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Hamilton Beach Commercial Blog

Hospitality

Three Fun Hospitality Jobs — And How to Get Them

9:00 AM on March 8, 2016

Even the most seasoned hospitality pros sometimes get weary of the same routine. Spending day after day parsing data and solving guests' problems can make you forget why you began working in the hospitality industry. That's when you begin to daydream about donning your Stetson and working at a ranch resort. Or managing animals instead of staff. Or.... becoming a professional marshmallow roaster? Here are three of the most fun (and unusual) hospitality jobs we could find. 

Peabody Duck March with Duckmaster Anthony Petrina
Duckmaster Anthony Petrina escorts the famous Peabody Hotel ducks (Photo courtesy of the Peabody Memphis)

Fun hotel job: Duckmaster

Every morning, a delighted crowd gathers in the lobby of the opulent Peabody Hotel in Memphis and turns expectantly toward the elevators. Precisely at 11 a.m., the doors open and out waddle five mallard ducks. They're followed by a man wearing a crisp scarlet blazer and gray vest, as dapper as a circus ringmaster. The ducks march down a red carpet and plop into the hotel's fountain, where they happily splash around until the evening. At 5 p.m., the ducks and the duckmaster repeat the ritual in reverse, taking the elevator back to the glass and marble Royal Duck Palace on the hotel's rooftop.

The tradition began in 1933 with a practical joke. According to the hotel, General Manager Frank Schutt and a friend "had a little too much Jack Daniel's Tennessee sippin' whiskey and thought it would be funny to place some of their live duck decoys (it was legal then for hunters to use live decoys) in the beautiful Peabody fountain."

Job requirements: In addition to tending the flock, the duckmaster also serves as the hotel's head ambassador. Extensive hospitality experience is required, and competition is stiff. Current Duckmaster Anthony Petrina was one of 800 applicants for the assistant duckmaster position. He didn't get the job then, but the hotel noted his talents and later recruited him for the head position.

Want to get a feel for this (slightly odd) hotel job? Hotel guests can act as Honorary Duckmaster with the purchase of a Ducky Day package. The ducks themselves are eligible for retirement after only three months, when they're returned to their farm and set free to live as wild ducks.

 

Fun hotel job: Marshmologist

At the Ritz-Carlton in Lake Tahoe, a chef makes a special appearance at the fire pit each evening to make custom s'mores for guests and teach them the fine art of marshmallow roasting. The hotel's housemade marshmallows change with the season; some recent flavors include candied bacon, peppermint and strawberry banana. One perk of the job is getting to choose a child to be Marshmologist of the Day, with a special nametag and chef’s hat.

Job requirements: Surprisingly, you don't need to be a trained chef to qualify for this hotel job. Three Marshmologists interviewed for Marriott's blog have a range of roles at the Ritz-Carlton: pastry chef, rooms supervisor and administrative assistant. What they all have in common: a flair for entertaining guests and a genuine enthusiasm for helping adults and children learn how to achieve perfect golden-brown goodness. Some experience with camping probably doesn't hurt either.

 

Fun hotel job: Glamping butler

What's a glamping butler? Instead of a morning coat and gleaming Oxfords, picture denim and cowboy boots. He (or she) ensures that guests enjoy all of the pleasures of luxury camping with none of the annoyances. Think of the glamping butler as a guide, storyteller, naturalist and problem-solver.

At the Resort at Paws Up in Montana, each party staying at one of the resort's luxury tents gets its own personal butler. The camping butler chops firewood, prepares s'mores, and helps guests plan their daily activities on the 37,000-acre ranch, such as target shooting and dogsledding. As Forbes writer Jim Dobson recounts, one butler even accompanied his young son on a snow-tubing adventure, carrying him back to the top of the hill on a snowmobile between runs.

Job requirements: The basic duties of a camping butler are similar to those of a traditional butler: overseeing the preparation of accommodations, supervising the camp chef and housekeeper, serving refreshments and arranging activities. An actual day's work, however, entails much more; Paws Up camping butler Wesley Parks told USA Today he's done everything from "chasing spiders away to serving wine and starting fires." CPR/first aid training is a plus.

It's a seasonal position at Paws Up, where butlers are required to be available daily from April to October. While it's hard work, the opportunity to live amid such stunning scenery is an amazing reward. "I've never had a job where I've been so happy," Parks said.

 

If you have a fun or interesting story idea, please submit it here. The best stories will be developed and published on our blog to be distributed to the international HBC Community, with your name attached. A little publicity can always help to grow your business and awareness.    

 

Topics: Hospitality

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