RESORT MANAGEMENT

RESORT
– Any place or places with pleasant environment and
atmosphere conducive to comfort, healthful
relaxation and rest, offering food, sleeping
accomodation and recreational facilities to the
public for a fee (definition per DOT Rules on
Accreditation)

Elements of a resort
1. Recreational facilities that draw guests to the facility
2. Housing and Food & Beverage services that cater
to people away from home
3. Activities to occupy guests during their stay
 CLASSIFICATION OF RESORTS
According to Location

1. Inland Beach – Plantation Bay

2. Island – Club Noah Isabelle
3. Lakeside – Lake Caliraya
4. Farm – Villa Escudero
5. Orchard – Gap Farming Resort, Davao
6. Mountain – Mt. Data Lodge, Benguet
7. Springs – Ardent Hot Springs, Camiguin
 CLASSIFICATION OF RESORTS
According to Activity Offered

1. Diving Resort
2. Fishing Resort
3. Health/Spa
4. Golf Resort
5. Ski Resort
6. Gaming Resort
7. Theme Park
 CLASSIFICATION OF RESORTS
According to Ownership/Lodging Properties
1. Resort Hotel
• Person “leases” the room/cottage for transient stay
2. Second-Home Development
• Person develops/buys another home in outdoor
areas
3. Timeshare Ownership
• Person pays for the right to accommodations at a
vacation development for a specified period each
year, for a specified number of years or for
perpetuity. It is essentially buying accomodation in
advance & paying annual contributions for
maintenance
 Concentration of tourist facilities and
services in specified tourism zones allows for
efficient provision of infrastructure, offers a
variety of easily accessible activities and
facilities for tourists, encourages integrated
planning and application of development
controls, and contain any negative impacts in
certain areas. These tourism zones should be
located to be protected and areas more
suitable for other types of development. The
tourism zones needed to be integrated with
the transportation network that connects the
zones with the gateway to the country or
If possible, attractions should be clustered
with the secondary attractions developed
near primary ones in order to encourage
tourists to stay longer in the area.
Planning for tour routes should apply the
principle of not requiring back-tracking,
that is, loop tour patterns wherever
possible, infrastructure should be
multipurpose serving general community
needs as well as tourism.
Resort Planning
The modern concept of a resort is that planned as
an integrated development with consideration given to
its compatibility with the natural environment and
possible benefits to local communities.
Economic feasibility analysis: Analysis of the
economic costs and benefits of a project to the entire
area, region or country. A project may generate overall
positive economic benefits by attracting tourists to the
area, but not make a profit in itself.
Financial feasibility analysis: The financial rate of
return and profitability of a project based only on its own
costs and revenues.
Resort Planning Process
•First, market and product assessment (referring especially
to tourist attractions) is conducted, the resort development
objectives, type and size determined in preliminary form, the
site selected, and conceptual planning and prefeasibility
analysis carried out. This analysis feeds into more specific
determination of facility and land use requirements and
infrastructure needs, the regional relationships including
access to the site and regional integration, and the
environmental and carrying capacity analysis and
considerations of community relationships.

•Then the resort and regional/community relationships plan

is prepared, with phasing of development and evaluated
environmentally and economically as a basis for deciding on
the final plan.
3. A specific environmental and social impact analysis
must be conducted of the plan to ensure that the
resort will not result in undue environmentally and
economically as a basis for deciding on the final plan.

4.Then a final-economic and financial feasibility

analysis is carried out to make certain that the resort
will be economically viable and produce an acceptable
financial rate of return. The results of this analysis
may also require modifications to the plan.

5. Finally, the implementation programme is prepared

and construction of the first phase begins.
 There is a tendency for successful
resorts to eventually be overdeveloped –
because they have been successful – thus
leading to environmental problems and
decline of the resort’s popularity. The best
approach is to establish a maximum size for
each resort based on environmental and
other relevant considerations and, when one
resort in an area is fully developed, to then
develop new resorts elsewhere in the area or
rehabilitate declining existing tourism areas.
If there are local communities existing near
the resort, community residents or their
spokesmen should be involved in key
stages of the resort planning process.
Techniques should be devised for nearby
residents to receive direct benefits from
the resort including employment, operation
of commercial facilities, and improved
community infrastructure and facilities.
 Each resort area is unique but some basic
principles apply to the planning of most resorts.
The concept of land use zoning is applicable to
resorts. A basic principle is conservation of
specific environmental features such as
beaches, marine areas, ponds, lakes, lagoons,
archaeological and historic sites, large trees and
group of tree, unusual geological features and
hill tops. Related to this conservation is
maintenance of view planes and corridors so
that there are views of important features form
the building in the final development.
• Also important functional grouping of resort
facilities and activities, such as accommodation,
commercial and cultural facilities (often in an
integrated and pedestrian oriented resort
center), and recreation facilities, in suitable
areas. Accommodation should be well related to
the main resort attractions such as beaches but
not impinging on them. Hotels, for example,
should be sited well back from the beach so that
the natural shoreline appearance is maintained
and erosion is avoided, but within convenient
walking distance from the beach.
• Resorts should have controlled access and an
efficient but not high-speed road network.
Emphasis should be on pedestrians in the resort
and, in larger resorts, use of non-polluting
vehicles such as small battery operated buses to
provide general transport within the resort
grounds. Public access to the resort should be
allowed on a controlled basis including to the
main attraction features such as beaches and
historic places.
 Provision of adequate infrastructure for the resort is
essential to prevent environmental problems. Often this
infrastructure can also be developed to serve nearby
communities as one of the local benefits from the resort
development. Conservation-oriented infrastructure techniques
should be applied, such as treatment and recycling of sewage
effluent for use in landscape irrigation and use of solar energy
for water heating and natural ventilation substituting air
conditioning air conditioning. Resorts are typically well
landscaped to create an attractive open environment.

One of the regional considerations in resort planning is

that, if sufficient housing for the resort employees is not
already available in nearby communities, then housing will
need to be developed neat the resort. This housing should be
planned as an integrated community with the full range of
community facilities and services, as well as the housing
provided.
 Resort Planning Process
Market & Product Assessment of
Area
Determination of Objectives, Type & Size of
Resort, including General Environmental
Assessment of Area
Resort Site
Selection
Resort Concept & Prefeasibility Analysis (with
feedback to above steps, project terminated if
determined infeasible)
Determination of Facility Regional Environmental &
& Land Use Relationships Carrying Capacity
Requirements Analysis
Determination of Access to Community
Infrastructure Regional Relationships
Requirements Integration
Formulation of Regional Relationships & Resort Land Use Plan with
Phasing of Development (alternative & final plans)
Specific Environmental & Social Assessment
(with feedback to plan formulation)
Implementation Program
First Stage Development

Plan Retirement of Later Phases

Implementation of Later Phases
 SIMILARITIES OF HOTEL &
RESORT MANAGEMENT
• Both sell meals and rooms
• Both are labor-intensive
• Both have buildings and grounds which
require maintenance and upkeep
• Courtesy and Guest service are of prime
importance to both
• Innkeeping laws apply to both
 DIFF. IN MGT. OF HOTELS & RESORTS
1. Visitor Market
• Hotels cater primarily to both business travellers
and leisure travellers
• Resorts cater primarily to the vacation and leisure
travellers.

2. Facilities
• Resort rooms are larger
• More closet space is needed for resorts
• Larger amount of land is required for resorts for
recreational facilities
 DIFF. IN MGT. OF HOTELS & RESORTS

1. Location
• Hotels are located in urban areas
• Resorts are located in rural areas
– Remoteness of the resort has an appeal to
the traveller who seeks an environment
different from the urban & sub-urban
environment of work and home
– Thus, resorts must be self-contained, that is,
it should have generous storage for food,
domestic goods, support services
 DIFF. IN MGT. OF HOTELS & RESORTS
1. Recreation
• Unlike hotels, resorts need to invest heavily on land
and equipment for recreation
2. Seasonality
• Hotels operate year-round
• Most resorts are seasonal due to location
3. Personnel Attitude
• In a hotel, service is more “business-like.” Guests
look at hotel as temporary shelter
• In a resort, the guest expects to be pampered and
service should convey “Home & Family Hospitality”
 DIFF. IN MGT. OF HOTELS & RESORTS

1. Managerial Knowhow
• In addition to knowhow of hotel
management concepts, resort managers are
expected to have knowledge in two areas:
 The natural resource on which the resort is
based
 Guest activity programming
 Personalized guest relations
2. Labor Skills
• Employees should be able to rotate in
different jobs
 DIFF. IN MGT. OF HOTELS & RESORTS

1. Corporate/Employer Responsibility
• Local communities may highly depend on
the resort for its economic future. Hence, the
resort should take on additional
responsibility to the community such as
employment opportunities
2. Employee Housing
• Resort needs to provide housing for its
employees and in some instances access to
schools, churches, hospitals
 DIFF. IN MGT. OF HOTELS & RESORTS

1. Sources of Revenue
• Hotels get most of their income fr. rooms, and F & B
• In addition to rooms and F&B, resorts earn a lot
from recreational activities & retail sales
2. Resorts & Traditions
• Many resorts cater to repeat visitors so traditions
are more important
• Resorts should develop ways and means to develop
traditions which are image-building and memorable
such as annual festivals, theme weekends, sports
contests, and parties
SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS IN
PLANNING & DEVELOPMENT
 Factors to Consider in resort
development
• Resort development involves a difficult
trade-off between benefits and
unfavorable impacts on the ff. aspects:
2. Economic
3. Social
4. Environmental
A. Economic Considerations in Resort Dev’t.

