INTRODUCTION http://books.google.co.in/books?id=OVBPSkR8nicC&printsec=frontcover&dq=reasons+for+popularity+of+resort&hl=en&sa=X&ei=JYQdUsaZFcuXrAf2o4Bg&ved=0CC8Q6AEwAA#v=onepage&q=reasons%20for%20popularity%20of%20resort&f=false Resort management is the combination of three elements: * Recreational attractions that draws guests to the facility * Housing and food and beverage services that cater to the people away from home * Activities to occupy guests during their stay
RESORT:
A resort is a place for relaxation or recreation, attracting visitors for vacations and/or tourism.
Resorts are places, towns or sometimes commercial establishment operated by a single company.
Towns which are resorts — or where tourism or vacationing is a major part of the local activity — are sometimes called resort towns. If the resorts are situated near the sea, then they are called seaside resorts. Inland resorts include ski resorts, mountain resorts and spa towns. Towns such as Sochi in Russia, Sharm el Sheikh in Egypt, Barizo in Spain, Cortina d'Ampezzo in Italy, Druskininkai in Lithuania, Cancun in Mexico, Newport, Rhode Island, in the USA, Ischgl in Austria, St. Moritz in Switzerland, Blackpool in England and Malam Jabba in Pakistan are well-known resorts.
In North American English, the term "resort" is now also used for a self-contained commercial establishment which attempts to provide for most of a vacationer's wants while remaining on the premises, such as food, drink, lodging, sports, entertainment, and shopping. The term may be used to identify a hotel property that provides an array of amenities and typically includes entertainment and recreational activities. A hotel is frequently a central feature of a resort, such as the Grand Hotel at Mackinac Island, Michigan. A resort is not always a commercial establishment operated by a single company, although in the late twentieth century this sort of facility became more common. Self-contained resorts are common in the United States but exist throughout the world. Resorts are especially prevalent in Central America and the Caribbean. Closely related to resorts are convention and large meeting sites. These occur in cities where special meeting halls, together with ample accommodations as well as varied dining and entertainment, are provided.
Destination resort
A destination resort is a resort that contains, in and of itself, the necessary guest attraction capabilities—that is to say that a destination resort does not need to be near a destination (town, historic site, theme park, or other) to attract its public. A commercial establishment at a resort destination such as a recreational area, a scenic or historic site, a theme park, a gaming facility or other tourist attraction may compete with other businesses at a destination. Consequently, another quality of a destination resort is that it offers food, drink, lodging, sports and entertainment, and shopping within the facility so that guests have no need to leave the facility throughout their stay. Commonly these facilities are of higher quality than would be expected if one were to stay at a hotel or eat in a town's restaurants. Some examples are Atlantis in the Bahamas, the Walt Disney World Resort near Orlando, Florida, USA, Costa do Sauípe in Northeastern Brazil, Laguna Phuket in Thailand and Sun City near Johannesburg in South Africa.
All-inclusive resort
An all-inclusive resort charges a fixed price that includes most or all items. At a minimum, most inclusive resorts include lodging, unlimited food, drink, sports activities, and entertainment for the fixed price. In recent years, the number of resorts in the United States offering "all-inclusive" amenities has decreased dramatically; in 1961, over half offered such plans and in 2007, less than ten percent do so.
All-inclusive resorts are found in the Caribbean, particularly Cuba, and notable examples are Club Med and Sandals Resorts.
Some all-inclusive resorts are designed for specific vacation interests. For example, certain resorts cater to adults, while even more specialized properties accept couples only. Other all-inclusive resorts are geared toward families, with facilities like craft centers, game rooms and water parks to keep children of all ages entertained. All inclusive resorts are also very popular locations for destination weddings.
Recreation
A spa resort is a short term residential/lodging facility with the primary purpose of providing individual services for spa-goers to develop healthy habits. Historically many such spas were developed at the location of natural hot springs or sources of mineral waters. Typically over a seven-day stay, such facilities provide a comprehensive program that includes spa services, physical fitness activities, wellness education, healthy cuisine and special interest programming.
Golf resorts are resorts that cater specifically to the sport of golf, and include access to one or more golf course and or clubhouse. Golf resorts typically provide golf packages that provide visitors with all greens and cart fees, range balls, accommodations and meals.
In North America a ski resort is generally a destination resort in a ski area, and is less likely to refer to a town or village.
