remote internship Archives - Solimar International

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Solimar Sustainable Tourism Intern Alumni–Where Are They Now?

Written by Eleanor Grubbs on August 30, 2024. Posted in Blog, Uncategorized.

Introduction to Solimar Sustainable Tourism Internships

Since its inception in 2006, Solimar’s sustainable tourism internship program has become a cornerstone for nurturing the next generation of leaders in sustainable tourism. Over nearly 20 years, the program has welcomed talented interns into the program, ranging from undergraduate to Ph.D. students, each semester and summer. Solimar CEO Chris Seek began the program in collaboration with the George Washington Tourism Program, reserving it for students at DC area schools. In 2019, the program switched to hybrid to incorporate students from across the US and worldwide. Seek describes the long-term goal for the internship program as a way to “provide students with a professional development opportunity and introduction to the industry, and to support our mission and projects.” Through the years, these sustainable tourism interns continue to share a deep passion for tourism and travel, with interests spanning various fields such as storytelling, data analysis, tourism development, and environmental preservation.

Solimar’s sustainable tourism internship program is not just an educational experience; it’s a launchpad for future careers in the tourism industry. Our interns have gone on to make significant contributions to tourism development and environmental preservation worldwide. This article highlights the achievements of nine outstanding alumni, showcasing the diverse paths they have taken and the impact they continue to make in the fields of tourism, sustainability, and international development.

City Tourism — Photo by Nan Zhou on Unsplash

Solimar Interns Now Involved in Tourism

The foundation of Solimar International is sustainable tourism. For this reason, Solimar attracts team members and interns who share a passion for travel. For some, this passion may evolve into a long-term career within the tourism sector, while for others, it may take a different path. Nevertheless, it is this shared enthusiasm that has led many Solimar interns to pursue and achieve successful careers in the tourism industry. This section highlights three former interns who have remained in the field of tourism and have undertaken noteworthy and impactful work.

1. Chloe King, Summer 2019 Intern, Director of Stewardship at Solimar International

Chloe King is currently a PhD Researcher at the University of Cambridge, where she works with stakeholders of the Galapagos Islands to help create a more regenerative future for tourism. Chloe is passionate about the intersection of conservation, climate change, and tourism, working to create solutions that value people and nature over profit. Through her work, Chloe investigates the age-old question of the tourism industry: “How do we manage tourism sustainably and equitably?”

Chloe spoke about some of the challenges in weighing the risks and rewards of tourism through her work in the Galapagos: “Tourism can be a hugely risky activity to conduct in areas of high biodiversity. Here in the Galapagos, tourism is bringing a huge increased risk of invasive species, which is the biggest biodiversity challenge on this island. At the same time, tourism has introduced a lot of additional financing and funding opportunities for local communities. It is important to understand that there will always be trade-offs between conservation and development goals… How do you navigate those goals in a transparent and equitable way for large swaths of stakeholders rather than just the ones in power?”

She continues to explain that Destination Management Organizations allow for the collaboration of multiple perspectives between private and public sectors within a community. For example, during her time living in Timor Leste, the government was considering building a casino on the island to boost tourism, but the locals were able to protest the casino through their DMO and block its development. In other words, “tourism in this way is effective in giving people a voice and uniting people around a common cause rather than just letting growth and development happen for the sake of it.”

2. Dominic Gialdini, Fall 2020 Intern, Chief Operating Officer of South Central Tennessee Tourism Association

Dominic Gialdini attained an Erasmus Mundus European Master of Tourism Management, where he specialized in tourism management and sustainable development. With Solimar, he worked on the Armenia and Georgia DMO projects. Dominic currently serves as the Chief Operating Officer of the South Central Tennessee Tourism Association and the Executive Director of the Tennessee Tourism Investment Project.

Dominic examined his work with rural DMOs and considered how this particular lens has influenced his view of tourism development: “My work with rural DMOs has influenced my view on tourism development by allowing me to see the challenges faced by small-scale operations. Rural DMOs often have staffing and budget limitations, and sometimes locals are skeptical or even actively against tourism development…Having established a DMO in a rural Appalachian community, I came to learn quickly that building kudos and trust with locals would be paramount to the success of my project objectives.”

Throughout his time in a rural DMO, Dominic has come to recognize that tourism is a team effort and that tremendous value lies in the opinions and support of the local community: “From my work in 13 counties in south-central Tennessee, I have seen time and time again the hard work that chamber directors, county employees, and DMO directors engage in to make tourism successful. It is important to find allies and support them, especially in contexts where the powers that be create roadblocks and speed bumps for the tourism professionals.”

Dominic also highlighted the importance of recognizing that rural DMOs can serve a different purpose than urban DMOs. “I like to think of larger cities or attractions as the hubs to the spokes that are rural destinations. Large cities like Memphis, Nashville, and Chattanooga serve as anchors that attract diverse demographics of tourists (including international travelers) and bring in large-scale conferences and events. However, many wonderful destinations (e.g., Lynchburg and the Jack Daniel Distillery or historic Bell Buckle) serve as great day trips for those who want to experience a bit of rural life and sample a few activities….”

