Editor’s Note: This was first published on the OHI blog.
How do you train employees to work at your park?
Start with the things they will actually need to know on the job. A front desk employee needs to know how to handle a reservation problem. A camp host needs to know what to do when a guest has a complaint. Maintenance staff needs to recognize a safety issue and know when to call for help.
That sounds straightforward. During a busy weekend, it matters a lot.
OHI’s 2026 Industry Outlook Report found that 42% of parks need to offer much higher than minimum wage to attract qualified employees (compared to minimum wage).
When hiring and retaining good employees takes effort, training them well is a pretty good place to invest that effort.
Before training begins, define what each employee needs to know to work independently.
Front desk and reservations staff
Training should cover check-in and check-out, reservations, payments, cash handling, park rules, site amenities and guest communication.
Employees should also practice common problems they may encounter, such as a reservation discrepancy, an unavailable site or an upset guest. They should know what they can resolve themselves and when to involve a manager.
