HMGT 681 (01) - Contemporary Resort Development and Management

The course is designed to introduce the management of hotels, resorts and destinations as units of how tourism and hospitality is structured. It focusses on development, operations and management as underlying concepts. In a classic hotel setting, hotel development and management can be treated as two separate entities. However, resorts focus not only on the convenience and service needs of guest, but also on their leisure needs. Hence resort development and management is a guest experience focused ongoing activity. The concept of destinations is an very important one and an aggregation of many players (hotels, resorts, etc.) in an industrial and geographical meaning as well as a brand. Topics discussed in the class include overview, concept, history and current trends of the industry, planning and development, major recreational activities and facilities, management, and risk management, marketing and branding, as well as planning, stakeholder policy and sustainability issues. The course applies global case studies and lots of practical management exposure.