Factors affecting hotel interns’ satisfaction with internship experience and career intention in China

Abstract

Abstract Hotel interns satisfaction with the internship may play a significant role in determining their intention to develop a career in the hospitality industry. Factors that affect hotel interns satisfaction and career intention are thus important to be identified in linking hospitality education to industry human resource needs. This study aims to identify the key factors that affect job satisfaction and career intention of hotel interns in China. Data were collected through a survey on hospitality management students in three Chinese universities. Factor analysis identified seven factors that influence students satisfaction with internship experience and their career intention; these include internship achievements, mentorship and assessment, interpersonal relationships, compensation, hotel features, hotel internship programming, and curriculum requirements. Regression results indicated that internship achievements, curriculum requirements, hotel internship programming, and mentorship and assessment significantly influenced interns’ satisfaction with internship experience, while curriculum requirements, interpersonal relationships, and internship achievements significantly affected career intention. The study provides empirical insights to guide hotel internship program design and practices.