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Resort Manager job description

A Resort Manager runs a resort, owning the guest experience, revenue and operations across rooms, dining and activities. They lead all departments, manage the leisure experience guests come for and keep the property profitable through the seasons. The role reports to the owner or regional director. A good Resort Manager blends warm hospitality with tight operations, keeps occupancy strong in and out of season, and makes sure guests leave rested, happy and ready to return.

DetailFor this role
DepartmentHospitality
LevelManager
Reports toRegional Director
Direct reportsFront Office Manager, Executive Housekeeper, Food and Beverage Manager, Activities Manager
Experience12+ years in hospitality with 4 years leading a property

Resort Manager job description template

Copy this job description, replace the text in square brackets and post it on your careers page or a job portal.

Job title: Resort Manager

Department: Hospitality

Reports to: Regional Director

Location: [City], [office, branch or site]

About the role

A Resort Manager runs a resort, owning the guest experience, revenue and operations across rooms, dining and activities. They lead all departments, manage the leisure experience guests come for and keep the property profitable through the seasons. The role reports to the owner or regional director. A good Resort Manager blends warm hospitality with tight operations, keeps occupancy strong in and out of season, and makes sure guests leave rested, happy and ready to return.

Key responsibilities

  • Lead all resort departments and own the leisure guest experience end to end.
  • Drive occupancy, room revenue and dining and activity income across the seasons.
  • Own the resort budget and control cost across departments through peak and lean months.
  • Plan and oversee guest activities, events and experiences that define the resort.
  • Uphold service, safety and hygiene standards across rooms, pools, dining and grounds.
  • Handle serious guest complaints and VIP guests personally and promptly.
  • Lead, hire and develop department heads and plan for seasonal staffing swings.
  • Manage owner and corporate reporting on occupancy, revenue and guest scores.
  • Drive online reputation, reviews and packages that fill low season dates.
  • Approve major purchases, contracts and maintenance within delegated authority.

Requirements

  • Degree or diploma in hotel management
  • Strong resort or hotel leadership record
  • Rooms or food and beverage background
  • 12+ years in hospitality with 4 years leading a property

KRAs and KPIs for a Resort Manager

Key result areas for the appraisal form, each with a KPI you can measure every month or quarter.

Key result areaHow to measure it
OccupancyResort occupancy meets or beats the seasonal budget through the year
RevenueRoom, dining and activity revenue meet the annual plan
Guest satisfactionGuest and review scores held above the agreed level
ProfitGross operating profit meets or beats the approved budget
Off season demandLow season occupancy lifted against the previous year with packages
SafetyNo major safety or hygiene lapse across the property during the year

Skills and tools

Resort operationsRevenue and occupancyGuest experienceActivities and leisureBudget and cost controlTeam leadershipSafety and hygieneOwner relationsSeasonality planning

Tools used day to day: Property management system, Channel manager, Revenue management system, MS Excel, Review management tools.

Reporting line and career path

Regional DirectorResort ManagerFront Office ManagerExecutive HousekeeperFood and BeverageManagerActivities Manager
Moves up from: Resident Manager, Rooms Division Manager, Food and Beverage Manager
Next roles: Area General Manager, Cluster General Manager, Vice President Operations

Interview questions for a Resort Manager

  1. How do you fill a resort in the low season?
  2. How do you balance leisure experience with tight cost control?
  3. How do you keep service consistent across rooms, dining and activities?
  4. How do you handle a VIP guest complaint at a full resort?
  5. How do you plan staffing for a sharp seasonal swing?
  6. How do you lift the resort's online reviews?

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Frequently asked questions

What does a Resort Manager do?

A Resort Manager runs a resort, owning guest experience, revenue and operations across rooms, dining and activities. They lead all departments, manage the leisure experience, control the budget and keep the property profitable through the seasons. They handle serious complaints and VIPs, reporting to the owner or regional director.

What is the difference between a Resort Manager and a Hotel General Manager?

Both run a whole property, but a resort focuses on leisure: activities, longer stays, dining and grounds, with sharp seasonal demand. A Resort Manager plans for that leisure experience and seasonality, while a Hotel General Manager, often in a city, leans more towards rooms, corporate business and events.

What qualifications does a Resort Manager need?

Most Resort Manager roles ask for a degree or diploma in hotel management with a strong resort or hotel leadership record and twelve or more years of experience, several leading a property. A rooms or food and beverage background and command of revenue, cost and seasonality matter most.