Online Resort Management Degree Overviews

Online resort management programs train students to effectively run a hotel or resort, by taking into account marketing, management and hospitality principles. Students who complete this program can earn an associate's degree in resort, hotel or restaurant management. Bachelor's degrees in all three concentrations are also available.

Online Associate of Applied Science in Resort Management Overview

Through the online Associate of Applied Science in Resort Management, students learn to effectively manage and operate a hotel or resort. They study business concepts and apply them to the hospitality industry. In order to be eligible for the associate's degree in resort management, students must have at least a high school diploma or the GED equivalent. The program is not commonly available online. However, related programs, such as hotel management, hospitality management and restaurant management are more frequently online.

Program Information and Requirements

Online associate's degree programs in resort management take about two years to complete and are available entirely online. While there are no residency requirements, students must complete an internship. Students may log onto a school's Web-based application to select courses, watch or listen to lectures, complete assignments and interact with other students. They also complete readings and quizzes online.
This program requires that students have a working computer and reliable Internet access. Specific software programs might be required, including Microsoft Office Suite, OpenOffice, Adobe Flash, Windows Media Player and Acrobat Reader. For some classes, a webcam is necessary to view live courses and interact with professors as well as students in a virtual classroom setting.

List of Common Online Resort Management Courses

Students take online courses at a flexible pace, completing them on their own time and moving from one lesson to the next. In addition to resort management courses, general education classes are required.

Housekeeping Management Course

Students learn how to supervise a housekeeping staff. They study schedule management and examine specific housekeeping techniques used by hotels and resorts.

Front Office Procedures Course

This introductory course trains students in the correct manner to answer phones, book customers, make reservations and search for open rooms. Students also study the other responsibilities of front desk workers.

Sales and Marketing for Hotels Course

Students examine common marketing techniques used to fill rooms. They study methods used to determine the price of rooms based on local events and activities.

Human Resource Management Course

This course trains individuals to make decisions regarding hiring and firing personnel. They explore different team management styles and learn how to delegate responsibility among employees.

Career Opportunities for Graduates

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), an online associate's degree in resort management can lead to a career as a resort desk clerk or a lodging manager (www.bls.gov). However, some employers may prefer to hire individuals with a bachelor's degree. The BLS states that demand for lodging managers is expected to grow by five percent between 2008 and 2018, which is much slower than average. The median annual salary for lodging managers was $45,800 in 2008 and the median for hotel desk clerks was $19,480.

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Online Bachelor's Degree in Resort Management Program Overview

There are very few bachelor's degrees in resort management available online, but related programs in hotel, restaurant and hospitality management are available online at many schools. These programs cover concepts similar to the resort management degree, including business growth, marketing and staff supervision. Students learn to provide professional service within the arch of the hospitality industry; they're trained to oversee cooks, housekeeping staff and front desk personnel so guests are kept satisfied. The only requirement for this program is a high school diploma.

Online Program Information and Requirements

Generally, the bachelor's degree takes four years to complete. It is available entirely online, and although an internship must be completed, there are no other residency requirements. Students can log into the school's Web-based application any time to watch lectures and complete assignments. They can interact with their classmates or professors via e-mail or webchat. Tests and quizzes are also completed online in a secure format.
In addition to a computer and high speed Internet access, students may need software programs like Microsoft Office. A DVD or CD burner, color printer, scanner and a digital camera might be necessary as well.

List of Online Resort Management Bachelor's Degree Courses

Courses in the bachelor's degree program are asynchronous and can be completed any time, although assignments still have regular due dates. Students must fulfill general education requirements in addition to the major courses.

Managing Hospitality Facilities Course

This course trains professionals to manage the hotel's plant. They learn how to work with maintenance and engineering departments to keep a facility running smoothly.

Resort Tourism Course

Students in this class learn to operate resorts and hotels that have additional amenities available, such as spas or golf courses.

Hospitality and Marketing Course

This business course teaches students practical methods for advertising and improving customer relations between a hotel and potential guests. Topics of discussion including setting room prices, promoting hotel services and satisfying customers.

Career Information for Graduates

According to the BLS, food service managers in travel accommodations made a median annual salary of $54,710 in 2008 (www.bls.gov). Resort desk clerks made $9.34 per hour in 2008. Between 2008 and 2018, the demand for these positions is expected to grow by 5 percent, which is less than the anticipated average growth for all occupations.