Internships pay off as Paulina joins Swire Hotels

Our programme has strong links with the Hospitality industry, both in the UK and internationally, which gives our graduates a competitive edge as they progress onto the career ladder.

Paulina Lukaszewska has used these links to her advantage to secure her dream job with Swire Hotels.

After applying to Swire's International Operations Management Trainee (IOMT) programme, Paulina progressed through a lengthy selection process before being invited to Hong Kong for an interview.

She commented: "I was incredibly excited to reach the final stage - I wanted to get this job very much. I received a lot of support from my lecturers, as well as some great advice from UCLan Futures that gave me extra confidence for the interview. When I found out I was successful I was so happy."

Swire Hotels manage properties in the United Kingdom, Hong Kong, China and the United States, providing a characterful experience for travellers who seek individuality, style and personalised service.


Joanna Chan, People Development Manager for Swire, said: "Throughout the interview process Paulina not only showed her strong interaction skills, leadership potential and creativity, but also her passion for hotel operations which is an essential prerequisite for our IOMT programme.

"In addition, individuality and spontaneity are at the heart of everything we do. We always encourage our team members to be themselves to unleash their potential and flourish. Paulina's individuality impressed us a lot."

Paulina will mainly be based in Hong Kong, but she will also have the opportunity to work at other hotels in the region.

Principal Lecturer Louisa Jones, who visited Swire during a recent tour of the region, said she was delighted about Paulina's appointment: "She has a huge amount of talent, but the secret to Paulina's success has been the numerous placements she's done during the course of her studies.

"She worked for six months at The Langham, Shenzen, and was then recommended for a further six months at their London hotel. During her final year Paulina carried on gaining experience at the Legacy in Preston.

"Her commitment to the industry is admirable and for an up and coming company like Swire this has shown that not only does she possess academic ability, but also the practical experience to compliment it.

"This is where our international internship really comes into its own, as it gives students exposure to many different cultural backgrounds."

Paulina added: "It's very exciting to think I'll be moving to Hong Kong and starting a new, great adventure with Swire Hotels. I couldn't imagine a better start to a career in hospitality having just finished university."