The Explore Minnesota Tourism Conference Student Scholarship Program awards scholarships to Minnesota post-secondary students to attend the 2026 Tourism Conference, Feb. 11-12, 2026 in Duluth.
Student Scholarships will be awarded to students who are interested in careers in the travel, leisure and hospitality industry. Scholarship recipients will be matched with industry mentors to help facilitate learning about the industry and to make introductions for networking opportunities.
The Student Scholarship program is open to any student currently enrolled at a Minnesota post-secondary educational institution who and is a first-time conference attendee.
Scholarships are awarded at the sole discretion of Explore Minnesota. Failure to meet program requirements may result in forfeiting benefits.
Student Scholarship recipient requirements:
- Scholarship recipients must attend a one-on-one virtual or in-person meeting with their assigned industry mentor at least one week prior to the conference start date.
- Scholarship recipients must meet their assigned mentor at the start of the conference and shadow them throughout the event.
- Scholarship recipients need to conduct themselves in a professional manner while attending the Tourism Conference.
- Scholarship recipients are required to attend the entire conference including all programming, meals and breaks as outlined in the official program.
Student Scholarship recipients will receive:
- Complimentary full conference registration which includes; all programming, breakfast, lunch and breaks as outlined in the official conference program.
- Mileage reimbursement from the student’s school location to Duluth Entertainment Convention Center (one direct round trip) to be reimbursed at the 2026 standard federal rate. Appropriate reimbursement paperwork must be completed to receive reimbursement.
- Recognition at one of the conference general sessions.
- Please note: All other expenses will be at the student’s own expense.
Timeline for Student Scholarship program:
- Sep. 25, 2025: Application period opens
- Nov. 7, 2025: Application period ends
- Nov. 14, 2025: Applicants will be notified of their scholarship status
- Feb. 2 - Feb. 10, 2026: Scholarship recipients meet with assigned mentors via video or in person
- Feb. 11-12, 2026: Explore Minnesota Tourism Conference
- March 6, 2026: Deadline to turn in mileage reimbursement forms for payment