UNIT 17 PRINCIPLES OF RESORT DEVELOPMENT Structure 17.0 Objectives 17.1 Introduction 17.2 Resort: the Concept 17.3 Types of Resorts 17.3.1 Location based resorts 17.3.2 Activity based resorts 17.3.3 Residential and Lodging Properties 17.3.4 Other types 17.4 Trends in Resort Industry 17.5 Amenities and Services in a Resort 17.6 Resort: Functions and Departments 17.7 Resort Development Process 17.8 Principles to Follow 17.9 Let Us Sum Up 17.10 Clues to Answer 17.0 OBJECTIVES After studying this unit, you would be able to: Describe the concept of resort Identify the types of resorts Comprehend the trends in the resort sector Recognize the functions and departments in a resort Explain the process of resort development Describe the sustainability principles to follow while developing a resort. 17.1 INTRODUCTION Tourism is an amalgam of industries, which are of diverse kinds. In each industry, there are subsectors having different products and characteristics. Hospitality is a major component in the tourism sector, and in the modern tourism, the significance of hospitality is on the increase. It has an undeniable contribution in the tourist experience. The quality of the service delivered, the professionalism in customer handling, the level of facilities and services, etc. do matter in satisfying the tourist. Hospitality itself is a diverse sector which consists of a number of types of accommodation sectors. Among those, hotels and resorts constitute the major categories. Destination, the ultimate reason why a tourist travel for visiting, is another major component in the tourism spectrum. Some of the destinations are also called resorts. Therefore, let us go through the concept resort in detail, from different perspectives, and learn various aspects of it in depth. 17.2 RESORT: THE CONCEPT Although there were many attempts to define the term ‘resort’, an unambiguous definition is yet to generate. Based on different subject perspectives, different viewpoints are there on defining resorts. The term resort is usually used to represent an accommodation unit that is more of self- contained in nature which will have the facilities and services to cater to the requirements of the tourists, including those related to stay, entertainment and recreation, food, beverage and shopping. Many of the resorts are usually presented and marketed focusing on a chosen theme. However, resort is also used to refer to destinations, rather smaller in size, which is exclusively meant for leisure tourism.Therefore, it is important to note that resort can be an entire destination or simply an individual commercial accommodation establishment. For instances, some small islands are there in which tourism is the primary economic activity and consists of facilities and services targeting tourists to enjoy their holidays, and they are also called as resorts.The terms such as resort town, resort island and resort destination representing destinations instead of accommodation units are there in tourism literature. In this perspective, resort is a geographic location where many people go for rest, relaxation and to enjoy their vacation. Such location may have evolved or developed to provide recreation, entertainment, and accommodation targeting the holiday seekers. The prime focus of those locations is to ensure the facilities and services for satisfying the needs of tourists who visit over there for holidays. The following are some of the major resort types based on the above perspective. Resort Towns: These are rather small urban locations which have tourism as the primary economic activity, and the host community depends primarily on tourism. Tourism or vacationing is certainly a major part of local activity. Resort cities are seen across the world. In the US, that trend emerged earlier. According to Robert Christie Mill “America’s first resort city was Atlantic City. Developed in the late 1800s, it attracted the middle as well as the upper classes. It built the first boardwalk to accommodate those seeking the health benefits of sunshine and fresh air, the first amusement pier that extended over the Atlantic, and the Observation Roundabout—later renamed the Ferris wheel. The railroad brought day trippers; other guests stayed for the season in boardinghouses and resort hotels.” (Mill, 2008) Resort Island: There are some islands known primarily for holidaying. Tourism is the cardinal economic activity over there and they will have accommodation units, and other facilities and service to ensure that location as an attractive tourism domain. Seychelles is a resort island that depends primarily on tourism. The following discussion on resort is based on the perspective of it from an accommodation unit. According to Walker, (2017), the term resort is usually used to represent a hotel property that provides an array of amenities and services; most of them provide entertainment and recreational activities.Resort is distinguished from a hotel in terms of the recreation and entertainment option. Eric T. Brey could provide a more comprehensive definition, and according to him a resort “is a full-service lodging facility that providesaccess to or offers a range of amenities and recreation facilities to emphasize a leisure experience. Resorts serve as the primary provider of the guests’ experience, often provideservices for business or meetings, and are characteristicallylocated in vacation-oriented settings” (Brey, 2011). In this definition, it is pointed out that a resort should be capable enough to provide almost all facilities and services that are required by a tourist as part of their visit. A tourist usually have a range ‘needs’ while on a tour and it may include the facilities and services for safe and comfortable stay, food, entertainments and recreation. Moreover, a tourist seeks very pleasant and attractive premises, good ambience and eye pleasing environment in and around a resort. Certainly resort has distinctiveness compared to hotels primarily based on the signatory provisions they can provide to the tourists. For instance a sports resort may provide exclusive sport facilities and services targeting that particular sports lovers and the resort may be attractive to tourists based on those features, instead of accommodation facilities and services alone. Ski resort, in addition to the hospitality facilities and services, will provide the facilities and amenities for experiencing Skiing activities comfortably. , The following features make these types of accommodation units unique: One signature amenity which is a prime feature of that resort, or a linking or associating feature which can make a resort special. Minimum five secondary recreation, leisure, or entertainment experiences Encompasses at least one full-service food and beverage outlet Provision for short-term or overnight lodging facility Availability of a minimum of twenty-five rooms or other accommodations, generally. Aims to provide leisure or retreat-environment experience (Brey, 2011). 17.3 TYPES OF RESORTS The realm of global tourism comprises of a wide range of resorts, which can be classified on a diverse basis. Varied categorization is seen in the tourism literature and the most commonly seen classification consists of it based on the location of the resort, the target focus activities offered within the resorts, nature of operation and the like. Some of the major types are introduced below. According to Location o Mountain/Hill resorts o Beach resorts o Island Resorts o Forest Resorts According to Activity Offered o Tennis and Golf Resorts o Diving Resort o Fishing Resort o Ski Resort o Health/Ayurveda Resort o Spa Resort o Gaming Resort Residential and Lodging Properties o Traditional lodging o Timeshare or vacation ownership o Condominium hotels o Destination clubs Other types o Integrated Resorts o All-inclusive Resort o Eco-Resorts o City/Urban resorts o Others 17.3.1 Location Based Resorts Location based resorts are so significant in the global tourism sector. The locational advantage is that what makes these resorts very attractive. Most of them are situated at remote locations that are less populated. The scenic view and the beauty around provide fabulous experience for the tourists. Mountain resorts are situated on mountains, hills and hill stations that offer ideal location for offering hospitality and tourism services. Leisure tourists prefer to stay, usually extended stays, in such location to experience the feel of being on the top and branches of mountains. Ski resorts are also classified under mountain resort category. The attractiveness of mountain resort is influenced by the climate, altitude, snow conditions (in the case of ski resort), vegetation and other geographical features, scope of viewing scenery, etc. Himalayan mountain ranges accommodate a number of resorts, of which many are situated within the territory in India. Darjeeling, Ooty, Kodaikanal, Shimla, Mussoorie, Nainital, Munnar, etc., the popular mountain/hill based tourist locations in India, have a number of resorts that can be called mountain resorts. Coastal resorts are another major category. Beach resort, along with the provision of complete facilities services of a quality resort, usually has access to a private beach as well. The beach is the primary focus for tourists. A beach resort offers a wide range of services and amenities, and typically includes a variety of entertainment and recreational activities. Many of the beaches have high quality resorts. Other coastal areas also have similar