Variables that Determine Profitability

2. Capacity
• The more facilities & guests, the higher the profit
• However, capacity is limited by Physical limitations
and Ecological limitations
3. Length of the Season
• Is the season long enough to earn profit?
4. Capital Investment
• Heavy costs in fixed assets for land, building and
recreational facilities
• Long payback period
B. Social Considerations in Resort Dev’t.

• It is imperative for a resort to develop & maintain

good relations with the local community
– They are the main source of labor
– They are local customers
– They provide community services
– The community’s peace & order and general attitude
towards tourism and tourists has great impact on
tourism movement to the resort
– Resort development would have positive & negative
social changes
B. Social Considerations in Resort Dev’t.

1. Employment
• Communities welcome the social benefit of job
creation in construction & operations
• However, it has employment-related social
problems:
o Established industries may be disrupted if they
lose good employees who transfer to the resort
o Communities may resent hiring of outsiders for
better paying positions
o For local community members working in the
resort, exposure to the “high” lifestyle of resorts
may cause dissatisfaction w/ his lifestyle &
develop a false sense of values anchored on
material acquisitions & creature comforts
B. Social Considerations in Resort Dev’t.

2. Recreational development
– Residents may resent and resist resort dev’t.
if it they don’t have access & are hindered
from leisure activities they used to enjoy
3. Infrastructure requirements & demands
– The resort would compete with local
community for use of water, energy,
transportation & communication resources
B. Social Considerations in Resort Dev’t.

4. Lifestyle changes
– More wives may take on financial obligations than
their husbands, disrupting traditional social norms
– Residents exposed to tourists’ lifestyles become
inclined to spend more specially on imported goods
– Possible increases in prostitution, drug addiction &
other crimes as a result of interaction with tourists
5. Congestion
– Human traffic
– Vehicular traffic
C. Environmental Considerations in Resort Dev’t.

1. Pollution
• From fertilizers, pesticides, exhaust fumes,
solid wastes & sewage
2. Conservation
• Resort dev’t. may damage the flora & fauna
3. Aesthetic impact
• Resort development may alter the view &
beauty of the natural landscape
STEPS TO MINIMIZE ADVERSE SOCIAL &
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS
1. Conduct a study on the social & environmental
impacts
2. Develop action plan to maximize positive
impacts & lessen negative impacts
3. Involve the local community in the community-
based sustainable planning and development
processes
4. Pursue continuing resort-community programs
 Educational interchanges & lectures
 Social programs for the community such as medical
& dental missions
 Joint environmental programs such as beach and
reef clean-up drives
 STAGES IN RESORT DEVELOPMENT

1. Feasibility Analysis & Planning

• Involves forecasting of demand, market
analysis, examination of site characteristics
and determination of financial feasibility
2. Construction
3. Operations/Management
RESORT PLANNING PRINCIPLES
Fundamental Concepts
• Resort Environment
– Give the resort a distinctive image and character that
provides a contrast to the tourist’s home environment
• Environmental Orientation
– Allow tourist appreciation of nature at environmentally
sustainable manner
• Community Orientation
– Allow tourist interaction with local residents and
encourage learning of local culture
RESORT PLANNING PRINCIPLES
Multi-discplinary team approach
• Resort marketing analysts
• Land use and site planners
• Economic & Financial feasibility anslysts
• Transportation & other infrastructure engineers
• Hotel architects & resort landscapers
• Environmental specialists
• Sociologists
• Specialists on the activity offered (such as dive
instructors for a dive resort)
WATER-BASED RESORTS
ELEMENTS IN SELECTING BEACH SITES

1. Access to permanent or transient

seasonal population
2. Access to major roads
3. Climate
4. Water quality
– Monitor bacterial count resulting from
swimmers, sewage overflows, and runoffs
from city streets to the waters
ASPECTS OF BEACH DEVELOPMENT

1. Sea
a) air temperature, b) water temperature,
c) intensity of the wind & sun, d) currents, tides and
waves, e) clarity of water, f) pollution,
g) ecology/marine life, h) attractions
2. Seashore
– Consists of the surface under the water extending
up to a depth of six feet
– A gentle, uniform slope until 6 ft. depth is ideal
– Coarse sand at the bottom is ideal
 ASPECTS OF BEACH DEVELOPMENT

3. Beach
– Consider quality of sand, slope and distance from
the shore
4. Back Beach
– Offers views to both the sea and inland
5. Coastal stretch
– Where service facilities, access roads, parking
facilities & bathhouses are located
6. Surrounding Country
– Provides the setting for the attraction
 BEACH RESORT PRODUCT LIFE CYLCLE
Exploration – few adventurous tourists visit; no facilities

Involvement - first resorts are developed

Development - More resorts developed, residents sell land

and move to other areas due to increased taxes

Consolidation – growth levels off; resort season extended

Stagnation – capacity is reached

Decline –over-commercialization, congestion, less visitors

Rejuvenation – measures to arrest decline