Food & Beverage Management Intern

MOUNTAIN LAKE
Food & Beverage Management Internship Program

Position Summary

The Food & Beverage Management Intern supports the restaurant, banquet, catering, bar, and guest dining operations of Mountain Lake, a full-service mountain resort and hospitality destination located in the Appalachian Mountains of Virginia. This internship is designed to provide hands-on leadership experience within resort food and beverage operations while developing practical hospitality management skills in a fast-paced resort environment.

Interns will work closely with Food & Beverage leadership, culinary teams, banquet operations, and resort management while gaining real-world experience across restaurants, bars, weddings, special events, catering operations, and guest dining experiences. The program is intended for students seeking professional development and operational leadership exposure within the hospitality and tourism industry.

Restaurant & Guest Dining Operations

• Assist with daily restaurant and bar operations throughout the resort.
• Support service initiatives within restaurants, lounges, banquet events, and outdoor dining venues.
• Participate in guest engagement and hospitality service initiatives.
• Observe and support operational leadership practices across Food & Beverage outlets.
• Assist with maintaining service standards, cleanliness, and guest satisfaction initiatives.
• Support opening and closing operational procedures.
• Assist with point-of-sale operations and dining service flow.

Banquets, Weddings & Catering

• Assist with weddings, retreats, festivals, banquets, and special events.
• Support banquet setup, event execution, buffet presentations, and guest interaction.
• Observe banquet event order (BEO) planning and coordination processes.
• Assist leadership with event logistics, staffing coordination, and operational preparation.
• Support banquet quality assurance and event readiness inspections.

Culinary & Beverage Operations

• Gain exposure to culinary production, food presentation, and kitchen coordination.
• Assist with menu preparation, food displays, and service execution.
• Observe food safety, sanitation, and health department standards.
• Support beverage operations including bars, coffee service, and special event beverage functions.
• Learn inventory, ordering, and operational cost-control practices.

Leadership Development

• Work closely with the Director of Food & Beverage, Restaurant Managers, and Resort Leadership.
• Attend operational meetings and leadership discussions as assigned.
• Gain exposure to hospitality leadership and resort management practices.
• Assist with special projects and operational initiatives.
• Develop professional communication, leadership, and guest service skills.

Qualifications

• Currently enrolled in Hospitality Management, Culinary Arts, Tourism, Business, or related field preferred.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills.
• Professional appearance and positive attitude.
• Ability to work weekends, holidays, and occasional evenings.
• Interest in hospitality, food & beverage operations, events, and resort management.
• Self-motivated with willingness to learn in a fast-paced environment.

Core Competencies

• Guest-focused hospitality mindset
• Professional communication
• Leadership development
• Teamwork and collaboration
• Organizational and time management skills
• Adaptability and professionalism

Work Environment

Work is performed throughout a full-service mountain resort environment including restaurants, banquet venues, bars, kitchens, outdoor dining areas, and event spaces. Position may require weekends, holidays, evenings, and seasonal peak availability. Frequent interaction with guests, associates, department leaders, and resort leadership is expected.

Internship position reports directly to the Director of Food & Beverage and General Manager.