5 Perks of a Hospitality Career That Have Nothing to Do with a Paycheck
While a steady paycheck is a necessity, it isn’t always what makes you jump out of bed in the morning. At Westgate Resorts, our people stay for something deeper: a sense of belonging, a clear path forward, and the chance to make a tangible difference.
If you’re looking for more than just a 9-to-5, here are five perks of building a career in hospitality with us.
1. Our Team Members Stay With Us For a While
At Westgate, our Team Member tenure tells a powerful story about stability, growth, and long-term opportunity.
Across our organization of more than 8,600 Team Members spanning Resort Operations, Food & Beverage, Sales & Marketing, Contact Center, Corporate, and Casino, the average tenure is 6.7 years. This exceeds typical benchmarks in the hospitality industry. But what makes this even more meaningful is how that tenure is distributed:
- Over 34% of our team members have been with us for more than 5 years, demonstrating strong retention and long-term career commitment
- More than 21% have reached 10+ years, reflecting deep expertise and a strong sense of belonging within our organization
- At the same time, nearly 48% of our workforce has joined within the past 3 years, highlighting continued growth, hiring momentum, and new opportunities across the business
This balance is key. It shows that we are not just retaining talent. We are continuously attracting new team members while creating an environment where people choose to build long-term careers.
In an industry often defined by high turnover, our tenure reflects something different: a workplace where team members grow, stay, and succeed.
Read more on life at Westgate so you can see exactly what we mean:
- Jobs in Gatlinburg, TN: The Perfect Place to Grow in Hospitality
- 5 Reasons You'll Love Working at Westgate River Ranch Resort & Rodeo
- Starting a Career in Hospitality: What You Need to Know
- 5 Reasons to Bring Your Career to Westgate Resorts
2. A Safety Net When You Need It (The Westgate Foundation)
We believe in taking care of our own. Through the Westgate Foundation, we focus on giving back to our Team Members and the communities we call home.
Whether it’s providing assistance during a crisis or supporting local charities, our mission is to lead with heart. Knowing your employer has your back during life’s unexpected turns provides a level of peace of mind that no salary can match.
Back in 2025, the Westgate Foundation:
- Distributed more than 4,000 backpacks during Back 2 School to help Team Members’ children start the year strong.
- Showed up in a big way for our Duck Races and embraced something new with the inaugural Duck Quest across corporate and resort locations.
- Celebrated student achievement through the Lenora Cressor-Allen Scholarship Fund.
- Welcomed 1,000 families—rain and all—at Military Weekend,
- Shared holiday joy by distributing more than 5,180 gifts through Westgate Merry Mart!
- The Team Member Crisis Fund provided over $356,856 in assistance to 214 Team Members facing unforeseen financial hardships.
3. A Fast Track to Your Best Self
Hospitality is one of the few industries where you can start at the front desk and end up in the executive boardroom. Our Learning & Development (L&D) programs are designed to turn jobs into careers. We offer:
- The Westgate Mentorship Program: Our structured six-month partnership pairs Team Members across corporate and resort roles with experienced mentors who care about your success. Matches are thoughtfully made based on interests and career goals.
- Certified Field Trainer (CFT) Program: Our CFT Program develops high-performing, line-level Team Members into peer coaches, mentors, and on-the-job trainers. Selected participants complete a kick-off workshop and leadership-focused courses covering skills like active listening, effective communication, and adult learning principles.
- LIFE Program (Leadership Immersion for Excellence): LIFE is a flexible, competency-driven leadership development program for supervisors, managers, and salaried individual contributors. Participants complete 11 virtual leadership foundation courses (covering topics like accountability, coaching, conflict management, financial acumen, and strategic thinking), 10+ cross-department immersion experiences, and a capstone assignment.
4. Our Fantastic Industry - Timeshare
The timeshare and vacation ownership industry is built on something most industries cannot claim: repeat memories and lasting relationships. This is not a one-time transaction business. It is a loyalty-driven model where families return year after year, creating stability and consistency across the industry.
It is also a strong and resilient sector. Industry data show that vacation ownership continues to outperform many traditional hospitality segments in terms of occupancy and customer loyalty, with owner satisfaction rates consistently exceeding 80 to 85 percent.
Working in this industry means you are surrounded by people on their best days, helping families disconnect from the world and reconnect with each other. What does that mean for your career?
- Stability: A business model driven by ownership and repeat visits
- Built-in loyalty: You serve returning guests, not one-time customers
- Positive environment: You are surrounded by people on vacation, at their best
- Meaningful work: You help create experiences that families look forward to every year
At its core, this industry delivers something simple but powerful: time together. That is what makes it different, and that is what makes it worth building a career in. What more could you look for in a career?
5. Diversity of Experience
Every day in a resort is different.
One day, you might be solving a complex logistical puzzle to keep operations running smoothly, and the next, you might be helping a family celebrate a life achievement or milestone.
This variety is what keeps your mind sharp and ensures you are constantly learning!
Ready to find your place?
We aren't just looking for staff; we're looking for the next generation of Westgate leaders. Whether you're a seasoned hospitality pro or looking for the first step in your career, we have a seat at the table for you.
For a career that’s full of passion, integrity, and pride in your work, browse Westgate Careers today.
Career Opportunities at Westgate Resorts
With 22 full-service resorts in premiere destinations throughout the United States, we're bigger than an orange grove, but at our heart we're still a family business. Whether you're beginning your career, continuing your growth, or a student looking for real-world experience, we have opportunities for you.
Search and ApplySign up to our Careers Blogs!
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Learn more about working at Westgate!
We know a lot of questions can come up whenever you're considering applying for roles at a new organization. We've put together a helpful FAQ page that hopefully answers any queries you may have. We recommend reading up on it before applying, it might even help you with your application.
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