Travel and Leisure

Resort management is a specialized field in the hospitality and tourism industry. Resort managers oversee operations at resort, as the name suggests, but the scale of the venue being managed is greatly variable, from enormous overseas properties, to small, local venues, with a similar range in star count. Regardless of size and quality, a resort manager must be well versed in all the functions of a hotel or other guest accommodations business, from housekeeping and maintenance, to amenities and customer relations.

Special Resort Challenges

Many resorts are in foreign countries, capitalizing on warmer climates and the opportunity to offer more luxury for less price. Whether seaside in a tropical island or inland on a mainland country, oversees resort management requires knowledge of local labour laws and practices to avoid a visit from the police. There may also be concerns for guest security, not only because comparatively wealthy guests make tempting targets for thieves, but also in some areas, managers are responsible for setting instructional policy that makes sure that guests stepping outside the resort respect local customs and don't get caught up in political conflicts of the country they are visiting. If that wasn't enough, there can be differences in sanitation and managers and guests alike may need vaccination and precautions to deal with diseases and parasites. Tourism courses cover many of the basics, while government agencies make sure to educate anyone who wants to live or work abroad on most of the other risks.

Some resorts, especially oversees, expect the person responsible for resort management to live onsite. Housing and utilities are provided as part of pay, giving an employee a chance for year round resort living but also facilitating round the clock availability.

General Hospitality Management Skills

Any venue that houses and entertains guests is going to have a number of similarities. The rooms must be kept clean, the kitchens in good working order, up to health board standards and delivering appetizing food, and the guests satisfied with the services and rapport with staff. In resorts there will be an ongoing need to keep the guests happy by changing up the entertainment offerings and keep track of offsite must-sees and tourism hot spots, especially key when a venue develops regulars who come back year, after year, and as the facilities age, the person responsible for resort management will need to schedule repairs and renovations and update the décor. Lastly, with all the staff needed, a manager will need to become an expert at human resources, hiring and overseeing, but also dealing with labour disputes as they arise.

This can be a lot to learn, but a good tourism management school is ready to help make it a possibility. Especially complimentary to people with some existing hospitality, tourism or customer service experience, tourism management school will give you the final polish that lets resort owners know their property in in safe hands.