WORLD TRAVELER KAVIYAN DEENA FORGES AN INNOVATIVE CAREER IN HOSPITALITY

By Allison Rinehart, Communications Intern, Senior at Clark University

World traveler and former DLE intern Kaviyan Deena always challenges himself at every corner of the globe.

Kaviyan just began his professional work after receiving his master’s degree from the Glion Institute of Higher Education in Switzerland. Location had a big factor in his academic pursuits. He explains, “I wanted to gain experience in guest services while earning my degree, especially in a country known for its innovative hospitality practices.”

Concurrent with his studies, he worked as the front office intern at Empirent, a boutique hotel in Prague, Czechia. A smaller business environment offered him more opportunities in decision-making for day-to-day operations. “That experience taught me a multitude of skills,” he admits. “I felt like I had a lot of liberty…it was a big dive into the world of hospitality. I learned two things: communication and creative problem solving.”

A DLE marketing and event planning intern from fall 2021 to spring 2022 during his undergraduate years at Syracuse University, Kaviyan cites the creative vitality, quality focus, and deadline discipline of the DLE work environment as essential preparation for the innovative work he is doing today. He enthusiastically took on a wide breadth of responsibilities. “The internship was structured for me to build a big skill set–including interviewing, graphic design, content development, interfacing with DLE members, and developing membership-wide correspondence. All of that was a prelude to tasks that I currently do.”

Kaviyan cited a few other essential skills he gained through this experience, namely the ability to network and create clear written communication. “I’m really appreciative of the coaching that I received to help me be more concise because, in the professional world, you need to pack a punch with your emails and graphics.”

His advice for professional development is to explore. “If you have the motivation, you can find yourself anywhere in the world,” notes Kaviyan, who was born and raised in the south of India before heading to the U.S. to attend college. He views travel to new places as simply following opportunities. He grew up attending international schools in Chennai, India, where he met students from around the world. Because of this global background, he feels nowhere is “too far” to travel or live.

Exploring the world, furthering his education, and innovating in his work–Kaviyan Deena is always doing the unexpected. The DLE is thrilled to have accelerated his journey. Onward!