What is the Job Description of a Resort Manager?

Resort managers budget, hire, and coordinate staff, manage supplies, and respond to customer needs. Read on to see if a career as a resort manager is right for you, and check the earning potential and employment outlook for this job.

Career Overview

As a resort manager, your job will include managing all aspects of a resort, including lodging, food and beverage management, human resources, housekeeping, attractions, and guest services. You'll be in charge of employees, finances, customer service, promotions, and quality control. Resort managers often have to work nights and weekends, putting in long hours to ensure the success of their establishment. However, your hours may vary greatly during high and low travel seasons.

Resort Manager Job Description

In general, a hospitality management job description includes duties in three major areas:

Daily Operations, Finances, and Marketing
Customer Service
Human Resources

Daily Operations, Financial, and Marketing Duties

Resort managers oversee product stocking, accounting, and marketing efforts at the resort. As a resort manager, you'll hire contractors to perform services, such as painting or plumbing. You'll ensure that all supplies, from housekeeping materials to furniture, are in good condition and in stock. You'll monitor payroll, customer billing, and expense accounts. You'll also oversee and approve marketing and sales campaigns, and you'll be required to approve discounts drafted by your marketing and sales coordinators.

Customer Service

Resort managers ensure positive customer experiences by maintaining high-quality facilities and remedying problems. At the resort, you'll conduct room, kitchen, and grounds inspections to make sure that they are all up to code. You'll greet guests at arrival, create standards surveys, and find acceptable solutions to problems that may arise. You'll also need to keep abreast of local happenings so you can book tours or recommend activities to guests unfamiliar with the area. You may also coordinate functions or events for your guests.

Human Resources Responsibilities

As a resort manager, you'll be in charge of hiring, training, and scheduling new staff members. You'll also maintain employee records and fire ineffective employees. You'll set goals for employees and help your staff achieve these goals. You might also have assistant managers who you'll work with to manage departments, such as housekeeping, dining, security, and desk personnel. You'll schedule and lead staff meetings to regularly communicate with your staff and to ensure that all departments are meeting the resort's standards.

Important Facts About Resort Managers

Required Education	High school diploma; certification in resort or hotel management is a plus
Key Skills	Critical thinking, coordination, problem solving, observation, time management, social awareness, persuasion, clear communication
Work Environment	Resorts, bed-and-breakfasts, youth hostels, hotels, inns
Similar Occupations	Hotel managers, food service managers, sales managers, gaming service occupations, real estate and commodity association managers

Salary Info and Job Outlook

According to PayScale.com, the average resort general manager salary ranges between $27,000 and $82,000 a year, as of July 2019. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS, www.bls.gov) indicated that employment for lodging managers, including resort managers, is projected to increase by about 4% between 2016 and 2026.