Georgia Coast Travel Association Holds Meeting at the College

The Georgia Coast Travel Association (GCTA) had a meeting at the College of Coastal Georgia on Jan. 13 to discuss academic partnerships and student internship opportunities. GCTA is a non-profit organization representing the Georgia Coast. The Association acts on behalf of 11 coastal county regions with members such as museums, businesses, historical societies, colleges and universities, hotels, restaurants, recreational activities, and more.

Dr. Tyra Warner, Chair of the Department of Hospitality, Tourism, and Culinary Arts and Assistant Professor of Hospitality and Tourism, helped host the meeting. She also participated in a panel discussion with John Salazar, Associate Professor and Hospitality and Food Industry Management Coordinator at the University of Georgia; Patrick Holladay, Associate Professor in the School of Hospitality, Sport and Tourism Management at Troy University; and James Bigley, Professor of Recreation and Tourism Management at Georgia Southern University.

The discussion touched on a variety of topics and suggestions around opportunities between academic institutions and organizations. Panelists shared how business and organizational partners can provide classroom resources for students, give presentations about their business, and provide research opportunities. There was also discussion about how to set up internships, how to schedule interns, paid versus non-paid internships, the importance of mentoring interns, and expectations from academic institutions.

The GCTA meeting served as a great opportunity for association members to consider how they can mentor future industry leaders, hear what students are learning, and discuss ways they can make a lasting impact in the lives of students