A resort can be an expensive vacation and often boasts many visitor activities and attractions such as golf, water sports, spa and beauty facilities, skiing, natural ecology and tranquility. Because of the extent of amenities offered, as it may be considered destination resort.
A megaresort is a type of destination resort which is of an exceptionally large size, such as those along the Las Vegas Strip. In Singapore an integrated resort is a euphemism for a casino-based destination resort.
TYPES OF RESORTS 1. Beach Resort They are resorts that are located on or within a short distance from a major beach. Many beach resorts have activities that include snorkeling kayaking, scuba diving, Para-sailing, and boating. Some even have their own on site beach, especially for guests. 2. Tropical Resort They are located within tropical climates. A guest staying at a tropical resort will include year round warm and sunny weather. 3. Luxury Resort
It is an expensive vacation facility which is fully staffed and has been rated with five stars. It often boasts many visitor activities and attractions such as golf, water sports, spa and beauty facilities, skiing, natural ecology and tranquility. Because of the extent of amenities offered, a luxury resort is also considered a destination resort. 4. Island Resort
They are resorts located on an island. Resort amenities usually include snorkeling, sun bathing, swimming, fishing, boating, parasailing, and kayaking, along with other types of water sports. 5. Mountain Resort
They are resorts located on or at the base of a mountain. Activities include downhill skiing, cross country skiing, snowmobiling, sightseeing and more. 6. Lake Resort
They include any resort located directly on or very near a lake. Most travelers visit lake resorts to go boating, fishing, swimming, or water skiing. 7. Mega Resort
It is a type of destination resort which is of an exceptionally large size, sometimes featuring large scale attractions like casino, golf course, theme park, multiple accommodations etc. The hotels typically thought of as mega resorts owing to their immense size and complexity. 8. Golf Resort
They are resorts that cater specifically to the sport of golf, and include access to one or more golf course and or clubhouse. Golf resorts typically provide golf packages that provide visitors with all greens and cart fees, range balls, luxury accommodations and meals. Accommodation in the resorts may take the form of hotel like rooms or private spacious villas. 9. Spa Resort
It is a short term residential/lodging facility with the primary purpose of providing individual services for spa-goers to develop healthy habits. Historically many such spas were developed at the location of natural hot springs or sources of mineral waters. Typically over a seven day stay, such facilities provide a comprehensive program that includes spa services, physical fitness activities, wellness education, healthy cuisine and special interest programming. 10. Ski Resort
It is a developed recreational facility, usually on a mountain or large hill, containing ski trails and vital supporting services. It is common for a ski area to have food, rental equipment, parking facilities and a ski lift system catering to the sports of skiing and snowboarding. Some of them offer an all-inclusive program that includes facilitated fitness classes, healthy cuisine, educational classes and seminars as well as similar services to a beauty salon or a day spa. Guests reside and participate in the program at a destination spa instead of just visiting for a treatment or pure vacation. Some destination spas are in exotic locations or in spa towns. 11. Pet-friendly Resort
A resort that allows pets (such as dogs and cats) to stay in the rooms. Some pet friendly resorts do have restrictions on the size of the pet. Therefore, we highly recommend contacting either the owner of the timeshare or the resort to determine if any restrictions apply before buying or renting at a pet friendly resort. 12. Theme Park Resort
Book lodging at numerous timeshare resorts near major theme parks worldwide. Maps show distance from resort to major theme parks.

HISTORY OF RESORTS * Roman Empire: Baths
The origin of resorts can be traced back to the second century B.C. to the public baths of Rome. The first baths were small, modest and separated the genders. Eventually, the baths became larger, more elaborate and were opened to both men and women. These baths were large buildings built at the public’s expense. Some were even built by wealthy emperors who wanted to make a statement. Most baths were free but few had small entrance fees. Baths were much like resorts of today because of all the amenities offered at their location. After bathing there was always plenty to do. Most baths included gyms, libraries, snack bars, restaurants, shops, lounges, taverns, museums and theatres. The facilities were used for health and social purposes. * Europe: Mass Follows Class
The first noteworthy resort area was developed in Belgium in 1326 in a town now called Spa. An ironmaster, named Colin le Loup, was cured of a long-term illness when he bathed in the iron-rich waters near Liege. He opened a shelter there and the town surged in popularity. Spa means fountain.
