Corporate Placement – Hotel Openings & Transitions
Job Description
Build Your Hospitality Career with Hilton
Looking to gain meaningful industry experience while completing your university studies? Hilton’s 12-month Corporate Placement Programme offers students the opportunity to become part of the Hotel Openings & Transitions Department at our EMEA Headquarters in Watford.
This placement is designed to give you practical exposure to the hospitality industry while helping you develop the professional skills, confidence and business knowledge needed for a successful career.
You’ll work alongside experienced Hilton colleagues, contribute to genuine business projects and gain an understanding of how hotels prepare to open, transition and operate successfully across Europe, the Middle East and Africa.
What the Placement Offers
Structured Learning and Development
Throughout the 12-month programme, you’ll follow a structured development plan combining learning opportunities, business activities and practical project work. You’ll also take responsibility for projects that allow you to apply your knowledge in a real business environment.
Practical Experience from Day One
You’ll become an active member of Team Hilton, working with colleagues across different functions and gaining first-hand knowledge of Hotel Openings & Transitions. There will also be opportunities to learn about another area of the business and build relationships that could support your future career.
Meaningful Business Projects
Rather than simply observing, you’ll contribute to projects that support Hilton’s business objectives. This will allow you to strengthen your problem-solving, organisational and project management abilities while gaining valuable workplace experience.
Training and Resources
You’ll have access to Hilton University, including e-learning resources and the business library. Your project work will further develop your understanding of the hospitality sector and the wider Hilton organisation.
Ongoing Coaching
Regular feedback and guidance will help you understand your progress, identify areas for development and make the most of your placement experience.
Employee Benefits
As a placement participant, you’ll receive a range of benefits, including:
– £27,500 gross annual salary
– Private healthcare
– Access to the Go Hilton Team Member Travel Program, offering significantly reduced hotel rates for you, your family and friends
– A subsidised restaurant at the Watford headquarters
– Access to an on-site games area
– Free use of the in-house gym
The role is based at Hilton’s EMEA Headquarters in Watford, with some flexibility depending on the requirements of the team and wider business.
Your Responsibilities
Working within the Hotel Openings & Transitions team, you’ll assist with a variety of administrative, organisational and operational activities.
Your responsibilities may include:
– Helping with the onboarding of new hotels and their teams.
– Supporting preparations to ensure hotels are commercially and operationally ready.
– Maintaining and managing data, reports and business information.
– Assisting with presentations and gathering feedback from relevant stakeholders.
– Providing administrative support to the Senior Manager and Director responsible for Openings & Transitions Central Services.
– Supporting hotel transition activities and related processes.
– Collaborating with the wider Brands & Central Operations function, including the Brand Performance Support EMEA team.
– Helping to coordinate meetings, planning activities and other team initiatives.
– Travelling occasionally for internal meetings or selected hotel opening activities when required.
Why This Placement Matters
This is more than an opportunity to add experience to your CV. You’ll be working on activities that contribute to the successful opening and transition of hotels across different EMEA markets.
During the placement, you can expect to gain:
Business Exposure: Work alongside professionals from operations, commercial, development and brand teams.
Project Experience: Develop practical skills in planning, project coordination and delivering business-focused initiatives.
Stakeholder Skills: Learn how to communicate effectively and work with people across different teams and levels of the organisation.
A Fast-Moving Work Environment: Experience a collaborative workplace where priorities can change and each project brings something different.
Who Should Apply?
We’re looking for students who demonstrate Hilton’s values and are enthusiastic about building a future in hospitality.
You should have:
– A genuine interest in hotel openings, transitions and hospitality operations.
– Strong communication and presentation abilities.
– Excellent organisational skills and the ability to manage competing priorities.
– Confidence working towards deadlines.
– Fluency in written and spoken English.
– A willingness to collaborate with colleagues across different areas of the business.
– Additional language skills relevant to the EMEA region would be an advantage, but are not required.
Education and Eligibility
You must currently be studying towards a bachelor’s or master’s degree that includes a compulsory 12-month year-in-industry placement.
The placement is scheduled to begin on 5 July 2027 and will run for 12 months on a full-time basis.
Applicants must also have an independent right to work in the UK for the entire placement period.
Please note that Hilton cannot provide Skilled Worker visa sponsorship for this position. Candidates who require sponsorship to undertake the placement therefore cannot be considered.
Applicants who already have independent permission to work full-time in the UK may apply. This can include eligible holders of Settled Status or Pre-Settled Status, where the placement forms a permitted, required and assessed part of their UK university degree, as well as candidates with other valid independent UK work permissions.
Recruitment Process
Applications are currently open, with submissions closing on Sunday, 1 November 2026.
The recruitment journey will include:
1. Online assessments
2. In-person or virtual interview
The process is intended to give candidates an opportunity to demonstrate their abilities while also learning more about Hilton and the placement.
Final-stage interview invitations will be sent after the application period has closed. Candidates are encouraged to complete each stage of the process promptly and regularly check their email for updates.
Equal Opportunities
Hilton is committed to creating an inclusive workplace and providing equal opportunities to applicants and employees.
Reasonable adjustments are available for candidates with disabilities. If you require assistance during the recruitment process or need adjustments to perform the essential duties of the placement, you can contact Hilton to discuss your requirements.
Learn more about Hilton’s Corporate Placement opportunities:
https://jobs.hilton.com/emea-internships-hotel-corporate
