Elliott Davis is the fall intern at the Tourism Department’s New York-based public relations agency, Development Counsellors International, the department announced Wednesday in a press release.
"We always receive interest from a number of outstanding candidates for this highly sought after opportunity," Tourism Commissioner Beverly Nicholson-Doty said. "Ultimately Elliott’s interest in the travel industry, communications experience and commitment to promoting his home were all factors that led us to select him for the
fall program."
During his full-time fall internship, Davis will support DCI’s account team on the territory’s public relations and marketing initiatives. This includes the recent marketing partnership between the territory and New York Yankees for U.S. Virgin Islands Day.
The internship is designed to help Davis develop new skills and gain valuable hands-on experiences to pursue a career in tourism marketing.
"I’m excited to join the Tourism Department’s tourism marketing team in New York," Davis said. "This is an unprecedented opportunity to not only gain ‘real world’ marketing communications experience, but also give back to my home."
Born and raised on St. Thomas, Davis is a fifth-generation islander. He is also a recent graduate of Tufts University, where he received a bachelor’s degree in political science with a minor in mass communications and media studies.
Throughout his education, Davis participated in a wide range of communications internship programs in journalism and public relations, which helped develop his written, verbal and event-planning skills. This includes his recent role at “The Boston Globe Magazine,” where he shadowed a magazine staff writer and was eventually published. Davis also interned at the Massachusetts Attorney General’s Office, where he wrote and edited press releases and helped prepare a press conference.
One of Elliott’s first work experiences was at Alpine Securities USVI in St. Thomas, where he helped organized the first-annual charitable King of the Wing Contest in support of a local orphanage – a popular event that is now in its fourth year.
Tourism is currently accepting cover letters and resumes from candidates interested in applying for the spring 2014 intern position. The intern will support the territory’s account team at DCI’s New York office on a full-time basis from mid-January through May 2014. Daily tasks will include, but will not be limited to, media pitching, event planning, drafting and editing press materials, working with on-island tourism partners, conducting research and developing content for the Virgin Islands’ social media channels.
In order to apply, candidates must be residents of the territory who are recent graduates or in their final year of study at an accredited undergraduate or graduate university program with a concentration in marketing, mass communications or public relations. Strong candidates will have exceptional written and verbal communication skills and be extremely organized and detail-oriented. The chosen intern will receive roundtrip airfare to New York with a monthly stipend to cover housing, transportation and living expenses.
Qualified applicants may e-mail their resume and cover letter to Malcolm Griffiths, vice president at DCI at malcolm.griffiths@aboutdci.com by Nov. 15.
For more information about the internship program, contact Luana A. Wheatley at lawheatley@usvitourism.vi.
