NBTC Scandinavia

Placement organization

Name of organization: NBTC Scandinavia
Town/city: Stockholm
Country: Zweden
Website: http://www.nbtc.nl

Name of student: Eline Meulman

Specialist area: MT
Placement period: 2014-2015

Information about placement organization

Type of organization: Tourism Board
Organization’s activities: NBTC is responsible for branding and marketing the Netherlands nationally and internationally. Using the ‘Holland’ brand, NBTC puts the country on the map as an attractive destination for holidays, business meetings and conventions.

NBTC Scandinavia is the only office in NBTC that is responsible for the marketing for Aruba nationally and internationally (Denmark, Norway and Sweden).
Target group of the organization: Affluent travellers / Postmodern and Upper-Class
Company culture: My experience in the Swedish working field is that the workculture up North is more horizontal and informal than the hierarchy culture in Holland. When it comes to business, the Swedes mean business, but the way of approaching the goal and communicating is less direct than in Holland. Together you come to a decision where both parties agree and are satisfied.

The NBTC Scandinavian office is quite small with three employees in total. During morning coffees and lunches we share the same table. We have an informal company culture and compared to Holland it makes the working atmosphere more relaxed.
Number of employees: 3
Dress code: casual
Did the organization meet the agreements you made beforehand? Yes

Information about your placement

In which department(s) are you working? I am currently working in the marketing department. Branding and marketing Holland and Aruba to put the countries on the map as attractive destinations for leisure, business meetings and conventions.
Brief description of your daily activities: During the internship at NBTC Scandinavia my tasks are as followed:
– answering press inquiries
– writing press releases
– coordinate press trips
– support marketing activities
– performing various marketing tasks
– processing result data of marketing campaigns in reports
– maintaining relationship with local partners
– support function

Brief description of your company assignment: What kind of consumers are active on Social Media in the extend of travel related companies.

Researching the internet usage in combination with of the Swedes and comparing three travel related companies on Social Media with one another. By analyzing the behaviour of these companies and sketching a general profile of the visitors on that particular page. In the last part I will compare the sketched profiles with the profiles NBTC is achieving and see if there any similiarities or differences. The overal goal is sketching an image of what type of consumers are active on Social Media and in particular travel-related companies.
Comment briefly on your supervision by the organization: Every day we have a coffee in the morning where we discuss the progress and updates. Furthermore I have one day in a week where I have the possibility to work on my assignment.

On every monday morning we disscus the progress of my assignment. during these meetings I receive a lot of help from both of my colleagues.

Requirements for students on placement

What kind of personal skills are required for this placement? Independent, sociable, flexible, stress-proof
Additional company requirements for this placement? MS Office, writing skills
English: Advanced
Spanish:
French:
German:
Italian:
Other languages:

The trip

Mode of transport to reach your destination: Airplane / car

Accommodation

How did you arrange your accommodation? Myself with help of colleague
How did you go to work every day? Public transport / Metro

Visa / work permit / vaccinations

Do you need a visa? No
Do you need a work permit? No
How did you arrange the necessary documents:
How much time did it take to arrange the necessary documents?
Did you need certain vaccinations? No
How long in advance?

Language course

Did you take a language course before you started your placement? No
Would you recommend to have a language course prior to this placement? Yes

The costs in euros

Travelling expenses (e.g. return ticket): € 350
Accommodation (monthly): € 475
Local transport (monthly): € 80
General costs of living (monthly): € 600
Costs of visa: € 0
Costs of work permit: € 0
What did the company pay for/to you? The company is offering me a motnhly allowance and a public transportation card.

Culture

How did you prepare for the country’s culture?
Since Sweden is located in Europe and is known to be one of the best developed countries I didn’t do much preperation. I knew they spoke rather good english, so I wouldn’t have any trouble with finding my way.

Did the culture of the country influence your performance during the placement in any way? No

Future students on placement

Future students are free to contact me for further information: Yes
My e-mail address: 122528@edu.nhtv.nl

Other information

Recommendations on what to do and what not to do: Sweden is compared to Holland in some ways more expensive, for example the housing is more expensive as well as drinking and eating. The Erasmus Scholarships are well developed to help people who live in an expensive European country.

Sweden has a lot to offer if you take a look on history, culture and nature. I have learned a lot here, in the working field and on a personal level. The internship was in a small company and therefor I have seen so many different aspects of marketing. Learning on a personal level has made me grow. It really helped me being in a new country on my own. All I want to give you as advice is be open for new oppurtinities. No matter where you are, you will grow!Try it and find out!
Leisure possibilities in the city/surroundings of where the placement took place: Stockholm is a two million people big city and has so much possibilities to see and do. During the summer time the daylight rises at 5 in the morning and dissapears at 12 in the evening. These are the best times to be in Stockholm. During the wintertime it is turned around and it gets dark around 3 in the afternoon and daylight starts at 9 in the morning.

During the summer the many islands in Stockholm offers perfect options for a swim, relax or barbeque with friends. Throughout Stockholm they organize music festivities and the nature is very beautiful to walk through.

Media

Youtube link Youtube placement video link