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Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park promotes the enjoyment, understanding, and appreciation of gardens, sculpture, the natural environment, and the arts. Meijer Gardens is ranked among the 100 most visited art institutions in the world. The organization embraces the concept of a major cultural attraction centering around horticulture & sculpture. Meijer Gardens' commitment is to create a legacy of lifelong learning, enjoyment, and a rich cultural experience for generations to come. 

Department: Guest Relations                                   

Supervisor: Guest Relations Manager

This is a paid internship, paid bi-weekly.

Schedule and Duration: This position averages approximately 25 hours per week. The schedule includes two weekends per month and one evening per week, with remaining hours primarily occurring during weekdays.

All interns must be available for a minimum of 10 weeks between June and August and participate in the required internship program sessions. These sessions are held every Wednesday for 3 hours and are included as part of your weekly schedule.

Position Summary: The Guest Relations Intern supports the Guest Relations team in enhancing the overall visitor experience at Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park. This role focuses on guest engagement strategy, feedback analysis, process improvement, and service innovation. The intern will assist in developing tools, communication strategies, and engagement initiatives that improve guest flow, increase satisfaction, and create meaningful experiences across campus.

Essential Functions

Assist in identifying frequently asked questions (FAQs) and recommend enhancements, including opportunities for AI-supported integration.

Support the collection, reporting, and analysis of guest feedback and survey responses to identify trends and service improvements.

Help curate customized guest visit plans, including timed campus walking routes and indoor feature highlights based on visitor interests.

Develop engagement strategies and activities for outdoor stationed volunteers to enhance guest interaction and navigation support.

Create guest flow and engagement solutions for high-traffic experiences, including extended wait times for popular exhibitions such as Butterflies and Chihuly.

Support sustainable staff communication strategies that strengthen guest experience initiatives, including technology integration and data-informed process improvements.

Collaborate cross-departmentally to identify service gaps and recommend innovative solutions.

Learning Outcomes: 

Analyze guest feedback data to identify trends and recommend service improvements.

Develop practical guest engagement strategies grounded in hospitality and visitor experience principles.

Demonstrate an understanding of visitor flow management and crowd engagement techniques.

Apply problem-solving and process improvement strategies within a nonprofit cultural institution.

Strengthen professional communication skills through cross-department collaboration.

Gain exposure to technology integrations and operational tools that support guest services.

Requirements:

Enrolled in a trade, degree, or certificate program at an accredited institution.

Available for a minimum of 10 weeks of in-person intern programming in Grand Rapids, MI

Ability to commit to scheduled work hours and program requirements.

Strong interest in learning and professional development.

Strong verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to interact professionally with diverse audiences.

Customer service or hospitality experience (retail, events, tourism, museums, education, or related fields) preferred.

Coursework or interest in business, hospitality, nonprofit management or a related field.

Organizational Expectations

  • Welcoming: Fostering joy and an inclusive and accessible environment for everyone.
  • Excellence: Approaching all we do with world-class intentionalism.
  • Innovation: Embracing the future to create unique and engaging experiences in art, culture and nature with a commitment to creativity.
  • Integrity: Operating with honesty, transparency and accountability throughout the organization.
  • Stewardship: Preserving and enhancing our community, physical, cultural, and financial resources for current and future generations.

Working Conditions: Basic mobility is expected in offices, grounds, and exhibition areas. Ability to observe details at close range and communicate information accurately with others. Engage in occasional object manipulation with or without assistance, and efficiently navigate the workspace to access essential resources. Ability to regularly move up to 20 pounds and frequently up to 50 pounds (i.e., load, unload, and move supplies, medium to heavy weight tools, and equipment). Occasionally ascends/descends a ladder. This job operates in a professional indoor office environment, across grounds, and exhibition areas. Occasionally, may be required to work outdoors under inclement weather conditions.

As part of our onboarding process, all new hires are required to complete our background check.Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park is an Equal Opportunity Employer.We believe in fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace.