Managing Jobs in RV Resorts

RV resort managers must maintain parking spots and pathways.

Resorts for RVs offer an assortment of amenities for vacationers and residents, including swimming pools, gaming rooms, on-site restaurants and horseshoe pits. If you'd like to make a living managing an RV resort, responsibilities include maintaining the grounds and ensuring that visitors and residents have a safe, enjoyable stay. Managing jobs in RV resorts involve physical work, but many professionals find the work rewarding when paired with time spent outdoors and interacting with guests.

Things You'll Need

• Maintenance tools
• Accounting software
• Recreational equipment
• Customer service policy

Instructions

1. Maintain the resort by creating a checklist of necessary activities. You'll oversee the resort's different areas, including swimming pools, laundry facilities, common bathrooms and recreation areas. Basic knowledge of plumbing, electrical and general maintenance is helpful, and you'll also want to be comfortable assisting guests with small problems related to their RVs (for example, helping visitors connect power, sewer and cable lines). Grounds maintenance also involves watering and caring for trees, shrubs and flowers. You'll be expected to keep fences, pathways, walkways and parking areas maintained and accessible for guests.

2. Track resort finances to ensure profitability. Tasks include adhering to a maintenance budget, submitting invoices for tools, chemicals or other equipment purchased, completing payroll for employees and collecting rent from tenants. You'll also be responsible for paying vendors, such as companies stocking the resort ice machine or firewood bin.

3. Engage in conversation with guests, resolve minor conflicts about noise levels or wandering pets, and suggest nearby activities for families or vacationing couples, since guests expect RV resorts to maintain a friendly, lively social environment.

   RV resort managers may also create and sustain recreation calendars at larger resorts, organizing bonfires, movie nights, volleyball tournaments or barbecue cook-offs. Creating feedback forms for customers can help determine what activities guests would like to see added, or improve existing activity ideas.

4. Ensure that guests remain safe and act within legal boundaries by posting policies and driving or walking through the resort regularly. You'll need to monitor the resort to discourage and prevent underage drinking, discourage guests from lighting fireworks if prohibited in your municipality and determine that visitors obey speed limits and stop signs. Guests may sometimes become belligerent or uncooperative; develop and uphold policies for addressing problems before they become serious.

Tips & Warnings

• Negotiate to have perks added to your compensation. The median annual wage for lodging managers, including RV resort managers, was $45,800 in 2008, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The top 10 percent of earners enjoyed salaries exceeding $84,270, while the lowest 10 percent earned less than $28,160. Benefits may include free or discounted housing, food, parking and laundry access.

References

• Bureau of Labor Statistics: Lodging Managers
• Monster.com: RV Resort Manager and Maintenance Person
• Sunscape Estates RV Park Cooperative: Park Manager
• Oragray.com: Job Description for Resort Manager; December 2008