Paradores-Education Agreement 2026: VET hospitality and tourism internships

Key data

Students in vocational training programs in hospitality, tourism and catering have had a new official framework since April 24, 2026 to carry out their training placements at Paradores de Turismo de España. The Resolution of April 15, 2026 from the Under-Secretariat of the Ministry of Education, Vocational Training and Sports publishes the agreement regulating this collaboration, establishing the conditions, duration and number of available places.

This is not a minor agreement: Paradores de Turismo is one of Spain's leading hotel chains, with facilities in settings of high historical and gastronomic value. Its role as a collaborating company in dual training or internships means that students gain access to a real and demanding professional environment, which has a direct impact on their subsequent employability.

What does this regulation establish?

The agreement sets the framework for collaboration between the Ministry of Education, Vocational Training and Sports and Paradores de Turismo de España, S.M.E., SA for the development of training placements in its facilities. The key elements are:

• Covered modalities: dual training (alternation between educational center and company) and conventional training placements.
• Paradores' role: acts as a collaborating company, integrating students into its real operations, not in auxiliary or observation tasks.
• Eligible training programs: those related to hospitality, tourism and catering.
• Internal regulation: the specific conditions, duration of placements and number of places are regulated by the agreement text itself.
• Stated objective: to strengthen the connection between the education system and the labor market, improving student employability.

This type of agreement between the Ministry of Education and sector companies is a common mechanism in the development of dual VET in Spain, but the incorporation of Paradores as a collaborating company is relevant due to the profile and demands of its facilities.

Economic and operational impact

For educational centers, this agreement opens a formal pathway to place their students in quality internships without needing to negotiate individual agreements with each Paradores establishment. The framework is already negotiated at the ministerial level.

For Paradores, it means incorporating students in training into its operations, which can translate into support during high-demand seasons and the early recruitment of talent already trained in its standards.

For students, the impact is direct on employability: completing internships in a reference environment like Paradores is a differentiator in the labor market of the hospitality and tourism sector in Spain.

No financial amounts associated with the agreement have been published, nor costs for participating centers nor compensation for students on internships. This data, if it exists, will be included in the full text of the agreement available in the Official State Gazette.

Who does it affect?

• VET students enrolled in vocational training programs in hospitality, tourism and catering seeking company internships or dual training.
• Educational centers offering these programs and wanting to incorporate Paradores as a collaborating company in their internship or dual training programs.
• Guidance departments and VET coordinators responsible for managing internship agreements with companies.
• Paradores de Turismo de España and its establishments, which will need to adapt their operations to integrate students in training.
• Companies in the hospitality and tourism sector competing for talent: this agreement may influence the profile of candidates available in the market.

Practical example

A VET center in Madrid offering the Higher Level Vocational Training Program in Kitchen Management wants to offer its students internships in a high-demand environment. Until now, the VET coordinator had to negotiate individually with each restaurant or hotel.

With this agreement in force, the center can channel internship requests directly through the framework established between the Ministry and Paradores, without needing to negotiate conditions from scratch. Selected students are integrated into the real operations of one of the paradores, working in the kitchen, dining room or management depending on the program taken, under the duration conditions and number of places set by the agreement.

The result: the student gains experience in a reference environment, the center consolidates a stable relationship with a leading collaborating company, and Paradores accesses talent trained with homogeneous quality criteria.

What should centers and companies do now?

1. Consult the full text of the agreement in the Official State Gazette to learn the exact conditions, duration of placements and number of available places, data not detailed in the publication resolution.
2. Identify whether the training programs offered by the center are included in the agreement's scope (hospitality, tourism, catering) and whether they meet the requirements to participate.
3. Contact the corresponding regional education administration to learn the procedure for joining the agreement and the deadlines for requesting places for the next academic year.
4. Update dual training agreements if the center already has programs in place, incorporating Paradores as a collaborating company within the new regulated framework.
5. Inform students in the affected programs about this new internship opportunity, especially those in their final year who need to complete their company-based training.

Official source

Resolution of April 15, 2026, from the Under-Secretariat of the Ministry of Education, Vocational Training and Sports, publishing the Agreement between the Ministry of Education, Vocational Training and Sports and Paradores de Turismo de España, S.M.E., SA, for the development of training placements.

Published in: Official State Gazette (BOE), April 24, 2026.

Reference: BOE-A-2026-9006

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. The information contained herein is based on the official publication in the Official State Gazette. For specific guidance on how this agreement affects your center or company, consult with your education administration or legal advisor. The full text of the agreement should be reviewed for complete and accurate information on all conditions, requirements and procedures.