3. Emilie Ehrman, Fall 2020 Intern, Senior Associate at Skift Advisory

Emilie Ehrman attained a Master of Global Management from the Thunderbird School of Global Management at Arizona State University, which aids her ongoing advocacy for environmentally and socially responsible travel. She currently works as a Senior Associate for Skift Advisory, a market research consulting firm specializing in travel and tourism. When asked about a project incorporating her passion for travel, Emilie gave a recent example of her work with Discover Puerto Rico.

“Discover Puerto Rico had impressive sustainable tourism goals, but they weren’t sure if they had the assets or foundation to claim they were a sustainable destination or to foster a sustainable tourism program, campaign, etc., so they retained Skift Advisory to investigate. For the sustainable tourism audit, my team and I did significant research to identify strong, authentically sustainable assets (accommodations, tour operators, attractions) that already existed on the island. We ranked these initiatives using a Skift Advisory framework designed to look at the asset holistically, including economic, social, and environmental impact (this is all public in a published executive summary). We also examined other destinations, comparable to PR, based on a set of criteria, and determined their sustainable tourism success, including what they were doing right. Finally, we provided a list of themes we were able to identify as qualities of sustainable tourism assets and destinations.”

Emilie enjoyed this project because it incorporated her passion for sustainable tourism, while also creating space to recognize the obstacles that so many destinations face in feeling so behind and not knowing where to begin.

“This project showed that Puerto Rico already had a really incredible assortment of sustainable tourism assets, that protected and regenerated the environment, supported the economy and culture of Puerto Rico, and empowered Puerto Rico to lead sustainable efforts.”

Solimar Interns Now Involved in Sustainability

Sustainable Nature Tourism — Photo by Alex Moliski on Unsplash

For Solimar, sustainability and tourism are inextricably linked. Tourism development cannot occur without holistic consideration of the longevity and success of the local people and their environment. Sustainability is a far-reaching sector, allowing it to assume many different forms and roles. This section highlights three former interns doing notable and unique things within this sphere.

1. Thomas Kalchik, Spring 2022 Intern, Senior Facilities and Sustainability Associate with the US Green Building Council

Thomas Kalchik is a credentialed LEED Green Associate and TRUE Advisor, which he utilizes through sustainable construction projects, facilities management, and operational strategies. He serves as a Senior Facilities and Sustainability Associate with the US Green Building Council. Additionally, Thomas and his partner Charles founded Casa Galú, a boutique nature hotel in Colombia’s Caribbean Sea.

“Casa Galú was constructed with the integrity of our natural surroundings and local community in mind. We wanted to build with minimal impact by not cutting down trees, and adhering to local construction customs by using materials and techniques common to our area. The structures were designed to work with the natural surroundings and not disrupt the ecosystems around us. For example, building around natural features such as a waterfall and river that naturally occurs when we have enough rain not only provides a visually stunning attraction for guests but allows the natural systems on our property to remain intact and healthy.”

Thomas attributed much of his above success to the knowledge he learned through his involvement in various sustainability-minded organizations. “Through my professional experience working with the US Green Building Council, and my up-to-date credentials as a LEED Green Associate and TRUE Advisor (zero waste) I have been able to offer my expertise in green building and operating strategies to the construction, maintenance, and operation of Casa Galú. This, combined with my work with Solimar and other travel and tourism organizations has allowed me to blend my various skills and knowledge relating to sustainable and regenerative tourism practices in order to create meaningful and impactful guest experiences.”

2. Lindsey Johnson, Spring 2023 Intern, Program Coordinator for the Soil & Climate Alliance and Nutrient Density Alliance

Lindsey Johnson draws on her background in climate change and health and wellbeing to promote sustainable food systems and regenerative tourism practices through her role as a Program Coordinator for the Soil & Climate Alliance and Nutrient Density Alliance. Additionally, Lindsey is the founder of Copani, a responsible travel platform focused on agritourism and culinary tourism. As a sustainability tourism intern, she wrote a blog about agritourism, linking her particular tourism interests to the larger whole of sustainability in the industry. Lindsey spoke on what agritourism means to her, and how she would like to see it incorporated into the larger tourism industry.

“I believe that agritourism, at its core, involves any activity that brings people to a site of agricultural production and engages them with it. This could include tours, meals featuring local produce, farm stays, or special events that showcase agricultural practices. Importantly, agritourism often serves as a gateway to less-visited rural destinations, offering unique opportunities for both visitors and local communities.”

Lindsey also mentioned the educational opportunities that agritourism provides, specifically by “showcasing regenerative agriculture and the critical importance of soil health. Through immersive experiences, visitors can gain insights into these crucial aspects of our environmental and health challenges.”

“Agritourism also offers a unique window into local cultures, as food is often at the heart of cultural traditions and social interactions. The simple act of sharing a meal can create profound connections and understanding between visitors and local communities. In this way, agritourism has the potential to regenerate not just the land, but also our connections to each other and the sources of our food. By bringing together elements of education, sustainability, cultural exchange, and personal rejuvenation, agritourism can evolve into a powerful force for positive change in both the tourism industry and agricultural sectors.”

Lastly, Lindsey connects her love for agritourism to her company, Copani. “Our mission is to connect conscious travelers with regenerative farms, vineyards, eco-friendly hotels, sustainable restaurants, and responsible tour experiences. Copani aims to empower people to explore the world in a fun, ethical, and sustainable way.”

