{{Short description|Self-contained vacation establishment}} {{use mdy dates|date=February 2025}} {{Redirect|Summer resort|a children's summer holiday resort|summer camp|summer resorts in Canada|cottage country|other uses|Resort (disambiguation)}} {{More citations needed|date=December 2007}} [[File:Grand-hyatt-playa-del.jpg|thumb|Resorts are often in beautiful locations and have amenities such as swimming pools and lounging areas, such as this luxury establishment in [[Playa del Carmen|Playa Del Carmen, Mexico]]]] [[File:pyramid resort jasper.JPG|thumb|right|[[Kayak]]ing provided by a lakeside resort in [[Jasper, Alberta]]]]
A '''resort''' (in [[North American English]]) is a self-contained commercial establishment that aims to provide most of a [[vacation]]er's needs on the premises. Services include food, drink, accommodation, sports, entertainment and shopping. A [[hotel]] is frequently a central feature of a resort and the term ''resort'' may be used for a hotel that provides an array of entertainment and recreational activities.
Some resorts are also [[condominium]] complexes that offer timeshares or fractional ownership, in addition to wholly owned condominiums. A resort is not always a commercial establishment operated by a single company, but in the late 20th century, this type became more common.
In [[British English]], "resort" means a town that people visit for holidays and day trips, typically containing hotels where holidaymakers stay. [[Blackpool]] and [[Brighton]] in the UK and [[Ayia Napa]] in Cyprus are examples.
== Destination resort == [[File:Overview of Universal CityWalk Beijing (20210907124718).jpg|thumb|right|[[Universal Beijing|Universal Beijing Resort]]]] A [[destination resort]] has the necessary guest attraction capabilities itself, so it does not need to be near a destination such as a town, historic site, or theme park, to attract its patrons. A commercial establishment at a destination resort, such as a recreational area, a scenic or historic site, [[amusement park]], a gaming facility, or other tourist attraction may compete for customers.
A destination resort offers food, drink, lodging, sports, entertainment, and shopping within the facility, so that guests have no need to leave the facility throughout their stay. Commonly, the facilities are of higher quality than would be expected, if one were to stay at a hotel or eat in a town's restaurants.
Closely related are convention hotels and large meeting sites. Generally, these resorts are located in cities where they offer special meeting halls, ample accommodations, and a variety of dining and entertainment options.
== All-inclusive resort == [[File:Happy Life Entrance.JPG|thumb|Entrance of an all-inclusive resort in [[Egypt]]]] 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. 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, but in 2007, less than a tenth do so.<ref>{{cite news |title= American Plan resorts among last of vanishing breed |url= http://www.cnn.com/2007/TRAVEL/06/28/american.plan.ap/index.html|agency=[[Associated Press]] |publisher=CNN.com |date=June 28, 2007 |access-date=June 29, 2007 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070629164129/http://www6.cnn.com/2007/TRAVEL/06/28/american.plan.ap/index.html <!-- Bot retrieved archive --> |archive-date =June 29, 2007}}</ref>
All-inclusive resorts are found around the world, but tend to be located in warmer regions. Notable examples are [[Club Med]], [[Sandals Resorts]], and [[Beaches Resorts]].
An all-inclusive resort includes three meals daily, [[soft drink]]s, most [[Alcoholic beverage|alcoholic drinks]], [[Gratuity|gratuities]], and usually other services in the price. Many also include offered sports and other activities in the price. The all-inclusive model originated in the [[Club Med]] resorts, which were founded by the Belgian [[Gérard Blitz (entrepreneur)|Gérard Blitz]].<ref name="Garrett Nagle 1999">{{cite book|title=Tourism, Leisure and Recreation|author=Garrett Nagle|year= 1999|publisher=Nelson Thornes|isbn=0-17-444705-1}}</ref>
Some all-inclusive resorts are designed for specific groups. For example, some cater for adults only, and even more-specialized properties are restricted to couples. Others 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. [[File:Boating Resort in Vijayawada.jpg|250px|thumb|Boating resort in [[Vijayawada]], [[India]]]]
== Recreation resort == A [[destination spa|spa resort]] is a short-term residential facility primarily providing individual services for [[spa]] goers. Historically, many such spas were developed at natural hot springs or sources of mineral waters. Such facilities provide a comprehensive program that includes spa services, physical fitness activities, healthy diet programs, and special interest programming.
[[Golf resorts]] cater specifically to the sport of [[golf]], and include access to one or more golf courses or clubhouses, typically providing packages that give visitors access to all greens and include cart fees, range balls, accommodation, and meals. [[File:Surf_Snowdonia_overview_from_the_west.jpg|alt=|thumb|[[Surf Snowdonia]] resort in Wales]] [[Surf resorts]] are a new trend,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Surf Parks Industry Growth and Trends 2024 {{!}} By Stephen Szczygiel |url=https://www.hospitalitynet.org/opinion/4123802.html |access-date=2025-05-24 |website=Hospitality Net |language=en-us}}</ref> based around artificial surfing facilities with purpose-built amenities and accommodation catering to the [[surfing]] community.
[[File:Male Ciche.jpg|thumb|right|220px|A typical ski resort]] In North America, a ski resort is generally a destination resort in a ski area. The term is less likely to refer to a town or village.
