Special to The American
SLU students learns St. Louis by promoting it
According to the Black Collegian, if you think that a college diploma is all you need to find a job, you need to rethink your plans right now. It’s difficult to get a good job without experience in a particular field, and you can’t get experience until you’ve had a job. So how can you solve this catch 22? It’s possible through a viable internship.
My name is Darryl Jones and I am a senior at Saint Louis University (SLU) majoring in marketing. I was accepted as the St. Louis Convention & Visitors Commission (CVC) summer marketing intern and the experience has been eye-opening. Challenged with assignments that “matter” I was able to learn first-hand how the engine of destination marketing operated. There are advertising campaigns, promotions, public relations and the creation of sales collateral – all working together toward one goal and that’s promoting St. Louis as a prime convention and leisure travel destination.
As a CVC intern, I’ve noticed the importance of partnerships. When the pink and green tidal wave of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Incorporated Boule 2010 splashed into St. Louis July 2010, it took the Gateway City collectively to make the destination look even more amazing! It seemed every restaurant, museum or shop draped itself in some form of pink and/or green. The benefit of a united community creates an impression that St. Louis is much bigger.
The life of St. Louis is the people: the fans, the chefs, the park ranger, the parking lot attendant, the horse carriage driver and the TGI Fridays’ waiter. All of you (the community) are the marketers of St. Louis.
The world is not in need of graduates with a marketing degree as it is in need of graduates with finance, information technology or nursing degrees. However, being able to say that I interned at the St. Louis CVC, where the main goal is destination marketing, provides me with one leg up over any competition. This opportunity has given me the confidence and experience that I can take to any corporation or city come January 2011.
Be a Tourist Notes
6th Annual Downtown Restaurant Week
Date: 8/23/2010 – 8/28/2010
Location: Various restaurants in Downtown St. Louis
Time: Dinner only
Cost: $25.00
For more information call: (314) 436-6500
Website: www.downtownrestaurantweek.net
Over 30 of downtown’s finest dining establishments will take part in this fabulous food event. There will be no passes to buy, coupons to carry or cards to punch – patrons will simply attend the restaurant of their choice and select from a special 3-course dinner menu for $25.00 per person, plus tip, plus tax.
Saint Louis BLUESWEEK Festival
Date: 8/27/2010 – 8/28/2010
Location: Steps of the Peabody Opera House (formerly Kiel Opera House)
Time: 5:00 p.m. – 11:30 p.m. (27); 11:30 a.m. – 11:30 p.m. (28)
Cost: Free; $5.00 donation to the Saint Louis Blues Society welcome
Website: www.stlbluesweek.com
Both days of the FREE event will feature specially designed shows to honor the wide range of musical styles that were born in St. Louis and feature some of the area’s best blues musicians. There will also be a variety of St. Louis restaurants and tasty beverages will be available for purchase.
Festival of Nations
Date: 8/28/2010 – 8/29/2010
Location: Tower Grove Park (corner of Arsenal and Grand)
Time: 10:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m. (28) 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. (29)
Cost: Free
For more information call: (314) 773-9090
Website: www.iistl.org
A multiethnic celebration featuring traditional dance, music, ethnic food, cultural and educational exhibits, folk art demonstrations, and an international market. A free shuttle will be available throughout the park.
Missouri Black Expo
Date: 8/28/2010 – 8/29/2010
Location: America’s Center
For more information call: (314) 361-5572
Website: www.missouriblackexpo.com
The largest African American Empowerment event in the State of Missouri. Hundreds of local and regional African-American entrepreneurs showcase their businesses at Americas Center. Artists, musicians, area agencies and major corporations participate.