3. Gabriella Whittaker, Fall 2021 Intern, Sustainability Manager at Polycore

Gabriella Whittaker completed the sustainable tourism internship in the fall of 2021. She is passionate about the sustainable development of the outdoor industry, where she draws on her love and enjoyment for nature. She works as a Sustainability Manager at PolyCore, promoting sustainable alternatives to environmentally harmful textiles.

Gabriella connected her work in sustainability within the textile industry to the importance of sustainable travel: “I think the biggest connection between textiles and tourism is that both can be done sustainably, but it requires due diligence to understand how you (as a consumer) can make the responsible choice…Learn about where your textile products are coming from, just as you would learn about the tourism destination you are headed to.”

Solimar Interns Now Involved in International Development

Solimar assists specific regions or countries in using tourism as a tool for development. Tourism can aid economies, boost local livelihoods, create valuable cross-cultural connections, and more. However, this development has to take place sustainably and collaboratively for an area to remain successful long-term. Many of our former interns have gone on to hold unique positions within international development, and in this section, three of these successful professionals are highlighted.

1. Hannah McDonnell, Fall 2022 Intern, Economic Desk Officer of the Turkey Unit at the European Commission

Hannah McDonnell holds a Master’s of Politics from University College Dublin. She was a sustainable tourism intern with Solimar in the fall of 2022. Hannah’s interest in politics and international development has culminated in her current position as an Economic Desk Officer of the Turkiye Unit with the European Commission. Hannah described her day-to-day tasks with her job in the European Commission: “My day-to-day in the job varies, depending on the time of year. For instance, I am the permanent secretary of two subcommittees between the Turkish authorities and the Commission which facilitates discussions and updates on topics such as internal market and competition, and economic and monetary policies. I am tasked with the organisation of these subcommittees each year. Furthermore, I am the lead on a portion of the Commission’s assessment of Türkiye’s Economic Reform Programme, which is drafted at the beginning of each year. Another annual exercise I contribute to is Türkiye’s Enlargement Report which assesses the progress the country has made in the last year.”

2. Kathryn Selfe, Summer 2023 Intern, Boren Fellow

Kat Selfe is a 2024 graduate of Colgate University, where she earned an undergraduate degree in Anthropology and Middle Eastern and Islamic Studies. She served as a sustainable tourism intern on-site for the Tunisia project in the summer of 2023. Kat’s anthropological research into international development and migration in the Middle East and North African regions led to her recent award of the U.S. Department of Defense’s Boren Fellowship as 1 out of 5 scholars selected to study Arabic in Morocco.Through this fellowship, she will receive $25,000 throughout the 9 month program. Kat provided more details about what her time during her Boren fellowship will look like, as well as her commitments after the 9 months are complete.

Additionally, she connected this opportunity to her internship with Solimar: “For my Boren year, I will be studying Arabic in Meknes, Morocco with the CASA I fellowship. Boren is funded by the Department of Defense and has a focus on national security. The aim of the fellowship is to develop language skills in a critical language. In addition to studying formal Arabic, I will be studying the Moroccan dialect and completing an internship in Morocco. Also as part of my Boren, I will be conducting research on Morocco’s integration approach to undocumented transit migration, focusing especially on the work of NGOs.”

Upon its conclusion, Kat will return to the US to complete a Masters in International Development Studies at George Washington University. After graduating with her Masters degree, Kat will be required to fulfill a year of federal service in a position servicing national security in accordance with the Boren Policy. She intends to work with USAID, an agency she already has gained experience with through Solimar. Kat shares:

“I found myself inspired by the possibilities of development during my Solimar internship. I learned that the US has a lot to offer other countries and their communities and that those beneficiaries are eager and ready to make a difference with this aid. I felt like my world opened up during this internship.” Kat shares the gratitude she has for her internship at Solimar, which educated her on new career opportunities, gave her the confidence to realize her ability to actually do these jobs, and inspired her to take those next steps. “This internship was a key aspect of my applications and has been one of the most influential experiences in my career path.”

3. Zane Hartog, Fall 2021 Intern, Program Analyst at the US Department of Justice

Zane Hartog’s interest in policy research and evaluation led to his current position as a Program Analyst with the US Department of Justice. In this position, Zane works with global partners to combat issues of cybercrime and intellectual property rights enforcement. In his own words: “Our team places Department of Justice attorneys at U.S. Embassies across the world, where they work with foreign partners to build capacity in combating cybercrime and intellectual property rights enforcement. My role has enhanced my view of international development by demonstrating that broad cooperation is essential in dealing with issues that are cross-border or global in nature.”

Hartog shares that the breakthroughs he has seen in this realm of work revolve around the people in it, the breakthroughs come about “by getting the right people together, from one country or from multiple countries, and creating a space for ideas and tactics to be shared openly. Oftentimes, international development implies one developed country providing support, knowledge, or resources directly to a single lesser developed country. While this traditional mechanism does have its merits, greater inclusion, either at a national or semi-national level, has proven to be a more effective approach. By facilitating partnerships and fostering dialogue among diverse stakeholders—including governments, international organizations, non-governmental organizations, and private sector entities—complex global challenges can be addressed more comprehensively.”

You Could Be a Sustainable Tourism Intern Too!

