Resort Manager Career
The job of a resort manager sounds like a dream job; you make a lot of money while working in a posh environment with free access to swimming pools, great food and expensive entertainment. In real life, however, it takes a tremendous amount of work to keep a resort facility posh, the food up to standard, and to manage the legal, financial and social aspects.
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Job Requirements
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Resort managers oversee all aspects of a resort. They are in charge of managing staff for the facility, making sure everything works and is clean, and that the staff is friendly and supportive toward the guests. They are in charge of hiring and firing, business planning and execution, and the financial performance of the resort. They also oversee the many restaurants and shops in the resort.
Salary
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The median salary for lodging managers was $45,800 in 2008, according to the BLS. But that includes lodging managers for hotels as well as resorts. The larger and more complicated the resort -- such as the Disney resort at Oahu, which was looking for a resort manager in 2010 -- the higher the pay. Many resort managers get bonuses based on the resort's financial performance. As part of their salary, many resort managers also receive perks such as free lodging, meals, free laundry, etc.
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Training and Education
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The expectations for training and education vary according to the size and complexity of the resort. The Disney resort, for example, was looking for someone with a master's degree in the hospitality industry and at least ten years experience in the industry. A smaller resort might look for someone with a business management degree or a bachelor's degree in hospitality. There are a number of community college and university programs that teach resort management including Sierra Nevada College, Florida Gulf Coast University and an online program at Phoenix University. (See Resources.)
The Downside
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In 2010, the Bureau of Labor Statistics projected slow growth in the resort management area because of a U.S. economic downturn that slowed the activity and building of resorts, spas and other expensive recreational facilities. In addition, the agency reported that resort managers generally work long hours and frequently work on weekends and nights. So it's only a dream job if you really love what you are doing.
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References
Resources
- Photo Credit resort image by Dave from Fotolia.com
