1. Chapter 6
Major Recreational
Activities and Facilities
World of Resorts: From Development to Management
Third Edition
(424TXT or 424CIN)
© 2010, Educational Institute

2. Competencies for
Major Recreational Activities and Facilities
1. Identify factors that affect how a sports and recreation
mix is chosen.
2. Detail the many factors involved in developing and
operating golf facilities at a resort.
3. Detail the many factors involved in developing and
operating tennis facilities at a resort.
4. Detail the many factors involved in developing and
operating a ski resort.
5. Identify several alternative sports and explain why
they are significant. (continued)
© 2010, Educational Institute 2

3. Competencies for
Major Recreational Activities and Facilities
(continued)
1. Detail the many factors involved in developing and
operating a resort with boating facilities and a marina.
2. Detail the many factors involved in developing and
operating swimming facilities at a resort.
3. Detail the many factors involved in developing and
operating health club and spa facilities at a resort.
4. Describe the role that infrastructure and striking
natural surroundings play in the success of a resort’s
recreational offerings.
© 2010, Educational Institute 3

4. Considerations in Deciding Recreational
Activities/Facilities to Offer
• What is the nature of the resort?
• What are the primary market segments to be
served? Niche markets?
• Should the resort develop a specific sport or
recreation as a signature draw?
• Will climatic conditions (on the average) in the
area support the signature sport(s) or recreation for
an adequate number of revenue days?
• Will there be outdoor or indoor facilities?
© 2010, Educational Institute (continued) 4

5. Considerations in Deciding Recreational
Activities/Facilities to Offer
(continued)
• What type of access can be created for people with
disabilities?
• What is the acreage of land required for target
sports and recreational activities?
• What are the environmental constraints?
• Are there unusual land forms offering distinctive
advantages for a specific sport or recreation?
• How much capital will be required?
© 2010, Educational Institute (continued) 5

6. Considerations in Deciding Recreational
Activities/Facilities to Offer
(continued)
• What is the cost of recreational and maintenance
equipment, parts, supplies, and accessories?
• What are the costs of energy and other utilities?
• Are tournaments involved? What is the cost of
promotion?
• What are the liability coverage requirements?
• Will recreational activities be self-managed or
outsourced?
© 2010, Educational Institute 6

7. Classifications of Resorts by
Seasonality
• Summer resorts
• Cold winter resorts
• Warm winter resorts
• Four-season resorts
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8. Elements of a Full-Service Golf Course
• Clubhouse
• Locker rooms, restrooms, and showers
• Dining room and snack bar
• Short-order kitchen with pantry and
employee restroom
• Golf pro’s office
• Pro shop
• Lobby
• Bar
• Lounge and card-playing area
• Areas for club and cart storage,
maintenance,(continued)
© 2010, Educational Institute
and repair 8

9. Elements of a Full-Service Golf Course
(continued)
• Eighteen-hole golf course
• Practice fairway
• Small putting green
• Maintenance building
• Golf course superintendent’s office,
restroom, and shower
• Maintenance crew’s locker room,
restroom, and showers
• Repair shop and areas for equipment
and materials storage
© 2010, Educational Institute 9

10. Golf Course Development Costs
• Course construction costs: Clearing and grubbing,
grading and mobilization, drainage, rough and finish
shaping, practice green, tee construction, fairway
bunkers, bridge construction, grassing and seed
preparation, cart path construction, lakes and water
features, irrigation system, pumping plant, and grow-
in period (maturation).
• Design and architecture-related costs: Architect’s fee,
permits, financing, sand for traps, rest stations,
maintenance building, maintenance equipment, and
clubhouse.
© 2010, Educational Institute (continued) 10

11. Golf Course Development Costs
(continued)
• Owner/developer preferences: Scope of amenities,
qualitative factors, choice of golf architect (signature
name or general designer), and equipment options
(golf carts, etc.).
• Equipment-related costs: Mowing equipment, tractors
and trucks, maintenance equipment, golf course
accessories, general tools, and hand tools.
© 2010, Educational Institute 11

12. Factors Affecting the Provision of
Tennis Facilities
• Estimated guest demand and maximum number to
be accommodated
• Actual or potential tennis-playing populations
within one to one-and-a-half hour’s drive
• Number of competing public and private tennis
facilities nearby
• Land requirement
• Weather patterns—number of fair days, average
temperatures, and wind factor—if the courts are to
be constructed outdoors
• Length of the resort’s operating season
© 2010, Educational Institute (continued) 12

13. Factors Affecting the Provision of
Tennis Facilities
(continued)
• Length of the playing day
• Possible demand for night tennis
• Court design and orientation
• Type of court playing surface—fast, moderately
fast, or slow
• Clubhouse for sale/rental of equipment, video
lessons, etc.
• Management by tennis professional
• Tournaments and other promotional opportunities
© 2010, Educational Institute 13

14. Advantages of Centralized
Tennis Courts
• It encourages socializing and patronage of
revenue-generating services.
• It decreases the cost of construction and the
amount of landscaping needed.
• It allows for easier court maintenance.
• It improves management efficiency through better
control of court reservations and player behavior.
• It optimizes the scheduling of lessons and other
tennis-related activities.
© 2010, Educational Institute 14

15. Roles and Responsibilities of the
Tennis Director
• Providing leadership in developing an innovative
tennis program at the resort
• Promoting and publicizing tennis to build the
resort’s image
• Inviting tournaments consistent with general
management policy
• Developing and directing tennis-related activities
for guests
© 2010, Educational Institute (continued) 15

