As a graduate student in hospitality management, I have always believed that the most valuable learning experiences happen outside the classroom. My name is Emma Vitasse, and I am currently pursuing my graduate studies at Florida International University’s Chaplin School of Hospitality & Tourism Management. Having previously worked in different sectors of the hospitality industry including restaurants, hotels, cruise operations, and events across France, Thailand, Australia, and the United States; I chose to participate in the FIU Study Abroad program because I wanted to gain deeper insight into resort operations and experience management in a global hospitality environment.
What particularly drew me to this program was the opportunity to observe how a large-scale all-inclusive resort operates behind the scenes. Resorts such as Beaches manage complex operations involving multiple departments, thousands of daily guest interactions, and a wide variety of services that must work seamlessly together. Being able to see how leadership teams coordinate these operations while maintaining a high level of service quality is an incredible learning opportunity for someone interested in hospitality leadership.
One of the aspects I am most excited to explore during this program is customer service and experience management. In hospitality, service is not simply about meeting expectations; it is about anticipating guest needs and creating memorable experiences. I hope to learn more about how teams at Beaches design guest experiences intentionally, from front-of-house interactions to entertainment programming and behind-the-scenes operations. Understanding how service systems are structured, how employees are trained, and how leadership supports service excellence will be extremely valuable for my professional development.
One personal and professional goal I hope to achieve during this trip is to strengthen my understanding of large-scale entertainment and guest engagement operations. My long-term career goal is to work in the entertainment and live events industry, ideally as a tour manager for artists or performers. In that role, creating exceptional experiences for audiences requires strong coordination, leadership, and operational planning; skills that are also essential in hospitality. Observing how a resort entertainment team organizes shows, activities, and guest engagement initiatives will provide valuable insights that translate directly into the live events environment.
During the program, one question I would like to ask a Beaches leader is how they maintain a strong team culture in such a large and dynamic organization. From what we have already learned about the company, it seems that Beaches places significant emphasis on employee support, professional development, and workplace culture. Understanding how leadership fosters this environment while maintaining operational efficiency would be extremely valuable from a management perspective.
For me, participating in this study abroad program means approaching the experience as a professional rather than a tourist. While enjoying the destination is certainly part of the experience, my primary focus is observing operations, learning from industry leaders, and gaining practical insight that can help shape my future career in hospitality and entertainment.
By the end of this trip, I hope to have developed a deeper understanding of how large hospitality organizations deliver exceptional guest experiences while managing complex operational systems. Most importantly, I hope to leave with new perspectives on leadership, service excellence, and global hospitality practices that will help guide my professional journey.