Location: Wuxi, China
Hotel: Intercontinental Wuxi Taihu New City
Skills: Hospitality service | Event coordination | Cross-cultural communication | Luxury standards
Eliot Hoff poses for a photo with his colleagues in Wuxi. [Photo provided to wuxi.gov.cn]
What is it like to be a Management Trainee in a luxury hotel in China? In a word: transformative.
After a semester of university exchange, I had the chance to extend my stay in China by joining the Intercontinental Wuxi Taihu New City as a Management Trainee. This experience has been deeply meaningful on both a personal and professional level.
I returned to France with lasting friendships, real-world experience, and a B1 level in Mandarin, developed through daily interaction and practice.
On the professional side, I completed a full rotation through the hotel's key departments: front desk, concierge, F&B (restaurant & bar), housekeeping, and marketing. I was trained to meet the high standards of luxury hospitality — including:
Aesthetics: Neat presentation, impeccable uniform
Attitude: Positivity, service mindset, professional conduct
Operations: Table setting, coffee service, club lounge procedures, housekeeping protocols
Eliot Hoff poses for a photo with his colleagues in Wuxi. [Photo provided to wuxi.gov.cn]
I also contributed to the planning and execution of major summits, events, and high-level meetings, hosting several hundred guests — ensuring smooth coordination and top-tier service.
My role extended far beyond day-to-day service. I actively supported cross-departmental functions in communication, guest relations, and internal coordination. As a Management Trainee, I made it a point to stay visible, adaptable, and engaged across all departments, learning from each team and preparing for a future leadership role in the global hospitality industry.
A heartfelt thank you to everyone who made this experience so special — especially my Chinese colleagues and friends who helped me grow every day.
I highly recommend this internship to anyone seeking a meaningful professional and cultural adventure. The hotel is currently looking for new trainees — feel free to reach out if you're interested!
The author is a French student at NEOMA Business School in Reims, France.
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