Developing New Talent: A Q&A with OTO’s Interns

August 11, 2023 | Careers

Our interns are headed back to school for the fall semester — but before they left, we gathered them ‘round for a quick Q&A.

These emerging young professionals are part of The Johnson Group’s 2023 cohort of 22 interns from 12 colleges and universities. They’ve spent the past three months immersed in meaningful responsibilities while turning classroom theories into real-world practice.

Here’s what they shared about career goals, the impact of internships, even a few things that surprised them this summer:

Lainey Galicia

Accounting Intern

USC Upstate | Accounting

If you hadn’t interned at OTO Development this summer, what would you have done? I would most likely be working at Publix and taking more classes.

Which property in the OTO Development portfolio would you most like to visit? Lumina on Wrightsville Beach or Hilton Garden Inn Ocean City. They’re both gorgeous properties.

What are your career goals and how do you see this internship impacting those goals? This internship has taught me a lot about myself, both personally and professionally. When completing tasks, I learned to trust myself, using my training and schooling, but having the safety net of my team has given me the confidence to really lean into my own expertise. I’ve gained a lot more knowledge about modern-day accounting, things that are hard to learn in a classroom. This taught me that I want to work in a busy environment where I can grow, learn, and challenge myself. It has given me the confidence to work toward a CPA.

What surprised you most about this summer? I unexpectedly benefited from being thrown into working on things instantly. The accounting team’s confidence and trust in me gave me the mental understanding that I am more than capable of achieving the goals I have set for myself, and the goals set for me.

Sierra Godfrey

Revenue Management Intern

Converse University | Mathematics, Economics, and Computer Science

If you hadn’t interned at OTO Development this summer, what would you have done? I would have either worked in Converse University’s financial planning office or interned at Denny’s headquarters.

Which property in the OTO Development portfolio would you most like to visit? Hampton Inn & Suites Baltimore Inner Harbor and Hampton Inn & Suites Bellevue. I would like to visit some of the northern states, and I have always wanted to visit Washington State because there are many attractions in Seattle.

What are your career goals and how do you see this internship impacting those goals? To work for a company that cares about its employees, somewhere I can work with data and numbers daily. Interning at OTO has helped me figure out what I want out of my future career, and it has allowed me to gain some experience. I would love to work here in the future, and I believe that this internship has helped me get my foot in the door.

What surprised you most about this summer? I was surprised by how much I’ve enjoyed this internship. I love the work that I get to do every day, and I have loved getting to know my team members. I have also been surprised by how much The Johnson Group cares about its employees and how much the company does to ensure they're taken care of and supported.

Kyle Hand

F&B Marketing Intern

University of South Carolina | Marketing

If you hadn’t interned at OTO Development this summer, what would you have done? I would most likely have stayed in Pennsylvania and spent more time with my family. In terms of work, I would have either found a job as a server at a local restaurant or as part of the sales team at the nearby Under Armour outlet.

Which property in the OTO Development portfolio would you most like to visit? I would love to visit Hilton Garden Inn St. Pete Beach for the opportunity to experience Coconut Charlie’s Beach Bar & Grill and relax in the glorious Florida weather. Once the AC Hotel in Naples finishes construction, the choice would become much more difficult.

What are your career goals and how do you see this internship impacting those goals? My career goal is to become a chief marketing officer or vice president of marketing for a sports franchise. This internship opportunity has been the perfect place to begin in the world of marketing. OTO helped me to gain my first hands-on experience in the marketing field, an invaluable foundation. Although it is not in sports, this internship has allowed me to apply the theoretical knowledge I learned in the classroom and translate it into real-world marketing strategies/campaigns. Beginning to learn and understand the way the market works, reacts, and changes so quickly will have a lasting impact on my career.

What surprised you most about this summer? I was surprised by my level of direct communication with the hotel teams. I had the impression that any of my work would be sent to a superior who would then communicate with the hotel/client. Instead, I have the amazing opportunity to speak directly with the people who are on property. This has allowed me to gain a deeper understanding of their target audiences and the approach to tailoring certain marketing efforts. I am happy to say the culture of OTO has blown away all my expectations and I am lucky to work side by side with every individual.

Clay Killoren

Real Estate Intern

Haverford College | Political Science

If you hadn’t interned at OTO Development this summer, what would you have done? I would likely be traveling to see friends and family across the country. I would also be training with a few of my teammates for my upcoming basketball season.

Which property in the OTO Development portfolio would you most like to visit? I would like to visit the Hilton Garden Inn St. Pete Beach. It is in an incredible location and of course I would like to try Coconut Charlie’s Beach Bar & Grill. I would also like to visit Hampton Inn Key West — its dramatic transformation is a clear representation of OTO’s vision, which is why it is the No. 1 Hampton Inn in the world.

What are your career goals and how do you see this internship impacting those goals? To always be part of a team that makes an impact on the industry. Leadership is something I value. I have been fortunate to be surrounded by great leadership on OTO’s real estate team – Todd Turner, Stewart Heath, Davis Weaver, and Robert Cooley are always willing to help me better understand the industry. A goal of mine is to be in a position where I can provide the same feedback to help others like the real estate team has done for me.

What surprised you most about this summer? The amount of trust that OTO has in their interns to complete tasks and work on current projects stands out to me the most. It is a good feeling to consistently do work that matters and is going to benefit the entire company. An unexpected benefit of being on the real estate team has been the opportunity to travel with the team to various markets across the country. This has allowed me to experience what studying a live deal is like as well as having exposure to different regions of the country.

Harry Kittredge

Finance Intern

Washington and Lee University | U.S. History and Business Administration

If you hadn’t interned at OTO Development this summer, what would you have done? I would most likely have been a tennis coach, and I would have taken a class in commercial real estate.

Which property in the OTO Development portfolio would you most like to visit? Hilton Garden Inn St. Pete Beach. I think it’s one of our best conversion hotels and it would be awesome to have a great meal at Coconut Charlie’s Beach Bar & Grill.

What are your career goals and how do you see this internship impacting those goals? Finding a place with incredible culture and people that I could interact with daily. Another goal is to work hard and become an asset for the company. This internship has been a great opportunity for figuring out what I am interested in, learning what culture I want to surround myself with, and finding great mentors to assist me along the way.

What surprised you most about this summer? The number of incredibly kind people I have met is probably the biggest benefit of the internship, along with all the fun activities that were planned for interns. I appreciated the emphasis on getting to know all sides of The Johnson Group from the lunch-and-learn series and hearing from a variety of leaders from each of the companies.

Katie Kulas

Human Resources Intern

Wofford College | Business Economics

If you hadn’t interned at OTO Development this summer, what would you have done? As a junior at Wofford, I had the opportunity to experience an incredible study abroad program in London, an experience greatly impacted my life both academically and personally. I am honored to have this internship at OTO Development this summer, but if I was not interning here, I would have explored the option of further travel.

Which property in the OTO Development portfolio would you most like to visit? This is my second summer here at OTO Development. Last summer I had the opportunity to visit AC Hotel Washington DC Downtown. I enjoyed seeing D.C. for the first time and staying in the beautiful hotel — the staff there went above and beyond to provide a wonderful stay. I would love to go back!

What are your career goals and how do you see this internship impacting those goals? This internship has provided me with new knowledge, connections, and confidence that I will carry forward in my business career.

What surprised you most about this summer? I have learned new skills, worked with strong leaders, had volunteer opportunities, and attended informative lunch-and-learns, all while experiencing warm and welcoming hospitality throughout The Johnson Group. A surprise was the opportunity to travel. I am very thankful to intern at a company dedicated to providing an enriching program for interns.