The Solimar sustainable tourism internship provides an amazing professional development opportunity for students who have a passion for sustainability, international development, and, most importantly, travel! Connecting with a diverse group of like-minded students who are scattered around the world and networking opportunities with hundreds of previous Solimar intern alumni makes the 3-month internship a valuable one. Through this internship, you gain exposure to real-world jobs that may incorporate all of your passions into one!

Interested in working with us? Learn more about our virtual internship opportunities here!

My Solimar International Internship Experience: Supporting the Liberia Project

Written by Alina Galiullina on June 11, 2024. Posted in Blog.

Why did I Choose to Intern with Solimar International?

Solimar international remote internship — Remote Internship with Solimar International. Photo: Jess Loiterton from Pexels.

As a recent graduate of the European Masters in Tourism Management program, a joint program with three universities in Denmark, Slovenia, and Spain. I was looking for an opportunity where my interests in sustainable tourism and social media marketing could be met. After researching Solimar International’s projects and internship requirements, it became apparent that Solimar International resonated with my passion and career goals.

I was confident that I would learn and grow a lot within this internship, as I’ve heard my friend’s positive feedback on her summer internship at Solimar International, and how her experience helped her secure a job. I was selected for a 4-month spring internship where I was assigned to work on a project in Liberia, a country of which I’ve heard so little. However, I was enthusiastic about gaining hands-on experience in sustainable tourism consulting and marketing to further my professional growth. I did not regret choosing Solimar International at all. I detail my experience below:

Overview of Liberia as a Country: Introduction to Destination

Liberia, located in West Africa, is bordered by Sierra Leone, Guinea, Ivory Coast, and the Atlantic Ocean. As the oldest republic in Africa, Liberia declared its independence in 1847, having been established as a settlement for freed American slaves. After Liberia’s civil wars from 1989 to 2003, many Liberians fled to the USA. Despite living abroad, they felt a strong connection to their home country. So when the wars ended, many Liberian refugees returned home with degrees and skills gained in America. These educated Liberian-Americans played a key role in rebuilding and reviving Liberia after the conflicts.

beach sunsets in liberia — Beach sunsets in Liberia. Photo credit: Solimar International

Because of long years of political instability, the economy remains extremely underdeveloped, though the tourism sector holds potential for growth and diversification. Thus, in 2019, tourism contributed 9.7% to Liberia’s GDP, totaling $641.3 million.

Tourism in Liberia remains underdeveloped with improvements needed to infrastructure, including transportation, electricity, telecommunications, and accommodation facilities. Despite these obstacles, Liberia offers a unique experience for those with an adventurous spirit. This spirit is captured in its logo, “Liberia: Amazing Discoveries,” and its brand essence, “Freedom to Discover.”

Discovering the Gems of Liberia:

liberia robertsport and monrovia — Robertsport and Monrovia, Liberia. Photo: Solimar International

Liberia offers a unique blend of natural wonders, rich cultural heritage, and ocean experience for tourists to explore. This country is rich in wildlife, biodiversity, history, and a deep connection among its people.

Here’s a brief tourist’s guide to some of the must-see attractions in Liberia:

Natural Attractions:

Mount Nimba: Liberia’s tallest peak at 1,362 meters, offers stunning views and diverse wildlife in its lush rainforest habitat.
Kpatawee Waterfals: A refreshing cascade nestled in the countryside, accessible via a scenic hike through the forest.
Sapo National Park: One of West Africa’s last remaining primary rainforests, home to chimpanzees, forest elephants, and other endangered species.
Marshall Wetlands: A picturesque coastal with rivers, sandy beaches, mangrove forests, and abundant wildlife.

Cultural and Historic Sites:

Liberian National Museum (Monrovia): Showcasing Liberia’s cultural heritage and history through exhibitions and artifacts.
Providence Island: A UNESCO World Heritage Site and the landing point for freed American slaves.

Ocean Experiences:

Robertsport: Known as the “jewel of Liberian surfing,” with year-round warm weather and excellent surf conditions.
Sport fishing in Liberia is the ultimate dream for any angler, offering the chance to catch five species of fish within 24 hours.

Developing Tourism and Promoting Liberia as a Destination: Project Overview

Liberia has some of the last large areas of the Upper Guinean Rainforest. These forests make up over 40% of the remaining forests with the highest levels of biodiversity. Therefore, Liberia received assistance from the USAID Conservation Works activity to protect these areas. This project was carried out collectively by a group of partners. They aimed to manage protected areas and work with local communities. Above all, they focused on promoting economic growth through sectors like tourism.

As an intern, I worked on the USAID Conservation Works activity with Solimar International, partnering with the Liberian Ministry of Information, Cultural Affairs, and Tourism (MICAT). I supported the implementation of Liberia’s Tourism Marketing Plan and Branding Strategy through developing content for Liberia’s official tourism website, EnjoyLiberia.Travel, and assisting with Conservation Work’s Market Readiness Program by guiding small businesses in digital marketing.

