Placement International
Placement International is a Swiss-headquartered cultural exchange and placement services firm that matches hospitality and culinary students with paid internships, management training, and Work & Travel positions at luxury hotels and Michelin-starred restaurants across 30+ countries, operating a candidate-pays two-sided marketplace with free employer-side services in the US.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1999
- HeadquartersLausanne, Switzerland
- Headcount—
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
What Placement International does
Placement International, legally The Placement International Group, is a privately held Swiss-headquartered cultural exchange and placement services company specializing in international hospitality internships, management training programs, and Work & Travel placements. The company matches qualified students and young professionals from global hospitality and culinary schools with paid positions at luxury hotels, resorts, and Michelin-starred restaurants in the United States, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, the Middle East, and Africa. Placement International reports relationships with 90% of the world's top-ranked hospitality and culinary schools and operates a network of 12 offices across 30+ countries, with the Swiss headquarters in Zurich and an EU representative entity, Placement Europe, S.L., in Barcelona.
The company's core product portfolio comprises three primary offerings — Work & Travel Programs (3-4 month US summer cultural exchange), Internships and Training Programs (3-18 month placements), and J-1 Visa Bridge USA sponsorship services — supplemented by ancillary modules including F-1/TN/J-2 visa services, Cruise Hospitality Courses, a Student Ambassadors Program, video resume support, tax refund assistance via a 15+ year Sprintax partnership, and international medical insurance. The underlying technology is a web-based candidate management portal supporting self-serve registration, profile management, application tracking, and visa processing workflows, with no disclosed AI/ML capabilities, no public API, and no proprietary data products.
Commercially, Placement International operates a candidate-pays model in which participants cover administrative fees (typically $700 USD or 550 EUR) plus tiered placement fees ranging from $2,700 for a Work & Travel program up to $5,795 for an 18-month management training program; J-1 visa-only processing for pre-placed candidates runs $2,040-$4,650. Services are provided free of charge to US employers, creating a two-sided marketplace in which revenue scales with candidate volume rather than employer contracts. The company is ISO 9001:2015 certified, has no disclosed funding rounds, no parent company, and no publicly reported revenue or headcount.
Placement International firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Placement International
- Legal name
- The Placement International Group
- Website
- https://placement-international.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1999
- Operating status
- Operating
- Short description
- Placement International is a Swiss-headquartered cultural exchange and placement services firm that matches hospitality and culinary students with paid internships, management training, and Work & Travel positions at luxury hotels and Michelin-starred restaurants across 30+ countries, operating a candidate-pays two-sided marketplace with free employer-side services in the US.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Placement International industry classification
Industry- Product category
- International Hospitality Placement Services
- SIC
- Services-Employment Agencies (7361)
- akta.pro primary industry
- University-Sponsored International Internships & Co-op Placements (EDAIAFAB)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Outbound Exchange Advising, Placement & Nomination Services (EDAIABAL), International Student Onboarding & Pre-Departure Orientation Services (EDAIACAG)
Keywords
Where Placement International is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Lausanne
- HQ country
- Switzerland
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices12 records
Markets served
Placement International business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Program Fees - USA Placements: Candidates pay administrative fees ($700 USD) upon registration and placement fees upon securing a host employer. Fees vary by program duration: Work & Travel (3-4 months) costs $2,700 total, 6-month internship costs $3,950, 12-month internship/training costs $4,690, and 18-month management training costs $5,795. J-1 visa and medical insurance are included.
- International Internship Fees: Candidates pay administrative fees (550 EUR) plus placement fees depending on country. Europe 1-3 months: 300 EUR placement; Europe 4-6 months: 750 EUR; Australia/New Zealand/Canada: 1,000 EUR; Asia/South Africa: 750 EUR; Latin America/Mexico: 350 EUR; Middle East: 800-1,000 EUR.
- J-1 Visa Processing Services: J-1 visa-only processing fees for already-selected candidates: Work & Travel up to 4 months: $2,040; Internship up to 6 months: $3,250; Internship/Training up to 12 months: $3,750; Management Training up to 18 months: $4,650. Includes DS-2019 form and health insurance.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Multi-year contract | Work & Travel Program - 3/4 months |
| Other | Multi-year contract | Internship Program - 6 months |
| Other | Multi-year contract | Internship/Management Training - 12 months |
| Other | Multi-year contract | Management Training - 18 months |
| Other | Multi-year contract | International Internship - Europe 1-3 months |
| Other | Multi-year contract | International Internship - Europe 4-6 months |
| Other | Multi-year contract | International Internship - Australia/New Zealand/Canada |
| Other | Multi-year contract | International Internship - Asia/South Africa 4-6 months |
| Other | Multi-year contract | International Internship - Latin America/Mexico 4-6 months |
| Other | Multi-year contract | International Internship - Middle East 6-12 months |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels6 records
Placement International product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Placement International matches students and young professionals from hospitality and culinary schools with paid Work & Travel positions, internships, and management training programs at luxury hotels, fine-dining restaurants, and Michelin-star chef establishments across the United States and more than 30 countries. The company handles the full placement lifecycle including employer matching, J-1 visa sponsorship, DS-2019 form processing, medical insurance, housing assistance, interview preparation, and 24-hour emergency support, with services provided free of charge to US-based employers.
