Finding an internship in Spain in the hospitality industry is a good way to improve the relevance of your CV and get a feel for the professional reality of the sector.
The economic attractiveness of Spain’s tourism sector is generating vocations among French students, who see great employment opportunities in this country for the future.
In this article, we’d like to give you a brief introduction to the hotel industry in Spain, and show you that it makes perfect sense for a French student to do an internship in a Spanish hotel.
As mentioned above, the tourism sector in Spain is doing very well, with excellent internship and job opportunities available to students from all over the world.
Despite the political crisis over Catalan independence, Spain alone attracts millions of tourists every year, who use the hotels and services dedicated to their vacations.
A number of studies conducted in the hotel sector show that hotel occupancy times have been increasing over the past 20 years, with the result that hotel owners are now making more profits.
Tourist appeal is driving up hotel prices, and many establishments are upgrading their infrastructure to obtain an extra star.
For example, in 2016, investment in the hotel sector is estimated at 2,000 million euros. These signals are positive for employment and attractiveness.
An internship in Spain represents a dream opportunity for thousands of French students training in the hospitality industry. A large proportion of internships in the hotel industry are in reception and entertainment professions. So it’s easy to find internships in reception in a hotel in Spain, for example.
Hotels offering mid-range and high-end services are likely to offer you an internship lasting several months, but of course it’s always better to aim higher by selecting very high-end or luxury establishments.
There are many hotel chains, the most represented in Spain being Ibis, Iberostar, Eurostars Hotels, Marriott, Tryp, Rusticae, Secotel Hoteles, Melia, NH Hotel Group and Hotusa Hotels.
Of course, it’s essential to prospect in Spain’s major cities and tourist hotspots. We’re thinking of Barcelona, Malaga, Palma, Seville, Valencia, Madrid, Bilbao, etc.
Luxury hotels are located on the seaside resorts of the Costa Brava, Costa Blanca and islands such as Ibiza. For example, you’ll find the Park Hyatt Mallorca luxury hotel in Mallorca, located in the Cap Vermell area.
Numerous establishments will open during 2018 with job offers and internships on offer, for example the Hyatt Centric in Madrid or the Nobu Hotel located in Marbella.
Spain boasts thousands of kilometers of beach with resorts offering tourists ever more hotel services. From 2019, the Ritz-Carlton hotel group will be offering a luxury cruise entitled: The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection.
You can also prospect for internships in spa and aquatic centers dedicated to relaxation.
To get professional contacts, you can look on social networks dedicated to professionals or contact them directly by phone if your Spanish is correct.
All these sites usually have an official website where you can contact the recruitment managers.
To obtain relevant information on your internship sites, please contact your school’s secretariat, who will be able to guide you more easily.
Finally, you can also use the services of private organizations that put you in touch with companies in Spain. These student services are generally free of charge, as partnerships have been set up with universities and schools.
The vast majority of internships in Spain are unpaid, which is why we strongly advise you to apply for the Erasmus program.
If you are accepted into the program, you will be eligible for financial assistance for the duration of your internship (3 months maximum).
Last but not least, don’t forget to have an internship agreement drawn up to provide a legal framework for the professional activities you will be entrusted with.
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