particular area that you would like to gain experience in that is not listed here and we will do our best to arrange an appropriate placement for you.

ADDITIONAL ACTIVITIES YOU CAN DO WHILE ON THIS PROJECT:

1-Week Intensive Tamil Language Course prior to starting your project. Learning a little Tamil will enhance your time in India immeasurably, as you’ll find out things about the culture and the way of life that someone without language skills simply wouldn’t have access to!

Tamil Language Lessons with a private tutor taken at the same time as your main project. Courses range in length to suit your needs.

Yoga and Meditation Lessons: You have the choice of combining the two or focussing on Yoga on its own. These courses vary in length to be done as an optional extra to your main project. Start the day with yoga and meditation – it’ll set you up for the day!

Cookery Courses: Cooking is an institution in India. If you’d like to learn how to cook some of the mouth-watering dishes this is the perfect way to do it; you’ll be able to choose from an extensive choice of recipes, visit the market to purchase the fresh produce and then learn how to cook the south Indian style food with your own private chef! Again, this activity runs concurrently with your main project.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
ACCOMMODATION AND LIVING IN INDIA:
Your accommodation could comprise of either staying with a host family or living in a Travellers flat. In either accommodation you may share a room with another Travellers volunteer. The accommodation you’ll be allocated to will depend on which project you’re doing and the number of volunteers there at the same time as you. However, if you have a preference for either a host family or staying in a flat, we will do our best to accommodate you.

Host Family
For a complete Indian experience we can arrange for you to stay with one of wonderful host families. All of our hosts are very welcoming and not only will be made to feel part of the family you’ll also gain a great insight into Indian culture and customs. Many of our volunteers remain friends with their host families long after they leave India and in some cases they return to the country later especially to visit their family.

You may share a room with one other volunteer; and you may have an en-suite western style bathroom. Most of the showers in our host accommodation are cold water only – however your hosts will boil water for you.

All of our host family houses are close together and just a few minutes’ walk away from internet cafes, banks and snack shops and just a short auto ride into the centre of town. Our staff in Madurai also lives close-by.

All your meals will be provided and prepared for you by the family and it is mainly local fare allowing you to taste a varied selection of delicious south Indian dishes and exotic fruits. You'll also have access to the kitchen if you want to make snacks or drinks.

Volunteer Flat
Our volunteer flat is situated close to all our host families. This option gives you the chance to live within the local community whilst at the same time retaining your independence. This newly built flat is very modern, spacious, light and airy. It has a well kitted out kitchen and large lounge area with satellite TV, DVD and a good selection of DVDs for your entertainment. DVD’s however are extremely cheap to buy in the market at Rs 20 each! There is also a small balcony on which to relax with a cool drink and a book and gets a wonderfully refreshing evening breeze to keep you cool!

You will be provided with a food budget giving you the option to either cook for yourself or sample the local restaurants. Eating out is extremely cheap in Madurai. Opposite the flat is a tasty vegetarian restaurant with excellent south Indian Thali’s and Dosa’s. There is a supermarket just outside the flat selling everything from groceries to clothes and a meat shop below where non vegetarians can stock up on sausages! Many of the hotels in town have roof top restaurants offering incredible views across the town with the dramatic Sri Meenakshi Temple silhouetted on the skyline. Most restaurants are good quality and you can sample north as well as south Indian dishes along with a small selection of western food. Vegetarian food is in abundance! Bakeries and snack shops are on every street and be sure to try the delicious fruit; there is so much choice; mango, pineapple, water melon, custard apples and jack fruit make a very refreshing option and coconut water is also delicious!

To read about the extensive Support & Backup we provide in our countries, please click here.

TRAVEL, VISAS, plus SUPPORT & BACKUP:
You will fly into Madurai where you will be met by a representative from our India office. You'll be taken to your accommodation and introduced to the other volunteers before starting your placement.

You have the option to arrange your own flights or we can assist you with your flight arrangements. If you would like us to do this for you, we will liaise with you regarding available flights and dates to suit you. All arrangements for your flight bookings/payments will be fulfilled by Murray Rogers Travel Limited, ATOL No. 6856. Where possible, we arrange for two or more people to travel on the same flight and we will let you have the names and telephone numbers of other volunteers on your flight, so that you can chat to each other or even meet up before leaving for your placement.

Where possible, all flights we arrange for you have changeable return tickets because many of our volunteers choose to extend their stay once they are in their destination country. Changeable return tickets enable you to do so, within the limits of your visa and the level of your air ticket, of course. If you choose to book your own flights, you should endeavour to get a changeable ticket.

VISAS:. We'll send you all the necessary forms and information and make the process very easy for you.

To read about the excellent Support & Backup we provide before you leave and during your programme, please click here.

We can also arrange your flight dates to give you additional time at the end of your project for travelling around and sightseeing - this is a fascinating and wondrous country!

Duration

Minimum stay 2 weeks and up to 1 year, subject to visa requirements.

Start Dates

All year round - you choose your start and finish dates! Our placements are flexible and can be tailored to match your preferences. For availability please contact the office.

Costs / Benefits

Costs vary depending on length of placement, but starts at £875 for two weeks.

Included is full support from the moment of booking and throughout your placement to your return home. There are support staff 24/7 in all our destinations worldwide and a 24 hour emergency international telephone line direct to the Head Office. All meals are provided, unless otherwise stated. Accommodation is provided (whether a rented house, a hotel/hostel, homestay, apartment or flat).

You’ll be met at the nearest airport on your arrival by our in-country manager who will take you to your accommodation and give you a full induction into the area. He/she will also be on call 24/7 and you’ll see them frequently.

Pre-departure you’ll receive comprehensive information about every aspect of your placement and necessary preparations, ranging from what to pack, to visa information, to what to do on your weekend travel in the country. Your safety, well being and happiness throughout your placement are our primary concerns and we will keep in touch with you throughout. International flights not included.

Requirements

No qualifications required - just a good dose of enthusiasm and an interest in hospitality (although if you want to work in the Food and Beverage Production Department you will need a diploma in Catering) All our projects are open to all nationalities. Unless otherwise stated, you need to be aged between 17 and 70+