By 2025, the aim is for Liberia to become a fast-growing destination. It seeks to have well-developed tourist facilities and high-quality tourism products for adventure seekers, both internationally and domestically. The plan focuses on leveraging digital marketing strategies and optimized content. This will boost Liberia’s online presence and attract potential visitors. Additionally, Solimar International works closely with local communities. They foster workshops and develop sustainable tourism opportunities that showcase Liberia’s natural and cultural attractions.

sandy beaches in liberia — Beaches in Liberia. Photo: Solimar International

Main Tasks Accomplished as an Intern:

Creating Tourism Content for Solimar International’s Website

Developed a blog titled “Present and Future of AI Evolution in Tourism,” highlighting future trends, pros, and cons of AI in tourism, with examples of companies using AI. After refining the content with feedback from colleagues, the blog was presented to the team and received high praise.
Learned to optimize a blog by adding keywords, meta descriptions, and improving content structure to boost SEO performance.

Content Creation through Storytelling for the Liberian Official Tourism Website:

Wrote 4 blogs developing detailed destination guides for Liberia’s top attractions like surfing in Robertsport, sport fishing, cultural sites, and Liberian-made products, outlining practical travel tips and itineraries.
Conducted keyword research and optimized content for high-volume, relevant keywords like “Liberia tourism”, “Liberia surfing”, “Amazing Liberia”, and “Top West African” based on EnjoyLiberia.Travel website data to improve visibility and target specific audiences.

Collaboration with Local Businesses:

Showcased stories of 4 local brands offering artisanal souvenirs and authentic experiences to tourists, captivating social media storytelling to attract the target audience segments.
Featured 2 interviews with local businesses like Liberian Cocoa Corporation and Extreme Fishing Liberia, highlighting their stories and community impact in blogs for EnjoyLiberia.Travel and providing guides for tourists to visit them.

Conservation Work’s Market Readiness Program for Small Businesses:

Developed how-to guides for small enterprises on using Instagram and Facebook effectively to boost social media presence in the tourism sector.
Reviewed and provided feedback for 18 tourism businesses to improve their digital presence on multiple platforms across FB, IG, WhatsApp, TripAdvisor, Google Listing, and others.
Included valuable information in the marketing learning presentation of the Social Media Bootcamp for small businesses on how to shoot content professionally with scarcity of resources and how to create engaging content for captivating storytelling.
Collaborated with another intern to document changes made by small tourism businesses enrolled in the Social Media Bootcamp.
Developed individual how-to guides for automation and suggested text for social media sites, considering local businesses’ limited marketing budgets.

Internship Impact and Learnings

An unforgettable aspect of this four-month internship was witnessing my SEO-optimized blog’s success. “Surfing the West African Coast: All You Need to Know About Robertsport, Liberia” was published on EnjoyLiberia.travel. As a result, it inspired 11 tourists to come and surf the waves in Robertsport, Liberia. Through this opportunity, I honed valuable skills in writing structured blogs using SEO keywords and WordPress. I also gained experience conducting interviews and working in an international team. Most importantly, I learned to create engaging, informative content through storytelling and optimizing it for search engines.

Seeing my work align with and contribute to the objectives of the USAID Conservation Works, Solimar International, and the Liberian Ministry of Information, Culture, and Tourism (MICAT) by attracting tourists to Liberia was incredibly gratifying. This experience has solidified my passion for using content creation and digital marketing as powerful tools to drive positive impact and promote tourism destinations and companies involved in the tourism sector.

Learn more about the virtual sustainable tourism internship here. To join Solimar International’s internship program, simply submit an application form. Stay connected with Solimar on Facebook and LinkedIn!

Two Reflections from Interning at Solimar International

Written by Jenny Lundt on November 1, 2022. Posted in Uncategorized.

At Solimar International, we hold three virtual internship programs every spring, summer and fall that are dedicated to advancing future sustainable tourism industry leaders. In this blog, two of our Summer 2022 share their experiences working on different tourism development projects around the world.

1. Reflections from Isaac Herzog, student at Cornell University and Solimar Summer 2022 Intern:

My Relationship with Timor-Leste

Timor-Leste is a small country in the Pacific Ocean that many in the West have never heard of. Populated by many Austronesian peoples, the island of Timor already had rich traditions by the time it was colonized by the Dutch and Portuguese. After the country gained its independence from the Portuguese empire, Indonesia’s Suharto regime quickly stepped in and took over the country in a bloody war. Finally gaining independence in 2002, Timor-Leste is now a developing nation with a population of about 1.3 million people.

The nation is divided into 14 municipalities. One such division, Ataúro, is an island off the north coast of Dili, the capital city. Ataúro is unique in so many ways and has so much to teach the world. This summer in my internship at Solimar International, I helped the team support ATKOMA, a Destination Management Organization (DMO) based on Ataúro.

Although all I had heard about Timor-Leste before this summer, I was fascinated by the burgeoning nation as I learned more. How small nations’ economies function, what public infrastructure is like, the maritime history, etc. always interested me in regards to small nations, and Timor-Leste was no exception. So, when prompted in the internship application what area I would most like to work with, I jumped at the opportunity to work with Timor-Leste, learn as much as I could about the nation, and help in any way that I could.

Challenges Going In

Having never worked in tourism previously and having very little knowledge about Timor-Leste beforehand, I was ill-prepared for the realities of tourism on the island. Firstly, the island is incredibly small and sparsely populated. As it is one of the smaller provinces of an already small country, Ataúro’s population is around 10,000 people; and half are subsistence farmers. This means that half of Ataúro’s population is not considered to be “economically active” because they don’t have incomes and don’t, en masse, participate in markets (literal and economic). Instead, such folks grow, produce, kill, or catch their own food.