The popularity of spas and resorts in England is a result of King Charles II visiting trendy hot spots in the 1600s. Today, royalty and superstars still seem to set trends of where the best places to go are. Many English spas are unique because they have gambling and dancing. Spas also became popular because of the medical benefits that were attributed to them such as waters that were rich in certain minerals and could cure ailments.
The Swiss resort industry was developed in the 1800s to aid the need of private resort facilities for more prosperous people. At the time, travel was not simple. People who traveled to resorts stayed for long periods of time – up to two months to get the best value for their travel expenses. This led to resort facilities being built to accommodate a guest better than your average inn. Hotel Baur au Lac, built in Zurich, was the first resort to utilize the value of a scenic view. At first, Switzerland resorts were seen as summer places, but soon skiing became popular as well as gambling. * North America: Spas
Like Europe, North American hotels were developed around spas in the late 1800s. The first resorts were built first in the east in Virginia, New York and West Virginia. Shortly after, seaside resorts became popular. It was not until later that beach resorts were built in the south and mountain-based resorts were developed out west. The first luxury resort was built in 1829 in Boston. It was called the Tremont House and featured bellboys, gaslights instead of candles and marble and private rooms with locks for each family. The first ‘big’ hotel was built by Gideon Putman in Saratoga Springs, New York centered on the hot sulfur spa there

BUSINESS TRAVEL AND TOURISM:
Business travel and tourism is a very big business where tens of thousands of business travelers worldwide are beginning or ending their trips. At the same time, thousands of major conferences and exhibitions are taking place globally, while hundreds of incentive travel programmes are being enjoyed in the country. It employs millions of people around the world and is the core of the tourism market for many leading destinations.
Business tourism is concerned with people travelling for the purpose which are related to their work. As such it represents one of the oldest forms of tourism, man having travelled for their purpose of trade since very early times. (Davidson, 1994)
Although business and conference tourism is a modern phenomenon mostly developing over the past fifty years, the notion of travelling for meetings, politics, commerce, or trade is an ancient practice dating back to the Romans or even earlier. In its contemporary incarnation, business tourism has been growing exponentially over the past ten or fifteen years, with huge investments in conference facilities being made since the 1990s. Over the past ten years, it was estimated that there has been a 53% increase in business tourism, and the spending of business tourists in the UK, for example, exceeded that of leisure tourists by the early 2000s, and constituted up to a third of all tourist spending (Business Tourism Partnership, 2005).
Business travel and tourism can include the following main activities: * Individual business travel (i.e. travel to carry out work in an alternative location) * Meetings (e.g. conferences, workshops, seminars, annual general meetings, product launches) * Exhibitions (e.g. trade shows, trade fairs and consumer shows) * Incentive trips (e.g. trips which are offered to employees as a reward for good work or performance) * Corporate hospitality (e.g. lavish entertainment offered to high-profile clients and VIPs to create goodwill and build rapport)
Meeting, Conference and Convention is an organized event which brings people together to discuss a topic of shared interest (it may) be commercial or non-commercial, may be attended by 6, or many hundreds, it may last from a few hours to a week., (what makes) a meeting qualify as part of business tourism is that it engages some of the services of the tourism industry, and 9is usually) held away from the premises of the organization running it. (Davidson, 1994) The terms are used to describe the meeting which tends to be varying depending on the size of the event and where it is held. A small gathering is a meeting but a large meeting is usually called as conference in UK, a convention in USA and congress in Europe. Exhibitions are also considered to be the part of the business tourism industry because they stimulate travel (for both exhibitors and visitors). They also create a high level of demand for travel services, creating, and accommodation.
Business travel and tourism is a major economic phenomenon, around the world: 55% of buyers said they would like to see a classification or grading systems for venues; more than 80% of buyers were satisfied with the venue they had used most recently; and corporate buyers made relatively little use of trade fairs and publications to obtain information. This means that business tourism is a highly lucrative and attractive sector for most destinations, but it is also incredibly competitive, and the need for top-quality facilities and services is paramount.
The Business tourism Partnership (2005) suggests that the principal characteristics of business tourism include the fact that it is of higher quality and higher yield than other forms of tourism. It can also be more sustainable, partly because it is non-seasonal and can create year-round employment opportunities. Business tourism can also be a catalyst for regeneration, as it can help to stimulate inward investment and may improve infrastructure. Many business travelers also tend to return to destinations which they enjoyed, with families or friends for leisure vacations.