Product overview
Placement International operates as a cultural exchange and placement services company offering a unified platform of interconnected services centered on international hospitality internships and training programs. The core offering consists of Work & Travel Programs, paid Internships and Training Placements, and J-1 Visa Bridge USA sponsorship services. Additional supporting modules include Other Visa Services (F-1, TN/NAFTA, J-2), Cruise Hospitality Courses, the Ambassadors Program, Video Resume Service, Tax Refund Services through Sprintax partnership, and Insurance Services. Together, these services provide end-to-end support from candidate registration through visa processing, placement matching, and ongoing program assistance for hospitality students and young professionals seeking international work experience.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Work & Travel Program
Quantifiable outcome
- 90% of world's top-ranked hospitality schools partner with Placement International
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use Placement International
Customer profileNamed customers18 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Placement International technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Placement International partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core.
- Starwood Hotels & ResortscoreMajor hotel chain partner providing internship and management training placement opportunities across their luxury properties including St. Regis, Westin, and Sheraton brands globally.
- Marriott InternationalcoreLeading hotel partner including JW Marriott brand providing placement opportunities for J-1 visa participants in their luxury properties.
- Four Seasons Hotels and ResortscorePremium hotel partner providing high-quality internship placements at properties in Miami, Los Angeles, and other global locations.
- Hyatt HotelscoreGlobal hospitality partner providing internship and training opportunities at Hyatt brand properties worldwide.
- Hilton Hotels & ResortscoreMajor hotel partner offering placement opportunities across Hilton's portfolio of luxury and upscale properties.
- Mandarin Oriental Hotel GroupcoreLuxury hotel partner providing high-end internship placements in Mandarin Oriental's prestigious properties globally.
- Jean Georges RestaurantcoreRenowned Michelin-starred chef restaurant in New York providing culinary internship opportunities for Placement International candidates.
- Alain DucassecoreWorld-famous Michelin-star chef providing elite culinary internship placements through his restaurant portfolio.
- José AndréscoreCelebrity chef partner providing culinary internship opportunities at his acclaimed restaurants.
- Gordon RamsaycoreInternationally renowned chef providing Michelin-starred restaurant internship placements.
- CETUSAcoreJ-1 visa sponsorship organization for SEVIS registration and visa sponsorship services for Placement International participants.
- Ecole hôtelière de LausannecoreWorld-renowned Swiss hospitality management school providing students for Placement International's internship programs.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Placement International competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- AIESEC: Global non-profit youth organization facilitating international internships and cultural exchanges across 100+ countries. Operates at much larger scale but with similar target demographic of students seeking international work experience, including in hospitality.
- AIFS (American Institute for Foreign Study): Large established provider of cultural exchange, study abroad, and work & travel programs. Comparable in J-1 program offerings and university partnerships, with broader portfolio including academic study abroad.
Direct peers
- CRCC Asia: Provider of international internships and cultural exchange programs with operations in Asia and other regions. Comparable in candidate-paid international placement model and university partnership strategy.
- Global Experiences: Internship placement organization specializing in international internships for university students, with programs in Europe and other regions. Directly comparable service offering, candidate demographic, and B2B university partnership model.
- InterExchange: US-based cultural exchange organization operating Work & Travel, internship, and au pair programs for international candidates. Directly comparable to Placement International in candidate-paid J-1-related placements and target demographic of students and young professionals.
- Cultural Vistas: Non-profit international exchange organization administering J-1 internship and training programs in the US. Overlaps directly with Placement International's internship/training placement business and serves a similar candidate and employer base.
- CIEE (Council on International Educational Exchange): One of the largest US-based international educational exchange organizations, offering J-1 visa sponsorship, work & travel, internships, and teach abroad programs. Directly competes for the same hospitality and culinary students and operates a similar end-to-end visa + placement model.
- Absolute Internship: Internship placement provider focused on placing university students into international internships across multiple industries including hospitality. Comparable candidate-paid model, geographic reach, and target student demographic.
- The Intern Group: Global internship placement company placing students into international placements across multiple destinations. Comparable business model, candidate-paid pricing, and emphasis on career development outcomes for international students.
Emerging players
- Hospitality Fellowship: Specialty hospitality internship placement platform focused specifically on placing hospitality students into international programs. Directly comparable niche focus and target candidate base, though smaller in scale than Placement International.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Placement International social profiles
Digital presencePlacement International compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
Placement International financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Placement International leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Placement International funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Placement International M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Placement International
What does Placement International do?
Placement International matches students and young professionals from hospitality and culinary schools with paid Work & Travel positions, internships, and management training programs at luxury hotels, fine-dining restaurants, and Michelin-star chef establishments across the United States and more than 30 countries. The company handles the full placement lifecycle including employer matching, J-1 visa sponsorship, DS-2019 form processing, medical insurance, housing assistance, interview preparation, and 24-hour emergency support, with services provided free of charge to US-based employers.
Is Placement International a public or private company?
Placement International is a private company. It is classified as unknown and is currently operating.
When was Placement International founded?
Placement International was founded in 1999.
Where is Placement International based?
Placement International is headquartered in Lausanne, Switzerland, in the Europe region.
How does Placement International make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Program Fees - USA Placements are the primary driver. The others are international Internship Fees and J-1 Visa Processing Services.
Who are Placement International's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are AIESEC and AIFS (American Institute for Foreign Study). Direct peers are CRCC Asia, Global Experiences, InterExchange, Cultural Vistas, CIEE (Council on International Educational Exchange), Absolute Internship and The Intern Group. Hospitality Fellowship is listed as an emerging player.
Does Placement International have an API?
No public API is recorded for Placement International.
What industry is Placement International in?
Placement International's product category is International Hospitality Placement Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAIAFAB, University-Sponsored International Internships & Co-op Placements, with a secondary code of EDAIABAL, Outbound Exchange Advising, Placement & Nomination Services. Its SIC code is 7361.