Discovering Delaware, Discovering My Path

Never would I have imagined working where I am now. Growing up in Delaware and hearing all those “there’s nothing to do in Delaware” comments made me question what it was that attracted tourists to drive to Delaware. Being a Hospitality and Tourism Management major has expanded my knowledge in many ways, helping me understand the impact these two industries have. Fast forwarding now to who I am currently, a marketing and communications intern for Visit Delaware, I understand why people drive hundreds of miles to experience the beauty of the First State. 

Most of my experience in jobs and internships was in hospitality, customer service, retail, or food and beverage. Although I loved this industry for providing smiles to guests who came as family or friends, I wanted to shift and explore other opportunities. Most of my roles involved management and working in the back of house. The more I learned in college, the more I realized the importance of gaining experience in different areas before graduating, so I became interested in marketing and accounting during my sophomore year. 

After having the privilege of becoming a DI Scholar and attending Destination’s International Annual Convention in 2025 in Chicago, I was amazed by the professionals, the knowledge shared, and the experience created in the convention center, bringing Chicago's culture into those rooms. I thought to myself, “Wow, this is what tourism is.”  Because of this experience, I knew I wanted to shift to providing memorable experiences for tourists at destinations and sharing with them why each destination is worth traveling to. After coming back home from Chicago, I saw that Visit Delaware had an internship opening, so I knew it was my chance to apply. The role was for a marketing and communications position, which was perfect since it was exactly what I wanted to pivot to. 

My time at Visit Delaware has consisted of doing various tasks and projects to benefit the organization. My first semester there, I spent working on a tourism report, which was completely new to me, but I do love challenges. My day-to-day activities include planning content for our Instagram page and visiting different sites across Delaware to showcase what Delaware has to offer. I have been empowered to do this by meeting local business owners and representing Visit Delaware. Furthermore, my job is to create content for Instagram in either carousel posts or reels, as well as blog posts for our website to market this beautiful state to tourists. 

Throughout my journey at Visit Delaware, I have realized the importance of the community; without a supportive and resilient community, Delaware would be nothing without each other. Each tourist has their own needs and desires, and each attraction and its owner have their own specialties and abilities to serve tourists. I realized that every small business, State Park, and beach is equally important. Speaking with local business owners and partners has been amazing. Having the chance to connect with community stakeholders has made me grasp the importance of tourists. All Delawareans know the hefty traffic on Route 1, 113, amongst others. But without tourists, the community would not be thriving. When there are festivals, events, or people coming to the beaches, this creates a halo effect on spending. Someone may come down to Dewey Beach for the Arts Festival, then go to Nalu to buy food and stay at one of the hotels for the night; people may come down for one reason, but it can turn into a chain effect that boosts businesses. Without tourists, many businesses would stop existing, people would not be able to share their culture, there would be no foot traffic in State Parks or gardens, and people would not be able to admire nature. Tourism in Delaware is truly important because without it, we would be nothing. 

Having a career in a DMO is definitely on my radar; this is where you can boost the economy, create memorable experiences for tourists, and highlight the destination's special features. I feel proud to say I work with a great team at Visit Delaware, one that supports, empowers me, and encourages me to step out of my comfort zone. I truly am grateful for my team, who believed in me from the beginning, and trusted a student to expand Visit Delaware to continue attracting tourists. All the tips and connections they have given me will not be taken for granted. 

If you have been wondering about working in a DMO, I would say take the opportunity. There is nothing better than growing within your community, seeing how everything and everyone are interconnected internally and externally, and, most importantly, telling the story of the destination.