16. Roles and Responsibilities of the
Tennis Director
(continued)
• Supervising the daily management and control of
court reservations and monitoring player conduct
• Managing tennis revenues (player fees, instruction
fees, rentals)
• Controlling operating costs
• Supervising proper maintenance of the courts
© 2010, Educational Institute 16

17. Features of a Generic Vacation
Ski Resort
• Drops: In the U.S., 3,000–4,000 vertical feet; in the
Northeast, 1,500 vertical feet; in the Midwest and
South, no standard has been set.
• Ski site orientation: North or northeast exposure
maximizes snow retention and protects against wind.
• Snow requirement: Area should receive at least 200
inches of new snow per season or have average
sub-freezing temperatures for snowmaking.
• Slope grades: For intermediate skiers, terrain
gradients should be 25–45 percent; for beginners, 25
percent or less; for experts, 50–70 percent.
(continued)
© 2010, Educational Institute 17

18. Features of a Generic Vacation
Ski Resort
(continued)
• Climate/temperature: Average temperature must be
cold enough to maintain snow for skiing, generally
sunny during the day, and most of the snowfall
should occur at night.
• Water: Must be an adequate source of water to
support anticipated level of snowmaking.
• Base terrain: Must be adequate base terrain to
accommodate amenities planned for the total ski lift
facility.
© 2010, Educational Institute 18

19. Necessary Factors for a Profitable
Ski Resort
• Seasonality: The site must have summer use
potential.
• Access: The site must be readily accessible by
road and air.
• Distance: Research indicates that people will drive
a one-way distance of up to three hours to a day
ski area and up to eight hours to a weekend area,
but will drive or fly thousands of miles to major
vacation ski resorts.
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20. Three Basic Types of Lift Systems
1. Aerial lifts: Aerial tramways, funitels, funifors,
gondola lifts, chair lifts
2. Surface lifts: T-bars, J-bars, disks or platters,
rope tows
3. Cable railways: Funiculars (also known as
inclined railways), plane railways, and cliff
railways
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21. Common Characteristics of Ski Resorts
• Heavy capital investment in fixed assets and lift
equipment
• Heavy dependence on lift ticket sales, which often
account for more than half of the revenue stream
• High fixed costs in relation to revenue—permanent
staff salaries, maintenance, depreciation, and overhead
• Low variable costs in lift revenue—economy of scale
produces only marginal cost benefits
• Low cash flow, making it difficult for all but larger,
diversified companies to attract investment in capital
© 2010, Educational Institute 21

22. Necessary Provisions of a Marina/
Dock Area
• A high degree of safety from wind, tide, and
current action that could damage boats.
• A sheltered channel for entrance and exit, wide
and deep enough to handle a range of boat sizes
and types.
• Ease of accessibility to open waters.
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23. Cost Factors in Calculating Initial
Capital Requirements
• Dredging, filling, and other work required to prepare
the site for the marina (channels, basin, and slips)
• Bulkhead walls and all shore protection
• The breakwater system and related items for offshore
protection
• Options for disposing of wastewater
• Piers, wharves, catwalks, hoists, floats, and similar
items related to the basic marina structure
• Buildings, service stations, storage sheds, and related
equipment
© 2010, Educational Institute (continued) 23

24. Cost Factors in Calculating Initial
Capital Requirements
(continued)
• Roads, walkways, parking areas, utility systems and
hookups, and landscaping
• Stock of merchandise for sale—gasoline, lubricants,
engines and other parts, safety gear, fishing equipment,
boating accessories, etc.
• Engineering, architectural, and other planning costs
• Legal fees related to the preparation of all required
governmental planning documents (including
environmental impact statements)
• Inspection and supervision
• Operation and maintenance cost and a sinking fund
© 2010, Educational Institute 24

25. Agencies/Regulatory Bodies Concerned
with Beaches, Marinas, and Docks
• U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
• U.S. Departments of Agriculture and the Interior
• Federal, state, and local environmental protection
agencies
• County government
• Local chambers of commerce or other
governmental agencies
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26. Components of Marina Vacation
Resorts
• Covered and open berths
• 110- to 120-volt single-phase and 220-volt
three-phase power at most slips
• Dial telephone
• Television cable
• Public address system
• Refuse service
• Boat rentals
• Dry storage rental
• Dredged entrance channel
• Fuel pumps for unleaded gasoline, diesel, and
premixed outboard fuel, oil-changing and battery
service, and services for minor boat repairs
© 2010, Educational Institute (continued) 26

27. Components of Marina Vacation
Resorts
(continued)
• Launching facilities for boats up to a specified length
• Full tackle and marina shop
• Fishing licenses
• Restroom stations with showers
• Laundry facilities
• Waterfront grill
• Luxury restaurant and lounge
• Weather station
• Fish photo gallery
• Shuttle service between hotel and marina
• Access to hotel services
© 2010, Educational Institute 27

28. Seven Main Types of Spas
• Destination spa
• Resort/hotel spa
• Day spa
• Medical spa
• Mineral springs spa
• Club/fitness spa
• Cruise ship spa
© 2010, Educational Institute 28

29. Potential Benefits of On-Premises
Health and Fitness Facilities
• Increased occupancy
• Competitive
advantage
• Increased room rates
• Marketing asset
• Positive image
© 2010, Educational Institute 29

30. Factors Affecting the Success of
Health and Fitness Facilities
1. Concept and philosophy
2. Objectives
3. Market
4. Program
5. Revenue projections
6. Costs
7. Facility design
8. Financing
9. Management
10. Planning
11. Operations
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