Guest Services Intern

About Us

The Cleveland Foundation, established in 1914, is the world's first and one of the largest community foundations, with assets exceeding $3 billion. Our mission is to enhance the lives of all residents of Greater Cleveland, now and for generations to come, by working together with our donors to build community endowment, address needs through grantmaking, and provide leadership on key community issues. 

As we continue to grow and evolve, we are dedicated to building strong relationships and trust across our community, working collaboratively to create innovative, impactful, and internationally recognized contributions to the field of philanthropy. 

About You

You are committed to welcoming every guest and helping create inclusive, accessible spaces at the Foundation. You enjoy collaborating with colleagues and partners to support meetings and events, bringing professionalism, empathy, and attention to detail to each interaction. You’re eager to learn and apply best practices in hospitality, wayfinding, and basic AV setup to help ensure smooth, positive experiences.

You are a reliable teammate who plans ahead, communicates clearly, and stays flexible when plans change. You monitor room readiness, inventory, and signage; use tools like Microsoft Office, Tripleseat, and Envoy; and respond promptly to last minute needs. You approach your internship with a growth mindset and a customer first focus, contributing to the Foundation’s mission while building skills for future roles in events and hospitality.

Job Summary

The Guest Services Intern plays an important role in creating a welcoming and efficient environment for guests and staff by supporting daily operations, meeting services, and event coordination. Reporting to the Manager, Venue and Guest Services, this position helps maintain high service standards. The intern will assist with greeting visitors, wayfinding, preparing meeting spaces, and responding to guest needs, while also supporting initial venue rental inquiries and collaborating with colleagues across departments. This role offers hands-on experience in hospitality and venue operations, providing valuable learning opportunities in event management, customer service, and professional communication.

Key Responsibilities

• Serve as a warm, professional, and welcoming presence for all guests.
• Provide wayfinding support and direct visitors to meetings, events, and resources.
• Respond to guest requests with flexibility and attention to detail, including water, coffee, AV assistance, and meeting materials.
• Assist with setup and reset of meeting spaces for 400+ events annually, ensuring rooms are ready and clean to Foundation standards.
• Support seating arrangements, signage, and AV preparation.
• Provide timely responses to last-minute meeting or event needs.
• Serve as the first point of contact for prospective clients and partners interested in venue rentals.
• Collect and share lead details with the Real Estate team for follow-up.
• Provide accurate information on venue amenities and availability using TCF standard marketing materials.
• Maintain and restock guest-facing supplies, including coffee, water, and meeting materials.
• Monitor meeting spaces and report facility or AV issues as needed.
• Partner with Real Estate team members to ensure all spaces remain safe, accessible, and inviting.
• Work closely with all colleagues at The Foundation to deliver a seamless guest experience.
• Always represent the Foundation with professionalism and a customer-first mindset.
• Perform other guest services-related tasks as assigned.

General Competencies

• Judgment
• Communication
• Teamwork & Collaboration
• Adaptability
• Problem-Solving

Required Qualifications

• At least 18 years of age.
• Currently pursuing a bachelor’s degree in hospitality, event management, or a related field.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite and willingness to learn new software packages.
• Ability to collaborate effectively and adapt in a fast-paced environment.
• Ability to work some evening and nighttime hours.

Learning Outcomes

By the end of the internship, the intern will:

• Gain hands-on experience coordinating 400+ meetings and events annually.
• Build skills in hospitality, guest services, and professional communication.
• Learn venue operations, inventory management, and AV/event setup.
• Receive training in event management software, including Tripleseat and Envoy.
• Collaborate with cross-departmental teams across the Foundation.
• Develop problem-solving and adaptability through real-time event support.
• Expand a professional network with nonprofit, civic, and community partners.
• Be prepared for future roles in event management, hospitality, or nonprofit administration.

Work Environment

• The role is office-based, involving frequent interaction with executives, staff, and external partners.
• The position may require prolonged periods of sitting and standing as well as occasional lifting of light office supplies and materials.
• Occasional evening and nighttime hours to meet deadlines or support special events.