Secondly, there aren’t grocery stores, fast food chains, bars, or even really any shops. Most shopping on the island is done at the Beloi Market–the largest on the island–held every Thursday and Saturday. If not there, each village or community usually has markets, some artisanal store to sell handmade goods like baskets and pots, or else you’d have to know someone to make you what you need.

In short, the island functions differently from the life that many visitors come from. And indeed, that is so much of the appeal to visitors of Ataúro: the detachment from the world; the idyllic and untouched land; calm and relaxed days; no sounds of car horns.

The Solimar International Internship

With such an international focus, Solimar International is a truly virtual company with staff members connecting from around the world. This meant that my internship was done through Slack and Zoom. Throughout the summer, I sat in apartments, cafes, and park benches to do my work. Looking back, my internship naturally had several epochs, each more rewarding than the next.

remote internship solimar international — The internship is 100% remote!

First two weeks

To be expected, the first two weeks consisted of getting my sea legs, both for Solimar and Timor-Leste. When I was accepted into my internship, I was told I would work mostly with a company on Ataúro Island. After the first meeting, then, I spent several days doing Wikipedia dives, reading articles, and learning what there was to know about Timor Leste and Ataúro. The student that I am, I wanted to ensure that whatever work I produced for Solimar and ATKOMA would be properly informed, historically, culturally, linguistically, and otherwise. Plus, I elected to work with Timor Leste due to my interest, and I wanted to use this learning period to satiate my curiosity.

It was during this first week that I got a sense for the task that would be ahead of me. I found that there was in fact very little about Ataúro on the internet in the way of tourism. Most articles were either from ataurotourism.org, ATKOMA’s own site, or else Wikipedia. There were some scientific-catered pages, most discussing Ataúro’s hyper-biodiverse waters, but I could find very little travel advice. It was then clear to me why Solimar was hoping to have me aid with social media creation and blog writing. One of the most important tasks going forth was to improve ATKOMA’s presence online and to build its rapport.

After garnering a little background info on the country and island, I dove into meetings with the two women I would spend the rest of the summer working with. My two mentors, one who led my team of interns and the other who was heavily involved in ATKOMA, had a meeting with me to explain Solimar’s inner workings, what they wanted me to do this summer, and how they were going to support me. Feeling prepared, properly instructed, and pretty excited, I set out on my first tasks.

Continuing into the internship

Once I’d done some intro tasks, gotten to know my mentors, and learned the internal communication services, I was working daily in a coffee shop in my hometown. A significant portion of my work was blog writing, so each day I sat down at a cafe and wrote. I boosted ATKOMA’s social media presence as well, using Instagram and Facebook to improve their presence and recognition. At the same time, I chatted with a gentleman who’s been living on Ataúro for several years working as a dive instructor, hoping to hear a personal account of life on the island. I reached out to photographers via social media to hopefully increase our photo banks, as promoting the island is infinitely more effective if people can see its beauty.

Most rewarding in this middle period of my internship was sitting in on several decision-making Zoom calls and being a part of the mental calculus that Solimar made in our support of ATKOMA. The calls were attended by several of my superiors, the CEO of our company, and some members of ATKOMA, calling in from Ataúro. I found these calls very informative and rewarding, because while I had been effectively working for this local DMO, I finally got to hear some of their internal workings, learn about the nature of their business, their finances, and how Solimar interacts with its partners.

Beautiful white sand beaches of Ataúro Island

Final Days

Throughout my internship, I fell increasingly in love with the work I was doing for Solimar and ATKOMA. Every day, I looked forward to going to my same cafe, getting my same drink, talking with my mentors, writing, posting, and problem-solving. Whether I was writing a blog on doing a homestay in Ataúro, posting on Instagram asking folks to comment their best experiences on the island, or researching payment gateways, every day was a thrill.

By the end, I had written a handful of blogs that I was really proud of, steadily increased ATKOMA’s social media presence, and been an omnipresent aid to my mentors (I’d like to think). As the final weeks of my internship came, I was moving back to my university for my final year, recruiting for my choral group, all the while working for Solimar. It was during these hectic weeks that I came to reflect on all that I’ve learned.

Outcomes from interning at Solimar International

Having never worked in tourism before, my knowledge of the industry was deepened significantly this summer. But, though I learned about sustainable tourism, how to support communities’ DMOs, and the reality of international funding for such projects, most of my takeaways from this internship were what I learned from ATKOMA, Ataúro, and Timor Leste.

From my own work with ATKOMA, I learned that small communities can be economically revitalized with tourism, all while still respecting native traditions. Ataúro’s small villages and communities have indubitably become more viable and brought folks out of poverty by welcoming tourists, all the while asking them to respect the land, water, biodiversity, and way of life.

I also learned small business planning from ATKOMA and policies for small economies from Ataúro. A small organization on a small island in a small country, there are a lot of challenges that the DMO faces: how to hire skilled workers, how to accept payments from abroad, and how to advise on travel when the infrastructure is poor. These and many other questions that ATKOMA asked itself (and Solimar) brought me more perspective about small businesses, which I know are skills to bring into my future.