[[File:Las Vegas 63.jpg|thumb|right|The [[Las Vegas Strip]] in 2009]] A megaresort is a type of destination resort of an exceptionally large size, such as those along the [[Las Vegas Strip]]. In [[Singapore]], ''[[integrated resort]]'' is a [[euphemism]] for a [[casino]]-based destination resort. [[File:BIG4_Renmark_Riverfront_Holiday_Park.jpg|thumb|Renmark Holiday park, Australia]] A [[holiday village]] is a type of self-contained resort in Europe whose accommodation is generally in [[villa]]s. A [[holiday camp]], in the United Kingdom, refers to a resort whose accommodation is in [[chalet]]s or [[Mobile home|static caravans]].
A [[resort hotel]] contains full-sized luxury facilities with full-service accommodations and [[amenity|amenities]]. These hotels may attract [[vacationing]] tourists and offer more than a convenient place to stay.
== Timeshare resort == There are more than 1500 [[timeshare]] resorts in the United States. They represent 198,000 residences and nearly 9 million owners, who pay an average $880 per year in maintenance fees. A reported 16% of the residences became [[vacation rentals]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nxtbook.com/ygsreprints/ARDA/g51820_arda_july2015/#/28|title=2015 State of the Industry|publisher=Developments|access-date=July 1, 2015|archive-date=July 9, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150709170228/http://www.nxtbook.com/ygsreprints/ARDA/g51820_arda_july2015/#/28|url-status=dead}}</ref>
== Notable historic resorts == * [[Baiae]], Italy, a famous historic resort of the ancient world that was popular over 2000 years ago. * [[Capri]], an island near [[Naples]], [[Italy]], has attracted visitors since Roman times. * [[Monte Ne]], near [[Rogers, Arkansas]], a famous historic resort active in the early 20th century. At its peak, more than 10,000 people a year visited. Two of its hotels, Missouri Row and Oklahoma Row, were the largest log buildings in the world. Monte Ne closed in the 1930s and was ultimately submerged in [[Beaver Lake (Arkansas)|Beaver Lake]] in the 1960s. * Tawawa House, also known as Tawawa Springs or Xenia Springs, inspired [[Dolen Perkins-Valdez]] to write her [[debut novel]], ''Wench'' (2010),<ref>{{cite book|title=Wench|author=Perkins-Vadez, Dolen|publisher=Amistad|date=2010|asin=B004NE8RZ4}}</ref> when she read about it in an autobiography of [[W. E. B. Du Bois|W.E.B. Du Bois]]. The book mentioned in passing that the land for [[Wilberforce University]] had once been used for a privately owned resort called Tawawa House, where white slave owners would bring the black slaves that they kept as mistresses.<ref>{{cite news|last1=O'Neal Parker|first1=Lonnae|title=A tender spot in master-slave relations|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/01/21/AR2011012102960.html|access-date=April 15, 2015|newspaper=Washington Post}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hmdb.org/marker.asp?marker=14058|website=The Historical Marker Database|title= Old Wilberforce University Campus at Tawawa Springs |access-date=May 28, 2015}}</ref>
== Resort towns == Towns that are resorts, or in which [[tourism]] or vacationing is a major part of the local activity, are sometimes called [[resort towns]]. If by the sea, they are called [[seaside resort]]s. Inland resorts include [[ski resort]]s, [[mountain resort]]s and [[spa town]]s. Well-known resort towns include [[Punta Cana]] in the Dominican Republic, [[Bandipur]] in Nepal, [[Bali]] in Indonesia, [[Sochi]] in Russia, Mount Lebanon in [[Lebanon]], [[Barizo]] in Spain, [[Cortina d'Ampezzo]] in Italy, [[Druskininkai]] in Lithuania, [[Cartagena, Colombia|Cartagena de Indias]] in Colombia, [[Cancún]] in Mexico, [[Newport, Rhode Island]], and [[Key West|Key West, Florida]], in the United States, [[Ischgl]] in Austria, [[St. Moritz]] in Switzerland and [[Blackpool]] in the United Kingdom.
[[File:HuvafenFushi.jpg|thumb|A [[resort island]] in the [[Maldives]]]] A [[resort island]] is an island or an archipelago that contains resorts, hotels, restaurants, tourist attractions, and its amenities.
Seaside resorts are located on a coast. In the United Kingdom, many seaside towns have turned to other entertainment industries. The cinemas and theatres often remain to become host to a number of pubs, bars, restaurants, and nightclubs. Most of their entertainment facilities cater for both locals and visitors and the beaches still remain popular during the summer months.
In Europe and North America, ski resorts are towns and villages in ski areas, with support services for skiing such as hotels and [[chalet]]s, equipment rental, [[ski school]]s and [[ski lift]]s to access the slopes.
Resorts for different purposes also exist. An example is [[Yulara, Northern Territory|Yulara]], [[Northern Territory]], which exists to serve [[Uluru|Uluru (Ayers Rock)]] and [[Kata Tjuta|Kata Tjuta (The Olgas)]] in Australia.
== See also == *[[Boutique hotel]] *[[Condo hotel]] *[[Destination club]] *[[Resort architecture]] *[[Sanatorium (resort)]] * {{portal-inline|Hotels}}
== References == {{Commons category|Resorts}} {{Wiktionary}} {{Reflist}}
{{tourism}} {{Authority control}}
[[Category:Resorts| ]]