Teens across the country are getting a head start on the next chapter of their lives thanks to a unique internship program. Every summer, participating IHG® Army Hotels offer the Teen Academy summer job and internship program for dependents of their colleagues. It’s an opportunity for them to learn about the hospitality industry and to develop a strong work ethic—all while getting paid. In addition, it provides valuable supplemental labor for hotels which need it during the summer months while building a future workforce.
Each participant receives training on several positions including housekeeper, house person, laundry assistant, breakfast attendant, maintenance* and front desk*. The summer program also includes a community service component so interns can help the local communities.
This year, the Teen Academy program was extended to dependents of military personnel who live and/or work in that post; a much-needed enhancement in locations where there was no availability of IHG Army Hotels dependents.
Since the program launched in 2016, several graduates have begun careers in the hospitality industry while others have excelled in post-secondary education. This year, three Teen Academy participants were awarded the Steve Porter Memorial Scholarship by IHG Hotels & Resorts. Established in 2010 by IHG, the scholarship honors the memory of Steve Porter, who served as President of IHG Americas from 2002 to mid-2008. It is awarded annually to children of IHG colleagues working in hotels, reservations centers and corporate offices. For more information, visit https://learnmore.scholarsapply.org/ihg/
Special congratulations to these Teen Academy alumni:
- Ava Mendoza, child of Kailey Mendoza, GM, IHG Army Hotels on Fort Bliss
- Faith Rudolph, child of Trudy Rudolph, Housekeeping Manager, IHG Army Hotels on Fort Benning
- Damien Zawatski, child of Christy Zawatski, GM, IHG Army Hotels on Fort Drum
“It was a wonderful experience,” said winner Damien Zawatski, who will be attending St. John Fisher University in the Fall. “I participated in Teen Academy for two summers and learned valuable skills and now have been blessed with a scholarship that will help offset some financial burden that will help me focus on my studies.”
The Teen Academy is a part of the greater IHG Academy, which helps local residents develop skills and find employment opportunities in one of the world’s largest hotel companies. A core pillar of their Corporate Responsibility strategy, the IHG Academy helps build sustainable communities around IHG hotels worldwide.
For more information on IHG’s work outreach programs, visit IHGAcademy.com.
*Certain positions have age and supervisory restrictions.
Lendlease is the owner, design-builder, asset manager, and the exclusive developer for the Privatization of Army Lodging (PAL) portfolio, the Department of Defense’s only lodging privatization program. IHG Hotels & Resorts is the hotel operator and manager of IHG Army Hotels.
