Internships in Travel and Tourism: Where to Apply Based on 2026 Destination Trends

Hook: Stop Scrolling—Turn Destination Hype into a High-Impact Internship

Searching for travel internships 2026 but overwhelmed by scattered listings, unclear application windows, or internships that don’t build career-ready skills? You’re not alone. In 2026, destination trends shape hiring: hospitality groups expand in fast-growing cities, startups scale in experience-led markets, and sustainability teams hire for long-term projects. This guide turns The Points Guy’s 2026 destination list into a practical roadmap: which companies are hiring, what internship roles matter (sustainability, operations, marketing), and exactly how to apply so you land a meaningful role.

Why destination trends matter to your internship search in 2026

Destination popularity isn’t just travel inspiration—it's a jobs signal. When a city or country experiences a surge in international visitors, local DMOs, hotel groups, tour operators, and technology platforms boost hiring. In late 2025 and early 2026 we saw several signals that affect internship hiring:

• Increased funding for sustainable and regenerative tourism projects, driven by both NGOs and major hotel brands committing to net-zero targets.
• Growth of experience-first travel—small local operators and curated-experience startups scaling faster than traditional operators.
• More travel-tech adoption: AI-driven personalization, real-time operations tools, and mobile-first booking experiences—creating demand for data, UX, and product interns.
• Policy shifts such as expanded digital-nomad and remote-work visa programs, which fuel longer-stay tourism and create new hospitality product lines.

Use these trends to prioritize where you apply: growing destinations equal more entry-level roles and internship budgets in 2026.

How to use The Points Guy’s 2026 list to find targeted internships

The Points Guy’s 2026 destination list highlights 17 places where travel demand and industry investment are concentrated. Instead of applying randomly, map each destination to the right employer types and roles. Below we break down recommended companies and internship types for the most recruit-heavy destination categories in that list.

Urban revival and culinary hubs (e.g., Lisbon, Mexico City, Athens)

Why these destinations matter: Culinary tourism and lifestyle travel are driving extended stays and boutique hotel growth. Local gastronomy programs, food tours, and festivals need operational and marketing support.

• Companies to target: Marriott International (local brands), Hyatt (boutique tech-forward properties), Airbnb (Experiences team), regional DMO offices (e.g., Visit Lisboa), and experiential operators like GetYourGuide or Klook.
• Roles: Travel marketing internships (campaigns, social), F&B operations intern, guest experience assistant, and events coordination internships.
• Why apply: These roles teach guest-driven content, partner outreach, and small-business sourcing—skills highly transferable to global hospitality careers.

Adventure and nature-driven growth (e.g., Iceland, New Zealand, Costa Rica)

Why these destinations matter: A sustained interest in outdoor and low-density travel has boosted eco-lodges, adventure tour operators, and conservation partnerships.

• Companies to target: Intrepid Travel, G Adventures, leading eco-lodge chains, national park trusts, and local sustainable tourism NGOs like Sustainable Travel International or regional conservation bodies.
• Roles: Sustainable tourism internships, field operations assistant, conservation project coordinator, and eco-tour guide apprentice.
• Why apply: These internships often include hands-on environmental monitoring, community engagement, and reporting—ideal for students in environmental studies or hospitality with sustainability focuses.

Cultural heritage and secondary-city growth (e.g., Dubrovnik / Split region, Kyoto / regional Japan)

Why these destinations matter: As tourists shift to secondary cities, cultural preservation and community tourism programs expand—creating demand for destination management and heritage marketing roles.

• Companies to target: National and municipal DMOs, UNESCO-related programs, cultural foundations, and local tour companies specializing in heritage experiences.
• Roles: Destination marketing intern, heritage interpretation assistant, research intern (visitor impact analysis), community partnership coordinator.
• Why apply: Work here provides exposure to stakeholder management, grant-funded projects, and cultural programming—useful for public-sector and NGO career paths.

Emerging Latin American cities (e.g., Medellín, Bogotá, Lima)

Why these destinations matter: Investment in urban tourism, boutique hospitality, and culinary scenes makes Latin America a hot spot for internships in operations, guest relations, and local marketing.

• Companies to target: Regional boutique hotel chains, specialized tour operators, and hospitality groups expanding into these markets.
• Roles: Front-desk operations intern, revenue management analyst (entry level), local partnerships and influencer outreach.
• Why apply: High-volume visitor seasons give interns measurable projects—reservation systems, yield management, and bilingual guest communications.

