If it works for Donald Trump, why not the NYLO Hotel in Warwick?

Management of the hotel, located in a restored mill building at 400 Knight St., will hold a competition next week inspired by Trump’s TV show, The Apprentice. On television, Trump gave his contestants a series of tasks, then “fired” them, one by one, until the last one remaining was rewarded with a job working for one of Trump’s companies.

In The NYLO Sales Apprentice Contest, there will be no individual firings, but the winner will receive a one-year paid internship working for the hotel in a sales position, charged with bringing guests and events to NYLO.

The competition starts Saturday, when 20 contestants selected from a pool of about 45 will arrive at the NYLO Hotel for a series of 10-minute interviews with hotel executives, including chief executive officer John Russell. Ten will be sent home right away. The other 10 will pack their bags and move into the hotel until Thursday, when the contest ends. There will be an orientation on Sunday, then a series of daily challenges from Monday through Thursday.

Sue Gallogly, director of sales for NYLO in Warwick, wouldn’t reveal the specific challenges, but said they’ll be focused on building attendance for a fundraiser to benefit the Rhode Island Community Food Bank, which is being held at the hotel Thursday night.

As of Friday afternoon, said Gallogly, NYLO managers were still narrowing down the applicants. One of the hopefuls was Josh Roth, 27, of Warwick. Roth, who said he works as an independent consultant for restaurants, hotels and clubs, studied architecture at Roger Williams University and is working on an MBA at Johnson & Wales University.

Roth said he read about the contest on Craigslist, an Internet posting of classified ads. When he went to NYLO to drop off his resumé, he was impressed with what he saw. “They have a unique boutique hotel in that location. They turned around a dilapidated mill building on a river in Warwick,” he said.

Gallogly said the idea for the contest originated with CEO Russell, who was watching The Apprentice one night with his son. She said the contest combines several goals: to raise awareness of the hotel; to help the Rhode Island Community Food Bank; to give someone a job; and to have fun.

NYLO currently owns two hotels, one in Warwick and one in Plano, Texas, with another Texas hotel due to open this summer.

asmith@projo.com