Examining the Relationship Between Hotel Familiarization and Internship Performance of Bachelor of Science in Hospitality Management Students at Palawan State University – Brooke's Point Campus

Experiential learning plays a crucial role in hospitality management education as it allows students to translate theoretical knowledge into practical competencies required in professional environments. This study examined the relationship between the performance of Bachelor of Science in Hospitality Management (BSHM) students during hotel familiarization and their performance during midyear internship training at Palawan State University – Brooke’s Point Campus. The study employed a descriptive–correlational research design using performance evaluation records of 56 BSHM students who completed both hotel familiarization and internship training during the academic year 2024–2025. Descriptive statistics were used to determine students’ performance levels, while simple linear regression analysis was applied to determine the relationship between the two experiential learning activities. Results revealed that most students achieved Satisfactory performance during hotel familiarization (45%), with a grand mean score of 77.8, indicating fairly satisfactory competency during the preparatory stage. In contrast, performance during internship training improved significantly, with 48% of respondents achieving Highly Satisfactory ratings and 14% obtaining Excellent performance. Regression analysis revealed a moderate positive relationship (R = 0.532, p < .001) between hotel familiarization performance and internship performance. The findings demonstrate that hotel familiarization significantly contributes to students’ readiness and performance during internship training. The study provides empirical evidence supporting the institutionalization of hotel familiarization as a vital and recurring experiential learning activity that should be conducted yearly to enhance students’ practical competencies and professional preparedness in hospitality management education.