Islands and coastal regeneration (e.g., Zanzibar, Caribbean islands, Greek islands)

Why these destinations matter: Island economies rely on tourism; in 2026 there’s newly available funding for regenerative tourism that involves local hiring and training programs.

• Companies to target: Island resort groups, sustainable-tourism NGOs, cruise line shore-experience teams (e.g., Royal Caribbean local excursions), and community-based tourism cooperatives.
• Roles: Sustainability internships, community tourism coordinator, shore-excursion operations intern.
• Why apply: Internships often include community engagement and project-based deliverables that strengthen your portfolio.

Internship types: What to aim for and why

Across destinations, three internship types consistently provide the best training and hiring pipelines in 2026:

1. Sustainability internships — In 2026 employers want staff who can measure impact, run carbon calculations, and implement regenerative practices. Great for environment majors and hospitality students.
2. Operations internships — From front-of-house to revenue management and logistics. These roles teach the data-driven backbone of tourism operations.
3. Travel marketing internships — Content, social, paid campaigns, and partnerships. As destinations compete for attention, marketing internships offer high visibility projects and measurable KPIs.

Examples of specific internships and sample responsibilities

• Sustainability Internship at a boutique eco-resort: carbon audit support, local sourcing strategy, community-impact reporting.
• Operations Intern at an urban boutique hotel: PMS (Property Management System) support, shift coordination, guest satisfaction analytics.
• Travel Marketing Intern at a DMO: campaign planning, influencer outreach, multilingual content management, performance reporting.
• Product Intern at a travel-tech startup: user research, product requirement documentation, A/B testing for booking funnels.

“Apply where the tourism money and projects are moving—being in a growing destination means more budgets, more mentorship, and faster responsibility.”

Where to apply: Recommended companies and organizations for 2026

Below are employers that hire interns aligned with The Points Guy’s destination trends. For each, find both global and local teams—many firms hire regionally, and local teams often provide more hands-on experience.

Global hotel and resort groups

• Marriott International (brand teams, openings in secondary cities)
• Accor (strong in Europe and emerging markets)
• Hilton and Hyatt (operations & guest experience internships)

Experience platforms and OTAs

• Airbnb Experiences (marketing & community partnerships)
• GetYourGuide and Klook (product, partnerships)
• Expedia Group and Booking.com (marketplace operations, data)

Tour operators and specialty travel

• Intrepid Travel and G Adventures (sustainable & community tourism programs)
• Local boutique operators in culinary and adventure niches

NGOs and standards bodies

• Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC), Sustainable Travel International, and local conservation trusts
• These organizations hire research interns, community engagement assistants, and monitoring & evaluation interns.

DMOs and city tourism offices

• Visit [City/Country] offices—e.g., Visit Lisboa, Tourism New Zealand, or regional offices in Latin America
• Roles include destination marketing, events coordination, and trade partnerships.

Actionable application strategy: How to win these internships

Follow this step-by-step playbook to convert interest into interviews and offers.

1. Pick 6 target roles across two destinations

Choose two destinations from The Points Guy’s 2026 list—one urban, one nature-focused—and select three roles each that match your skills (e.g., marketing, sustainability, operations). This balances risk and maximizes fit.

2. Tailor your resume and portfolio

• Highlight outcomes: “Increased social bookings by 18%” beats “managed social media.”
• Include quick projects: 2–3 case studies—campaign plans, guest experience improvements, or sustainability audits—even if hypothetical.
• Use keywords: travel internships 2026, travel marketing, sustainable tourism internships, hospitality roles—mirror job descriptions.

3. Build a local-angle cover letter

Refer to destination-specific trends: mention the destination’s seasonality or a recent initiative (e.g., a DMO’s regenerative tourism program). Show you did research and can start contributing on day one.

4. Apply where hiring actually happens

• Use company career pages for hotels and larger operators—many internships are posted internally first.
• Follow regional DMOs on LinkedIn—project-based internships are often shared there.
• Check specialized channels: hospitality school boards, university career portals, and platforms like Intern Abroad HQ, CIEE, and Erasmus internships for Europe.

5. Network with intent

Find current or former interns on LinkedIn and ask for a 15-minute informational chat. Use these calls to ask about project scope, the hiring timeline, and the concrete skills valued (PMS familiarity, Google Analytics, Salesforce, or carbon accounting basics).

6. Show remote and on-site flexibility

Many employers use hybrid internship models in 2026—operations roles still require on-site presence, but marketing and data roles often accept remote internships. Be explicit about your availability and visa status in the application to reduce back-and-forth.

Visa, compensation, and ethical considerations

Practical matters matter. Ask these upfront and evaluate offers with more than title-value in mind.

