|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
Working as Holiday Rep for a tour operator is the cream of the jobs during the season. Most companies are looking for a person who really represents the face of their company image and is a world away form the type of “Reps” people come across when on holiday in tourist spots in Spain.
You’ll be expected to work tirelessly for long periods without a break and take the flack when someone in your team messes up or the company head office makes a mistake with the booking. On the bright side you will have the chance to earn one of the highest wages supplemented by commissions on the après ski activities that you sell and the guests will tip you if you are on the ball.
Salary
Wages for a Rep are from £150 per week up to £300 per week plus commission which is up to you to earn. You’ll get the normal winter workers package of accommodation, season lift pass and ski hire medical insurance and travel to and from the UK.
Reps often get the luxury of living in their own room and some companies often give the Reps their own separate apartment. If you get organised and find out how to sell extras that add to the guests’ holiday experience then you could be earning a good wage comparable to being back in the UK! Some operators take a cut on your commission and others can be restrictive on the types of activities that you can offer but the chance is there.
Tips from guests can be high if they really feel you have been helpful to their holiday. Many Reps who build up a good rapour with guests can often land job offers in business’ at home and we often come across Rep’s who have become firm friends with regular guests.
Rep positions in the best resorts are highly sought after and many Reps have stayed on for more than one season as they realise that the connections they built up over the years add to their chances of earning more.
Qualifications
Aged at least 21 and most companies expect you to be at least 23.
Resort Reps and Managers are nearly always people who have good strong language skills for the country the resort is located in.
Most companies expect Reps and Managers to have at least a university degree in the relevant foreign language such as French, Italian, German or Spanish. But if you have this as a mother tongue or can prove in an interview that you really are fluent then this will be adequate. (Note; Operators do conduct language tests at interviews, with many conducting interviews in the language needed!)
Proven people management skills are important as you’ll be in charge of the smooth running of the resort staff who will look up to you for their inspiration and leadership.
Charm and the ability to work under stress are both vital as you’ll be the person that the unhappy guest will come looking for when something goes wrong with their all important holiday.
A gift of calming down situations will be immensely useful and if you don’t process it at the start of the season you certainly will by the end!
Resort Managers will be expected to have good computer skills and understand spreadsheets. Resort Managers will also need good numeric skills and an understanding of simple accounting as you will be sending reports back to the head office at least once a month.
A driver’s licence is almost always required as you will have to be able to travel around the resort and visit guests if they injure themselves in the local hospital.
Resort Reps and Managers Duties
Being a Rep is all about organisation. Mess around and the job will take over your life but get organised and after a relaxed breakfast most days can be yours until the evening guest visits.
During the week Rep’s don’t usually have to rise as early as some of the staff! However there are exceptions and Reps are the ones that often have to get the staff out of bed! On change-over days you will have to be prepared to get up at very un-social hours to get the guests to the airport on time. It can be as early as 4.30am!
An organised Rep or Resort Manager will liaise with his staff in the morning and prepare any accounts or reports the head office is asking for. Monthly and end of season reports can be very time consuming if they aren’t dealt with properly.
Most Reps make a daily round of the chalets and hotels to check on the guests in the early evening and this can often turn into an exhausting trail of sorting problems out until the early hours. Just about anything could and will happen and it’ll be up to you to sort it out amicably.
Some companies expect the Rep to eat in a different hotel or chalet with the guests most nights and be available at any time sort out emergencies and problems that the staff and the guest’s create.
You will be expected to deal swiftly and efficiently with any problem that arises and then report back to the company head office in the UK on a regular basis.
Manage the staff efficiently and motivate them when they are feeling emotional or tired.
Change over days will be long and very demanding with the Rep accompanying the guests normally by bus to the airport which can be hours away. You will have to deal with the bus drivers who rarely speak English and help out the staff at the airport with the problems of delayed flights and poor road connections, (due to traffic or snow)!
Wait for, greet and transfer the new arriving guests back to the resort while selling company products and ski passes on the bus.
The Rep will always be expected to give a good welcome speech to the clients and sell the après ski activities.
Some companies also expect the Reps to show the guests around the resort and ski slopes which can be great fun as it’ll get you out of the office and most guest pay for your lunch in the mountain restaurants.
Special Duties
You will be expected as the Resort Manager or Rep to be on call at all times of the day, evening or night. The problems will not be sorted out by others so it’s up to you to deal with them whatever it reasonably takes.
A lot of organisation and paper work at the start and end of the season.
Pros
Best paid in the resort.
You’re the “boss” or at least part of the resort management team.
You’ll have a real chance to supplement your income depending on how much effort you put into selling après ski activities.
Reasonable wake up times.
Guests can be charming and generous.
Real chance to improve your language skills and get to know the locals.
Cons
Long and very demanding change over days.
Emotional and rude guests.
Constantly feeling you are on call.
Staffing problems.
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
