Research Intern

Virginia Economic Devel Partnership • Richmond, VA

2d • $15 - $17 • Hybrid

About The Position

We are looking for an Intern to join VTC’s Research division during the summer of 2026 for a 10-week period. This energetic, self-starting individual is seeking analytical experience in economics, tourism, or in state government and will assist with producing reports and generating insights from VTC’s data sources. The selected intern will gain valuable experience working alongside a dedicated team and will become familiar with the mission and goals of a state destination marketing organization (DMO). We aim to offer the intern with direct mentorship to cultivate their skills and help them develop into being a proficient professional in the tourism industry. The responsibilities of the intern may vary based on the applicant’s interest and experience, as well as the particular research areas the team is pursuing at the time. Interns will complete a project and develop a presentation to be shared with staff at the end of the internship. They will be part of an organization-wide cohort, providing networking and professional development opportunities throughout the summer.

Requirements

• Interest in economics, hospitality, business, or state government
• Excellent planning, organizational, and communication skills
• Proficient with Microsoft Office – especially working with data in Excel and developing insight-oriented presentations in PowerPoint
• Basic experience working with large data sets using Python (a plus, but not required)

Nice To Haves

• The ideal intern excels in their academic studies and is comfortable translating data into insights for non-technical audiences.
• This individual has a high degree of intellectual curiosity and is a self-starter with the ability to learn new topics and concepts quickly.
• Pursuit of a bachelor’s or graduate degree in social science (economics, public policy), business, data analytics, tourism management, or a related field is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Produces monthly & weekly reporting for VTC’s key data sources and subscriptions
• Responds and fulfills requests from travel industry members for travel or visitor insights across Virginia
• Interprets visitor and travel industry data and provides insights to stakeholders in other VTC divisions
• Analyzes quantitative data and presents data analysis in a visually compelling format
• Assists in designing and developing industry reports for internal VTC consumption
• Attend local tourism summits or related events alongside VTC Research staff, as needed
• Assist in other project-related tasks, as needed

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Part-time
• Career Level: Intern