Nov. 30, 2011--Students in the University of Delaware Department of Hotel, Restaurant and Institutional Management looking to diversify their work experience now have the opportunity to do just that while simultaneously gaining knowledge of Tuscan history and culture firsthand.

Through the new Shaner Hotels Il Ciocco Summer Internship Program, UD students who have successfully completed their junior year in the HRIM program can gain experience with the Marriott Renaissance brand at the newly renovated Renaissance Il Ciocco Tuscany Resort and Spa located in the beautiful Tuscan countryside.

During the 12-week internship, which runs from May through August, students will rotate through assignments at the front desk, reservation systems, and sales and marketing.

“This new global internship opportunity adds tremendous value to our students’ education as our interim chair of HRIM, Francis Kwansa, focuses on our international strategy,” said Fred DeMicco, ARAMARK Professor in HRIM. “Once they have completed the HRIM Lodging Module in the Courtyard by Marriott at UD, students will be able to hit the ground running in Italy next summer having acquired a focused lodging skill set and the Marriott culture and values.”

The Tuscany hotel transaction grew from the University’s established partnership with Shaner Hotel Group, which operates the on-campus Courtyard by Marriott at UD and provides the school’s hospitality majors with an opportunity to gain hands-on experience.

The Marcucci family, a prominent Italian family and original owners of the formerly named Il Ciocco Hotel and Resort, retain an ownership interest in the property and believe the partnership has great potential.

“We could easily see how well the program worked between the University and students and with the systems and people that Shaner had operating the hotel," said Marialina Marcucci. "We work closely with the Campus Golf and Tourism Academy in nearby Lucca, Italy, and are confident that Shaner's leadership and experience in training students could be transferred here."

According to DeMicco, there is also a chance other Marriott hotels in Italy will follow in partnership.

“We have the potential to grow the number of Lerner College students involved in the program to other functional areas of management like marketing, MIS, accounting, finance and economics along with hotel management majors,” DeMicco said. “This is very exciting for our students and faculty.”

Plato Ghinos, president of Shaner Hotel Group, agreed. “We are excited to expand our close relationship with UD and Shaner on a global level and we are very excited to offer this opportunity to the students and faculty at the University,” said Ghinos.

About Il Ciocco
The Il Ciocco Hotel and Resort is located 25 minutes from Lucca and approximately mid-way between Pisa and Florence. The hotel is well known for its trend-setting ways and is also known as the “music hotel” for its role in transmitting the first music video in Europe (Lionel Richie’s “All Night Long”) in 1984. It also served as the headquarters hotel for Spike Lee during the shooting of the critically acclaimed film, Miracle at St. Anna.

The resort is situated within a private park and offers extensive indoor and outdoor sports activities. The property features extensive meeting facilities, including an 850-seat auditorium, two ballrooms and numerous smaller meeting rooms, and four food and beverage outlets.

About Shaner Hotel Group
Headquartered in State College, Pa., Shaner Hotel Group is part of the Shaner Companies, a diversified, privately held company that owns and operates investments in the lodging, investment, energy and professional service sectors. Shaner Hotel Group is a developer/owner/operator that currently owns and manages over 30 hotels.

In April 2011, Shaner Corporation announced a new division, Shaner Italia, SRL, to own and operate hotels in Italy. Its first join-venture acquisition is Il Ciocco, which will be officially rebranded into a Marriott Renaissance Hotel by 2012.