Days Inn is accepting applications for what it calls the hottest summer travel gig. It’s certainly a creative idea, it pays quite well, and it comes with top-tier elite status, though you are tasked with making your Days Inn stays look good, so…
In this post:
Basics of the Days Inn sunternship
Days Inn is looking to hire an adventure seeker eager to make up for a year of lost travel by taking on the role of “suntern,” and visiting America’s sunniest attractions. One person will be chosen to take a two week, cross-country summer trip, intended to inspire others.
Here’s how Days Inn describes the role:
This customizable, two week-long dream job entails safely exploring some of America’s most desirable destinations and creating lasting memories through captured moments. The Suntern’s creative content and “Hot List” of experiences will be featured on the brand’s website and social media channels.
This comes with quite a few perks — in addition to being paid $10,000, the chosen suntern will also receive paid hotel accommodation for two weeks at Days Inn locations in the USA, ground transportation, a $250 daily travel stipend, Wyndham Rewards Diamond status, and a recommendation from a Days Inn executive.
What are the Days Inn suntern’s responsibilities?
The person chosen to be a suntern will have to take a two week trip in August 2021, and document their adventures with unique photo and video content. On top of that, they’ll have to develop a “hot list” of “10 Ways to Seize the Days.” They’ll also have to post to social media to share their travels.
How do you apply to be the Days Inn suntern?
Days Inn is accepting applications for the suntern role through June 1, 2021. In order to apply, you should meet the following qualifications:
- Be a bright and social media savvy travel enthusiast and aspiring photographer
- Be at least 21 years old
- Be a resident of the USA
- Have the ability to travel nationally for two consecutive weeks in August 2021
My take on the Days Inn sunternship
I have two different trains of thought here.
On the one hand, this is a pretty lucrative gig. For a two week trip you’ll be paid $10,000, you’ll get $3,500 in spending money, and you’ll have your accommodation and transportation paid for. You’ll even get top-tier status with a hotel group.
On the other hand:
- It’s smart on Days Inn’s part that the focus seems to be more on sunny destinations rather than hotels as such, since Days Inn’s properties aren’t exactly known for being that photogenic; I’m curious what kind of a mix there will be in coverage between the hotels and the destinations as such
- Ultimately the whole “social media influencer” thing is really lacking substance, and that seems to be what Days Inn is going for here; I wonder if Days Inn will just choose the influencer with the most followers, rather than considering candidates otherwise
- I wish there were an angle to this that made it more of a challenge, rather than just having to seek out sunny destinations, which I could tell you about without taking a trip
Bottom line
Kudos to Days Inn for this unique sunternship opportunity — one lucky person will take a two week trip, and will be paid $10,000, plus have all of their expenses paid, and more.
This is a unique opportunity, and I’m curious to follow along this year and see how good of a job the chosen person does.
What do you make of the Days Inn sunternship opportunity? Are any OMAAT readers applying?
Are you applying, Lucky? You're already a travel writer, might as well score yourself Wyndham Diamond status for a year and some exposure for OMAAT.
Their marketing is clearly working. Days Inn just got a free plug on your blog haha
I stayed at a Days Inn for a week in New Orleans in 2016. I liked it.
I had never stayed at a Days Inn before last summer. We were on a roadtrip around the country and on July 4th, we were driving east across the Texas panhandle towards Oklahoma city. We hadn't planned on traveling that day but plans changed so we just looked at accommodations in/near OKC on our way there. There was a bad combination of tons of places being closed due to COVID, some sort of convention happening...
I had never stayed at a Days Inn before last summer. We were on a roadtrip around the country and on July 4th, we were driving east across the Texas panhandle towards Oklahoma city. We hadn't planned on traveling that day but plans changed so we just looked at accommodations in/near OKC on our way there. There was a bad combination of tons of places being closed due to COVID, some sort of convention happening in the city (weird during COVID), and July 4th, we were shocked out how high hotel rates were. We figured it would only be a few hours in the room anyway so booked a Days Inn just off the highway, about 15 mins from downtown. HUGE mistake. It was so far and away the most disgusting place I have ever set foot in.
I've backpacked all around the world, stayed in hostels (guilty pleasure. I love them just as much as I love my Belmond's etc.), but this place was next level. Everything was SO beyond gross and dirty that we couldn't help but laugh like it was out of a bad movie. We ended up sleeping in the car - only night it happened in 3 months of driving.
Really, Days Inn?
The requirements should be at least 50 years old, which is about the age of most Days Inn.
And who promises a glowing recommendation even before the internship starts.
What Wyndham should do is differentiate their brands, all their budget brands seems interchangeable.
As far as I've stayed, every Days Inn can be a HoJo or Travelodge, nicer ones can be a La Quinta or Ramada. Change the logo and you can reflag the entire property in 12 hours.
Do you have to stay at Days Inns?
Um, hello I think they're looking for an INNFluencer
Sadly, this will be filled by someone who is already an "influencer". Zero chance that they are really going to take someone who submits an application. Reminds me of this popular Hawaiian smoothie chain that had posted a competition for whoever guessed the newest location would get a trip to Hawaii to document the new opening. A "winner" was chosen, and some internet sleuths found out the person who won was a friend of the...
Sadly, this will be filled by someone who is already an "influencer". Zero chance that they are really going to take someone who submits an application. Reminds me of this popular Hawaiian smoothie chain that had posted a competition for whoever guessed the newest location would get a trip to Hawaii to document the new opening. A "winner" was chosen, and some internet sleuths found out the person who won was a friend of the owner and already was LIVING in Hawaii. I know it sounds silly, but it left a bad taste in my mouth.
Trying to make a positive social media spin on a reflagged 1960s Holiday Inn turned Days Inn with a quarter of guests being permanent will be a feat in itself, haha!