Kevin Cook

Travis Ney and Andrew Nelson are among several School of Tourism and Hospitality Management students serving internships with sports and entertainment venues throughout Pennsylvania.

Pennsylvania tourism — the state’s second-largest industry — depends on much more than the urban centers of Philadelphia and Pittsburgh. The $28 billion industry thrives when points in between draw tourists throughout the Commonwealth.

To keep tourism booming, students from Temple’s School of Tourism and Hospitality Management regularly complete internships outside of Greater Philadelphia.

Michele Harhut, of Archbald, Pa., stayed near her hometown for her junior internship in the Scranton Cultural Center’s event-planning department, where she helped organize weddings, musicals and school tours, among other events.

For her senior internship, the sport and recreation management major is working in operations at Mohegan Sun Arena, home of the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins. In addition to minor-league hockey games, the arena also hosts concerts, wrestling tournaments, monster truck rallies and children’s shows.

“I think tourism is essential throughout Pennsylvania, especially in the state the economy is in. People are looking for things to do in their own backyard that won’t cost them a whole lot of money and travel time,” Harhut said. “Customers really are the first priority, and their happiness is key.”

According to the Pennsylvania Tourism & Lodging Association (PTLA), tourism and hospitality in the state includes a workforce of 400,000 people who represent hotels, restaurants, parks, stadiums and similar attractions.

With recruiting efforts recovering from the recession, colleges and universities will continue to play a vital role in creating a “pipeline of professionals ready to enter the market,” said PTLA Chairman James Purdum, also general manager of Penn State Hospitality Services.

“The more the Temples and Penn States of the world insist on placing students in environments where learning is prioritized and experiences are structured so students can make informed decisions about their careers and use their talent constructively, that becomes the win-win situation,” he said. “And that’s something we all need to work on and pay attention to.”

This semester, senior Adrea Meitzler is interning with the Lehigh Valley IronPigs, a minor-league baseball team based in Allentown, about 30 minutes away from her hometown of Alburtis.

Meitzler, a ticketing intern, has been updating fan databases and calling partial- or season-ticketholders to renew their plans. She’s also organizing birthday promotions and a heroes’ night to honor local firefighters, police, paramedics and veterans.

She completed her junior internship at the Valley Preferred Cycling Center in Breiningsville, Pa., and worked for more than a year at The Hub Meetings & Events Centers in Philadelphia.

Although Meitzler considered staying in Philadelphia this semester, she saw more opportunity with the IronPigs — particularly the prospect of full-time employment.

“I definitely have seen the impact this organization has had on the community,” she said, adding that the Phillies-affiliated team sold out 60 of 72 home games last season. “People love it here. … It is a major attraction.”

Meitzler has two counterparts at the Reading Phillies. Tourism senior Travis Ney of Quakertown, Pa., started in January as a group-sales intern, while Andrew Nelson interns in community relations. Both will work through August.

Nelson, who grew up in Springfield, Pa. but went to high school in Manheim, Lancaster County, is helping to coordinate special ticket and media promotions, as well as updating outfield billboards with new corporate logos as the stadium finishes a $10 million renovation. He has also twice served as Screwball, a team mascot.

“Just don’t talk,” Nelson said of the advice he received before getting in the costume. “The rest is pretty much up to you.”

Mike Robinson, the Reading Phillies’ group-sales director and internship coordinator, said he’s been impressed with the quality of Temple interns.

“When Travis and Andrew came in for their interviews, they were well-prepared and conducted themselves as professionals. After the interview, I knew I wanted both of those guys,” Robinson said. “They’re doing a great job with us.”