Paradores-Education Agreement 2026: VET internships in hospitality

Key data

Companies in the hospitality sector have had, since May 9, 2026, a new reference framework for organizing vocational training internships. The Resolution of May 4, 2026 (BOE-A-2026-10097) publishes the agreement signed between the Ministry of Education, Vocational Training and Sports and Paradores de Turismo de España, S.M.E., SA for the development of training internships in their establishments.

The agreement is not only relevant for Paradores: any hotel chain, restaurant or tourism company can replicate this model with VET centers in their area. The agreement establishes the framework that regulates how these internships are organized, supervised and executed, and serves as a template for public-private collaboration in dual vocational training.

What does this agreement establish?

The agreement sets the legal and operational framework under which students of training programs linked to hospitality, tourism and catering can carry out practical internships in the establishments of the Paradores de Turismo de España network.

The elements regulated by the agreement are as follows:

• Conditions of internships: the agreement establishes the conditions under which students access Paradores establishments to carry out their training internships.
• Duration: the agreement determines the time period of the internships, although the specific details of the deadlines are in the full text of the agreement.
• Supervision: the system for monitoring and mentoring students during their internship is regulated, ensuring compliance with training objectives.
• Professional families covered: hospitality, tourism and catering, within the framework of vocational training programs.

The agreement strengthens public-private collaboration in dual vocational training and contributes to job placement in the national tourism sector, a sector with high demand for qualified profiles and recurring difficulties in filling vacancies.

Economic and operational impact

For Paradores de Turismo, the agreement provides two concrete operational advantages:

• Access to talent in training: interns cover operational needs in the establishments during internships, at a lower cost than direct hiring.
• Talent pipeline: internships allow identification and retention of profiles before they enter the open labor market, reducing future recruitment costs.

For the hospitality sector in general, the impact is one of opportunity: this agreement establishes a replicable model. Companies that sign similar agreements with educational centers can access the same benefits without recruitment costs and with the regulatory backing of dual vocational training.

The agreement also has an impact on employability in the national tourism sector: by integrating students into real work environments during their training, the gap between the training received and the actual needs of companies is reduced.

Who does it affect?

• VET students in training programs in hospitality, tourism and catering who seek to carry out their internships in a reference professional environment.
• Educational centers that teach training programs in the hospitality and tourism families and want to establish agreements with companies in the sector.
• Paradores de Turismo de España, S.M.E., SA, as the signatory entity and recipient of interns.
• Companies in the hospitality and tourism sector that want to replicate this agreement model with VET centers to access talent in training.
• HR managers and operations directors of hotel chains, restaurants and tourism companies interested in dual training as a talent acquisition channel.

Practical example

A medium-sized hotel chain with establishments in several provinces wants to reduce its dependence on temporary employment agencies to fill positions in dining, kitchen and reception during peak season. Following the model of the Paradores-Ministry of Education agreement, the chain contacts two VET institutes near its establishments and begins negotiations for a training internship agreement.

The agreement, based on the same regulatory framework as the agreement published in the Official Gazette, allows the chain to receive students from hospitality and catering programs during the months of highest demand. Students carry out their mandatory internships in a real environment, the company identifies the best profiles and, upon completion of the training program, can incorporate them directly without an external selection process.

The result: reduced selection costs, better fit of the incorporated profile and contribution to sector training in its territory.

What should companies do now?

1. Assess whether the company can host VET students on internships: review whether hospitality, tourism or catering training profiles fit the operational needs of the business.
2. Identify nearby educational centers: locate institutes or VET centers that teach hospitality, tourism or catering programs in the area of influence of the establishments.
3. Use the Paradores-Ministry agreement as a reference: the text published in the Official Gazette (BOE-A-2026-10097) establishes the framework of conditions, duration and supervision that can be replicated in your own agreement.
4. Contact the educational center's guidance department: VET centers have established procedures for formalizing agreements with companies. The first contact is with the work-based training tutor or the program director.
5. Formalize the agreement with the center: the agreement must include the conditions of the internship, duration, supervision system and training objectives, following the dual vocational training framework.
6. Designate an internal mentor in the company: the agreement requires the company to designate a person responsible for supervising and mentoring the student during the internship, ensuring compliance with training objectives.