• Visa: Check work-eligibility—some island and national programs provide training visas; others require local work permits. Universities and DMO internships sometimes sponsor short-term trainee visas.
• Pay and stipends: 2026 shows growing pressure for paid internships—aim for paid or at least living stipends when the role requires relocation.
• Ethical travel internships: Avoid placements that replace paid local labor (particularly in community tourism). Prefer projects that emphasize training and capacity-building.

Skills to emphasize for 2026 travel internships

Hiring managers look for a hybrid of technical and soft skills:

• Digital skills: Google Analytics, basic SQL, CRM (Salesforce), PMS familiarity
• Marketing: social campaign strategy, influencer outreach, content creation
• Sustainability: carbon accounting basics, impact monitoring, community engagement
• Operations: reservation systems, yield/revenue basics, logistics coordination
• Soft skills: cross-cultural communication, stakeholder diplomacy, problem-solving

Sample 6-week project ideas to include in your application

Show hiring teams you’ll deliver value quickly by pitching a short, measurable project in your cover letter or interview.

• Travel Marketing: 6-week pilot influencer campaign focused on micro-influencers that includes metrics tracking and a content calendar.
• Sustainability: a small-scale waste-audit and local-sourcing plan for an F&B outlet or eco-lodge.
• Operations: a 4-week guest-flow optimization plan using reservation data to reduce morning check-in bottlenecks.
• Product/Tech: A/B test proposal for booking funnel friction points with KPIs and hypothesized improvements.

Study abroad internships and academic partnerships

If you’re a student, combine internships with academic credit for stronger employer interest and smoother visa or housing arrangements.

• Providers to explore: CIEE, IES Abroad, IAESTE, and university-affiliated internship centers—these organizations curate placements in trending destinations and often secure insurance and visas.
• Leverage faculty contacts: professors with tourism research links can place you in DMOs or local NGOs.

Interview prep: questions to expect and how to answer

Practice answers that tie your skills to the destination and the employer’s pain points.

• “Tell us about a campaign you ran”—bring data and a short portfolio piece showing measurable outcomes.
• “How would you improve our guest experience?”—propose a concrete, low-cost pilot (e.g., welcome-email flow, localized city guide).
• “What does sustainable tourism mean to you?”—use a specific example from your research on the destination or employer.

Salary expectations and market demand in 2026

Paid internships grew in 2025 as pressure mounted for fair labor practices. In 2026:

• Large hotel groups and travel-tech companies are likelier to offer paid internships or competitive stipends.
• Smaller operators and community projects may offer training and housing instead of full pay—assess total compensation (housing, meals, training) before accepting.
• For travel internships in 2026, expect stipends in the range of local living costs—research cost-of-living and ask for a stipend that covers basic expenses.

Future-facing tips: get ahead for 2027 and beyond

To keep your competitive edge as destination trends evolve:

• Learn basic data skills—entry-level analytics and dashboarding are huge differentiators.
• Build a sustainability portfolio—document measurable impact and community outcomes.
• Master short-form content—video and reels are essential for travel marketing.
• Follow policy and visa changes—digital nomad and remote-work visa expansions will create new programmatic internships.

Quick checklist before you hit submit

• 6-target-roles list and two destination focus chosen
• Resume tailored with metrics and travel-specific keywords
• 1-page portfolio or case study for each role type
• 3 LinkedIn informational chats scheduled per destination
• Visa and stipend questions prepared for the interview

Final recommendations: Where to prioritize applications now

Based on The Points Guy’s 2026 destinations and industry hiring signals, prioritize applications to:

• Experience platforms and OTAs for marketing and product internships (high volume, remote-friendly).
• Sustainable travel NGOs and eco-lodges in adventure/nature destinations for hands-on sustainability experience.
• Regional DMOs and boutique hotels in culinary and cultural-revival cities for marketing and operations training.

Closing: Convert travel trend knowledge into career momentum

Destination trends are more than travel inspiration—they’re hiring blueprints. Use The Points Guy’s 2026 list as a filter to find internships where budgets, projects, and growth are concentrated. Apply with a local angle, propose concrete short-term projects, and prioritize paid or stipend-backed roles. If you do the research and pitch immediate, measurable value, you’ll move from applicant to intern to hire faster.

Call to action

Ready to apply? Download our free two-page internship checklist and customizable cover-letter templates tailored for travel marketing, operations, and sustainability roles. Sign up for our weekly internship alerts to get hand-picked travel internships 2026, destination-specific openings, and application timelines delivered to your inbox.

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