UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Students studying recreation, park, and tourism management at Penn State spent a week in Orlando this fall, but not as a vacation; instead it was to gain real world, hands-on experience in resort management.
The Resort Recreation Practicum, offered for the first time this fall, provided students with hands-on exposure to resort recreation management at a major tourism destination.
Students in the course, which was a collaboration with Marriott Vacations Worldwide for its Marriott Vacation Club brand, studied resort management under the direction of Patty Kleban, senior instructor in recreation, park, and tourism management at Penn State, and Margo Tighe, manager of resort activities for Marriott Vacation Club.
The course included spending one week in October at the Marriott’s Grande Vista resort in Orlando, where 14 students participated in Marriott Vacation Club’s Roadshow Management Training, which showcased “best practices” in resort programs and events at the company’s 54 properties. Students participated as both guests of the conference and also helped to provide resort activities to other attendees. Students also met with the executive team of Marriott Vacation Club.
The course provides a unique learning experience by pairing each student with a property manager to develop resort recreation programs. Students are assigned to work with a manager at one East Coast property and conduct extensive research about operations and branding.
When students returned from Orlando they worked with their assigned managers to develop new products or target markets for a specific property, such as improving a site’s teen program, increasing visits during slower seasons, or developing ways to increase participation in programs.
“The benefit of a course like this is the engaged and applied learning,” Kleban said. “Students are exposed to many experiences at Penn State, but this course gives them an opportunity to truly explore a career while still here as a student. All the benefits we know about engaged learning — this is it.”
Richard Smith Jr., interim senior director of engaged scholarship at Penn State, understands the importance of student opportunities like the Resort Recreation Practicum.
“Research tells us that these types of high impact activities give students real-life experiences which often translate into achievements far greater than scoring high on an exam,” Smith said. “Some benefits include building self-confidence, self-efficacy, intercultural understanding — as well as developing leadership and communication skills that will help them flourish and succeed for years to come.”
The course, said student Cassaundra Soars, provided her with the experience necessary to stand out in the resort recreation field.
“Working side by side with Marriott Vacation Club associates and, at times, corporate associates, enabled me and my peers to engage and build professional relationships with the top individuals in the industry,” Soars said.
Through the course, Soars said she learned how to communicate effectively with professionals in the resort recreation industry and collaborate with other students and activity managers to identify best practices in special events.
“This class enabled me to tap into my individual desires and provided me with hands-on experience. We got to witness the link between customer service and available programs and events to the resort’s profitability. It is undeniably one of the most beneficial classes I have taken at Penn State,” Soars said.
For student Stephen Edwards, the course has provided him with an opportunity to learn more about recreation and resort management.
“Through this course I was able to develop new skills, as well as enhance some of the skills that I have already acquired through my employment at Sesame Place and my education in RPTM at Penn State,” Edwards said. “While staying at Marriott’s Grande Vista I was able to gain leadership skills by helping implement activities and themed events with the activities managers.”
The course also opened the doorway of opportunity for Edwards, who will be interning at Marriott’s SurfWatch in Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, this coming spring 2016.
“I believe the Resort Recreation Practicum provides students with a great opportunity to learn more about resorts if they are passionate about this industry or are curious of what it has to offer,” Edwards said. “It is an excellent way to learn more outside of the classroom through real-life experiences.”