Additionally, this intern cohort also taught me valuable skills going forth. My fellow interns exposed me to different writing styles; showed me how they balanced travel, life, and work (something I had to learn myself); and brought their different experiences and perspectives into our work.

Finally, it’s hard to overstate how influential and kind my two mentors were to me. Jenny and Chloe, both taught me so much about the industry, life after academics, how to balance life and work, and the importance of loving your work.

My internship with Solimar has been the most rewarding work I’ve put forth in my career thus far, and I very much hope to follow this career path in the future.

Isaac Herzog, Solimar International Intern — Isaac Herzog, Summer 2022 Solimar International Intern

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2. Reflections from Miles Rieker, student at UNC Chapel Hill and Summer 2022 Intern:

Upon applying for the Solimar internship, I knew very little about the company. I had taken a business course at my university the semester before, and one topic that stuck out to me was the subject of sustainability. At UNC, one of the focuses on sustainable businesses is the “Triple Bottom Line,” or people, planet, and profit. Businesses should run their operations with these three things in mind at all times.

Upon seeing the Solimar opportunity come across my LinkedIn, I was immediately drawn to the idea of sustainable tourism. Using my tourism and world travel experience, I thought I could bring a unique perspective to the Solimar team.

I was ready to dive right in and get started. The first project I worked on was a domestic project for the Inn and Tavern at Meander. It is a quaint, historical inn that has a real homey feel to it. I started by outlining the content plans for the year, and put together a PowerPoint on the topics that needed to be highlighted each month. I also focused on the target audience, and which demographics would respond to which strategy. This was a useful project for me, being a business major, and being able to see how a business breaks down their customers, and how they analyze potential patrons. It was useful to be on the planning side of things, and see how important it is to place an event at a certain time of the month, or during a certain season. It was important for me to see the value of having a detailed calendar and plan. Proposing those things to a committee for feedback can ensure the best possible results and a large reach to the target consumers.

Moving forward into the next project team I worked with, I was “stationed” in Liberia, working on a project that has not come into fruition just yet. Liberia is an interesting subject matter, based on its past. Struggling through a civil war, only to be ravaged by the Ebola pandemic and then Coronavirus, this country may have one of the weakest infrastructures in the world. Utilizing Liberia’s coast could be very effective in establishing a DMO. There are surf destinations, and quaint beach villages, just booming with potential. The first steps, though, include research with the end goal of finding agencies to partner with. Through this process, I was able to learn how to discern which agencies have the largest audience. From there, the team can decide which specific ones to partner with. I found this information very valuable, as I am pursuing a degree in business. One of the most important takeaways I have from this summer is that marketing your product or service is an essential process. If you cannot effectively read an audience, no profit will be made, and in this case, no positive impact can be made in Liberia.

The final project I assisted on was the Lewis and Clark National Historical Trail Experience. For this project, I was mainly choosing and compiling pictures for the user experience through Bandwango. As I stated in my presentation, this job is very important, because you must choose to represent the site in a positive light. It must draw customers in, as well as accurately depict the attraction. This points back to the theme of promotion and marketing. The site already exists, so the next step is gaining and retaining an audience. The best avenue to do this is through marketing and promotion on platforms like Bandwango. That way, patrons can see exactly which attractions they want to visit, and what each one has in store.

Pittsburgh, the starting point of the LCNHT

It was beneficial for me to see projects at each of their different stages. Meander was well established, but looking for improvements. Liberia was in the very early stages, and the LCNHT was very close to being completed. Each project was different, but shared similar tasks in the marketing and promotion realm. It was important for me to see that marketing is how you actually make the destination a true attraction. It was also eye opening to see the amount of jobs that creating a resort, for example, could bring into a community. Creating a destination does not only bring in cash flow to a country or community, but it also helps the citizens establish themselves in the world with a job and a place to live. Once these jobs are created, there can be almost a “trickle up” effect where the infrastructure is built up through the people.

I thoroughly enjoyed my time at Solimar, and learned a lot about running a sustainable business. Even in writing my blog about the Blue Economy, I was able to see the potential that sustainable tourism has to not only change a few countries here and there, but to change the entire world. Using the environment as a renewable resource, instead of taking the resources at an unhealthy rate is not only beneficial to the environment, but the community around the specific area. I truly do believe that Solimar as a company prides itself on thriving in the three areas of the Triple Bottom Line: People, Planet, and Profit.

Miles Rieker, Summer 2022 Solimar International Intern

Are you interested in joining our next internship cohort? Learn more here.

Welcoming Solimar’s Spring 2022 Destination Development and Destination Marketing Internship Cohort

Written by Jenny Lundt on February 1, 2022. Posted in Uncategorized.

We recently kicked off our Spring 2022 Destination Development and Destination Marketing Internship cohort, working with 18 of the most talented budding tourism professionals from around the world. Our interns are from 12 different countries (such as China, Indonesia, Mexico, New Zealand, Italy, and more) and live, study, and work spread across the globe.

Each season, we are amazed at the vast talent and promise our interns share, and this semester was certainly no exception. We received a record-breaking number of applications for this cohort, and have selected the most qualified candidates. These ambitious professionals are joining some of our projects and helping with communications campaigns, DMO development, research, and content writing. They are working on our projects around the world from supporting Friends of Wallacea in Guyana, to Liberia, to Timor-Leste, New Hampshire, and beyond!

