Staffing at your recreation park: how do you keep the team round and motivated?

Why investing in people directly contributes to a better guest experience

Every year: how do you get the schedule done?

For many recreation parks, the year begins with the same challenge. As soon as the sun shows up and bookings start pouring in, so does the search for adequate staffing. During the summer months, vacations and long weekends, everything runs at full speed. But finding and keeping good staff is easier said than done.

Crowding versus availability

During the peak period, your park is at its liveliest. Reception, catering, entertainment, cleaning, technical service, everything has to run smoothly. At the same time, staff supply is often limited. Many parks depend on students or temporary workers who are only available for a few weeks. This causes many changes and requires a lot of attention to induction, supervision and planning.

Flexible work with a lot of responsibility

Working in recreation is social, varied and full of experience. But it is also feisty. Your employees must be flexible, customer-oriented, stress-resistant and physically fit. Moreover, there are irregular shifts, long days and busyness at unexpected times. Not everyone finds that attractive, especially at a time when many people actually value rest and regularity.

What if your occupation falls short?

Understaffing kills the atmosphere at the park. Waiting times increase, the animation team is less visible and regular employees are on their toes. And your guests will notice. A missed smile at check-in or a disorganized morning in the restaurant can easily lead to a negative review. That's a shame, because your guest's experience starts with your team.

This is how you build a strong and flexible team

Staff is not an afterthought. They are the backbone of your park. Especially now, it is important to look ahead and invest in good people. Consider, for example:

• Good guidance and clear communication: temporary workers are more likely to feel confident and engaged if they are well received and supported
• Seasonal contracts and advancement opportunities: offer young employees the chance to return or develop further
• Cooperation with schools and colleges: through apprenticeships you invest in future colleagues and show your park as an attractive employer
• Slim scheduling and task allocation: by planning more efficiently, you get more out of your team without increasing pressure
• Use of technology: think digital check-in systems, reservation apps or scheduling software that make work easier

Staffing is more than a schedule

A strong team makes for happy guests. And happy guests make for good reviews, more bookings and a stronger brand. By investing in people now, you are choosing long-term quality.

Good staff is scarce, but with the right approach, you can make your recreation park not only a great vacation destination, but also a place where people want to enjoy working.