Intern - Marketing George Mason University

Thompson Hospitality Corporation•Reston, VA

About The Position

Thompson Hospitality is seeking a creative, organized, and results-driven Campus Marketing & Student Engagement Coordinator to support and grow its partnership with George Mason University (GMU). The role aims to increase brand awareness, restaurant traffic, student and university engagement, and revenue across Thompson Hospitality’s restaurant portfolio. The coordinator works with Thompson Hospitality’s Marketing and Restaurant Operations teams and university partners to execute campus marketing initiatives, activate sponsorship benefits, develop student engagement programs, and identify catering, group dining, and restaurant promotion opportunities. A key priority is increasing participation in the GMU Meal Swipe Program while encouraging repeat visits and expanding awareness of Thompson Hospitality restaurant brands. The position includes executing campus and digital marketing, building relationships with student organizations and university stakeholders, coordinating student-focused events and sponsorship activations, generating catering and group dining opportunities, conducting campus outreach, coordinating a part-time GMU student marketing intern subject to university approval and business needs, and tracking and reporting campaign and business performance. The role requires regular campus visits and flexibility to work occasional evenings and weekends for campus events and athletic activations. Thompson Hospitality describes itself as one of the country’s largest restaurants, food service, and facilities management companies, built on more than 33 years of relationships with clients, guests, and communities. It states that it is an equal opportunity employer and values diversity.

Requirements

Be a student at George Mason University.
Experience in marketing, event coordination, hospitality, sales, brand activation, community outreach, or campus engagement.
Strong communication, relationship-building, organizational, and project management skills.
Ability to manage multiple initiatives, meet deadlines, and follow through on commitments.
Comfort conducting in-person outreach, supporting events, and representing Thompson Hospitality professionally.
Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, including ability to track activities, measure results, and communicate performance.
Proficiency in Microsoft Office, particularly Excel and PowerPoint.
Ability to work independently and collaborate effectively with marketing, restaurant operations, and university partners.
Flexibility to work occasional evenings and weekends to support campus events and athletic activations.

Nice To Haves

Experience working with college students, university organizations, or campus-based programs.
Familiarity with social media and digital marketing platforms.

Responsibilities

Execute marketing initiatives to increase awareness of Thompson Hospitality restaurant brands and dining options among GMU students, faculty, staff, and visitors.
Promote the GMU Meal Swipe Program using campus events, digital marketing, social media, signage, promotional materials, and approved university communication channels.
Coordinate campus signage and promotional materials, including A-frame signs, table tents, flyers, and QR codes.
Collaborate with Mason Marketing on website placements, digital advertising, print promotions, coupon programs, and student-focused offers.
Support promotional events, restaurant activations, and campaigns that aim to increase first-time visits and repeat business.
Build relationships with student organizations, residence life, student affairs, athletics, academic departments, and other university stakeholders.
Develop a pipeline of student organizations and campus groups for group dining, catering, restaurant promotions, and special events.
Coordinate student-focused activations, including pop-up events, spirit nights, and potential Meal Swipe Nights.
Support residence hall and move-in initiatives that introduce students to participating Thompson Hospitality restaurants.
Develop and coordinate a student ambassador program to increase brand awareness, encourage restaurant visits, and collect feedback.
Identify student engagement opportunities through campus events, student organizations, social media, and peer-to-peer marketing.
Coordinate and execute marketing and promotional benefits associated with Thompson Hospitality’s GMU sponsorship.
Support athletic event promotions, including public address announcements, digital signage, website banners, social media collaborations, and email marketing campaigns.
Coordinate restaurant brand features and promotions connected to GMU athletic events.
Support catering and Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) partnership opportunities with university athletics and Thompson Hospitality leadership.
Track sponsorship deliverables, deadlines, promotional placements, and engagement results.
Identify business opportunities with university departments, faculty and staff, student organizations, athletic programs, and university-affiliated groups.
Promote catering, group dining, team meals, departmental events, employee recognition events, and applicable restaurant services.
Develop and distribute marketing materials about catering, group dining, restaurant promotions, and university discounts.
Conduct targeted outreach to university departments and campus organizations to generate catering leads and event bookings.
Partner with restaurant operations and catering teams to ensure leads are followed up and developed into business opportunities.
Conduct regular campus visits to execute marketing initiatives, support events, distribute approved promotional materials, and identify partnership opportunities.
Maintain a consistent outreach schedule focused on student organizations, residence halls, academic departments, athletics, and university events.
Monitor competitor activity, student dining preferences, campus trends, and emerging opportunities.
Coordinate the activities of a part-time GMU student marketing intern, subject to university approval and business needs.
Maintain contact lists, outreach records, event calendars, and partnership tracking tools.
Provide weekly updates on completed activities, upcoming priorities, partnership progress, and opportunities for improvement.
Track Meal Swipe Program transactions, restaurant sales, promotional offer redemptions, QR code scans, and campaign engagement.
Monitor student organization outreach, partnership activations, catering inquiries, booked events, and revenue generated.
Prepare weekly activity reports and monthly performance summaries for Thompson Hospitality leadership.
Use performance data and feedback to recommend improvements to marketing campaigns, sponsorship activations, and campus engagement strategies.