The very word “resort” conjures up images of pampered relaxation away from home at luxurious accommodations where a vacationers’ every need is met. These needs include food, drink, lodging, recreation, entertainment and even shopping. Additionally, resorts offer personal needs catering for such things as hair and beauty salons, clothes dry cleaning, medical and more. These operations need executive and departmental managers providing a wide range of career possibilities.
Tourism Runs the Towns
Throughout the world there are towns that contain resorts enabling almost every single business in the community to partake in tourism dollars. Although the term “resort” is sometimes erroneously used to define fine a specific hotel that doesn’t necessarily provide all the amenities found that a resort does, a hotel is usually the central feature you will find at a resort. There are areas of the world where resorts are the engine driving local economies such as throughout tropical climates that are typically known as destination resorts. The facility provides an all-inclusive array of features so visitors never need to leave the premises unless for sightseeing purposes. Even then, outings are usually arranged, conducted and supervised by resort personnel under resort management. The services provided under the resort umbrella are normally of a much higher quality than those you would come to expect at a single hotel or restaurant in a neighboring town. In fact, international companies invest heavily in land and facilities located in popular holiday destinations luring millions of vacationing dollars. Managing the delivery of these services is an employment opportunity for well-trained professionals.
Resort Management Worldwide
Although traveling to a luxury resort does typically conjure up images of palm trees swaying and crystal clear blue-green tropical waters, there are many other type of resorts located in non-tropical locations. These could include gaming centers, golf resorts, tennis resorts, ski resorts, dude ranches and other themed adventure-oriented resorts that may be quite unique in nature. There are exclusive resorts catering to sportsmen that offer adventure-like experiences hunting or fishing at exotic locations throughout the world. Management opportunities at such facilities may require learning a bit about the activities provided. If a resort is theme-based, such as one offering fishing expeditions where the “catch of the day” becomes the meal of the day, on-site management will be well-trained toward providing all the pampering services that are commonly “over-the-top.” Although daily activities might take place in a primitive environment, life back at the “ranch, camp, landing, cabin” or other will possess top-notch accommodations, expert, courteous service and first-rate exquisite food and drink making a visitor’s stay incredibly comfortable and always memorable.
Concentrated Training
Individuals considering a career in resort management will do well planning any acquisition of specific skills that may be quite suited to the location and activities offered at a specific resort. Professionals who are multi-lingual will fare well in an international setting while ones predisposed to winter sports and activities may be quite successful at a ski resort. Often, these ancillary skills are not necessarily part of any hospitality management curriculum. Many times an individual’s hobbies and sports activities may help direct future resort management employment. However, experience and education focusing in subject areas such as psychology, business finance, employee management, public relations, consumer behavior, organization and planning, event coordination, facility risk management, food and beverage plus more will be needed regardless the venue. Furthermore, there are other aspects about resort management education to consider including:
• Do professors have experience and contacts in the hospitality industry?
• Does the program operate student-run hotels, restaurants, or other hospitality businesses?
• Does the program feature other hands-on learning activities such as computer simulations?
• Does the program encourage study abroad?
• Is there an on-campus hospitality association?
• Will the program help you find work after graduation?
• What are recent grads doing now?
It will never hurt if you are an expert downhill skier when applying for a resort management position at a popular ski resort.