Hospitality Internships in the Caribbean

This experience has been beneficial for me from the get-go. This is also exactly the type of internship that I was looking for, one that doesn’t require full Spanish fluency, but allows me the opportunity to improve my Spanish. It has only been a month so far, but I can already feel that my Spanish has reached another level.

Professionally, I have learned so much more about the tourism industry in general. This knowledge will be extremely beneficial for me when I return to Vietnam to open my own hostel. Academically, this internship is the perfect place where I can apply what I have learned from my first year of MBA.

My internship program is structured so that interns work six days a week with a day off. Interns can eat lunch at work and the food is made by the hotel’s kitchen staff when they are working. The program does not have much of a social aspect, but interns have sufficient free time on their own to explore nearby attractions and places. I have also made many new friends from the hotel and other places.

On the weekend, I tend to go to nearby towns to explore all the beauty of Mexico. I am planning to visit Chichen Itza in the nearby future as well. Academically, every working day is another day of learning for me. The learning is geared towards the hospitality and tourism industry.

What position do you hold at Worldwide Internship? What has been your career path so far?

Gaby: One of the amazing things about Worldwide Internships is that we’re a very small team working together on business strategies -- including: marketing, sales, business development, human resources, advertising and design among other company areas. My internship started at Worldwide Internships in 2012 and I started as the responsible contact for postings and scheduling interviews for the sales team. Now, almost 2 years later, I’m back with part Inbound and University Relations as well as in the Online Marketing and Recruitment department.

How have you changed/grown since working for your current company?

Gaby: Personally my mind has opened impressively. It is incredible how talking with people from different parts of the world can help you clear your perspective in so many things and grow so much as a person. At the end of the day, there’s a world out there that’s waiting for everybody.

What country have you always wanted to visit?

Gaby: I think of myself as a 'mind traveler'. I haven't been to many places (yet!) so basically every part of the world I want to go.

The main destinations are: Brazil, Argentina, Canada, Greece, Spain, Scotland and Dubai. I think each of them have something special that calls my attention.

What language have you always wanted to learn and why?

Gaby: Italian has always strongly interested me. One of my oldest cousins went to study abroad to Italy. When she came back, she showed me some of the words and I thought it was just perfect. I know the basics and I believe I can survive with what I know, but I would really like to keep developing my skills in that language.

What is the best story you've heard from a return student?​

Gaby: It’s not about the return student but about the whole process. A complicated situation comes to mind: one of our interns kept having his visa held up at the embassy. The process went back and forth between rejecting and moving very slowly. However, this intern never lost faith and always had a positive attitude.

"Everyday people straighten up the hair, why not the heart?" -Che Guevara

He knew that if he kept trying he would accomplish what he was aiming for. After 6 months of processes, his visa was finally accepted and he was able to move forward and experience an internship abroad. While he was abroad, he was extremely happy -- he developed his language skills, strengthened his positive attitude and beat any obstacle. That’s where you learn that giving up is not an option.