Without further ado, get to know the spring 2022 intern cohort and discover the amazing skills that make each one of them unique and talented.

Meet our Spring 2022 Destination Development and Destination Marketing Interns

Eliot Heiss – has significant experience with journalism and communications, as he hosts his own podcast! He has studied in different countries, including Canada and Austria. His degrees are in Political Science, with a specialization in international relations and environmental politics.

Jess Moore – has extensive experience in the field of tourism, with over 19 years working in the field. Her background is in Leisure Studies, and she has dedicated a big part of her career to working on luxury tourism. She has recently discovered a passion for sustainable tourism and wants to use her career to generate an impact.

Hannah Lambert – is incredibly passionate about adventure tourism and sustainability. She is an avid traveler and she is currently traveling through Asia teaching English. Her studies are in Natural Resource Tourism with a minor in Business Administration. Hannah is excited to see her work have an impact on the world.

Kylie Blank – is a junior at Cornell University. She is Majoring in Hotel Administration and minoring in Sustainable Business and Economic Policy. Kylie was inspired to take this internship to gain knowledge in the area of sustainability. She hopes to apply this knowledge into the area of hotel management that she has been actively involved in for many years.

Thomas Kalchik – is an experienced young professional. Most recently, he has been involved in social responsibility in hotel chains and other types of non-profit work related to the tourism industry. He is extremely passionate about the power of tourism and wants to bring people together through travel.

Kim Sucré – looking out for the best study and research experience, Kim has adventured herself to study abroad in the UK and Italy. Her degree is in International Tourism Management, and her passions involve foreign cultures and languages. She is a member of her city’s Council for local tourism development, and she wants to continue to work in tourism development. She has already been applying her vast knowledge of tour planning and development to the Destination Marketing Internship!

Asfar Ahmad – is from Bangladesh but is currently based in Copenhagen, where he is completing his Master’s in Tourism. Asfar is looking forward to contributing with the projects and is hoping that his time with Solimar will boost his career.

Célia Hulin – has strong experience working with a DMC in Myanmar for over five years. She is ambitious and is completing her second Master’s in Hospitality, Entrepreneurship, and Innovation. Most recently, her interests have been focused on working directly with local communities.

Emma Barfus – has lived in multiple places across the United States, which enticed her interest to explore the world. She is currently finishing her degree in international studies. Emma believes that her time in Solimar will give her the tools to become a better professional in the future.

Adam Pudi Luddy – is an activist with a degree in Tourism Business. He is moved by issues such as inequality, human rights, climate change, gender, people empowerment, and poverty alleviation. Adam wishes to address these social issues through tourism and become a sustainable tourism specialist.

Alexandria Kleinschmidt – is passionate about earth science, and she graduated in Geological science from Boston College. She spent two years teaching English in Germany. During her time abroad, she was able to rekindle her passion for cultural and nature tourism, which led her to explore all continents on earth.

Antony Noyes – is very proud of his Japanese, Filipino, and Swedish heritage. Raised in San Francisco, he made sure to keep his family traditions alive by cooking traditional food and spending lots of time outdoors. Antony is very keen on sustainable tourism and is eager to help develop the World Heritage Journeys Silk Road project.

Janis Rehme – is a skilled and experienced young professional in the areas of customer service and event management. He is currently studying International Tourism Management in the Netherlands where he balances his studies with his passion for traveling, exploring nature and meeting new people.

Nina Wang – is based in Hong Kong, where she is pursuing a Master’s degree in Sustainable Tourism. She is passionate about exploring different cultures and being around nature. She hopes to contribute to sustainable tourism and envisions her internship at Solimar as a way of doing so.

Greta Dallan – has recently finished her Master’s in International Tourism Management at the University of Surrey. She is well traveled and eager to learn more about sustainable tourism and destination marketing and management. Her career goal is to improve the state of tourism in Italy, her home country.

Lisa Elmes-Bosshard – was born on the Caribbean island of St. Kitts. She has dedicated her life to the tourism industry, an industry in which she has occupied different positions throughout her career. She has traveled the world, from the Caribbean all the way through to Nepal. Now, Lisa dedicates her days to pursuing a Master’s in Sustainable Tourism studies at George Washington University. Her skills make her an ideal Destination Marketing Intern.

Jessica Pool – has great experience living abroad. She has lived in six countries in the last two years. She is currently pursuing an Erasmus Mundus Joint Master’s Degree in Latin American studies. Jessica strongly believes that tourism has the potential to improve life in communities if properly managed.

Caitlyn Marentette – is an undergraduate majoring in South Asia Studies. Her research interests center around the history of colonialism in modern India, Pakistan, linguistic diversity in South Asia, and the Gunpowder Empires. Caitlyn has been an editorial intern for an academic publishing journal for the last year and a half. After graduating, she hopes to continue her studies, pursuing a career in academic research on modern South Asia.

Did you enjoy reading about our interns? You can read their full bios here. If you have similar interests in gaining real world tourism experience, visit our internship information page and join our next season of virtual interns!

WE DEVELOP, MANAGE, AND MARKET SUSTAINABLE TOURISM DESTINATIONS

Tag: remote internship