Leisure Media Issue 3 2009 - Leisure Opportunities

ODD JOBVisiting exotic locales to test swimming poolsand waterslides for their fun factor may not soundlike work, but it’s part of Tommy Lynch’s job withFirst Choice Holidays, as Andrea Jezovit hearsMakinga SplashWhat's your job description?Officially my title is lifestyle productdevelopment manager for families, andI work within the First Choice Innovationteam. Our research shows that 92 percent of kids asked spent every day ontheir holiday in the pool and that themost important thing is having a reallycool pool. Since then I’ve been responsiblefor traveling the world to test someof the best pools and slides to see ifthey can be incorporated into our new'Splash' programme, which is a collectionof resorts with the most impressivewater facilities for kids and their families.I've just come back from a whistlestop tour of PortAventura on the CostaDorada, and the First Choice HolidayVillages in Cyprus and the Algarve. Lastyear I was lucky enough to travel over27,000 miles visiting potential 'Splash'resorts in the Dominican Republic,Mexico, Egypt, Turkey and Spain.What does the ‘pool tester’part of your job involve?Our resort teams short-list the best poolsin each destination and then I’ll arrange avisit to properly test them. I look for threemain criteria: the Splash Resorts have tobe innovative, fun and have somethingfor everyone. They should feature slideslike a Master Blaster water coaster andChampagne Bowls, and include wave pools and lazy rivers -splash parks are a big crowd pleaser. Finally they need to havespace, and lots of slides to ensure the waiting time for peoplequeuing is as short as possible.What does a typical day of pool testing consist of?Before I arrive, we'll look through the specifications and giveeach hotel a proposed 'Splash' rating. It’s then down to me tomake sure the score is an accurate reflection by going downthe flumes and testing their fun factor. We work with third partysuppliers and dedicated consultants on any new build splashresorts to ensure that of those hotels, only those with the highest'Splash' rating make the cut.What's the best pool you've tested and why?The best pool by far is the Aqua Fantasy in Turkey. It has its ownProfileI started with First Choice manyyears ago when I finished my universitydegree in tourism andleisure while working part-timeat a local travel agency. I becamea holiday rep and loved it somuch I did this for three years infour different destinations. Aftera variety of roles including aresort team manager in the Costadel Sol, I decided to move backto the UK and joined the team asa product executive. I eventuallyworked my way up to Lifestyleproduct development manager,and finally took on the Splashresort concept and my pool testingresponsibilities.water park which ticks all the right boxeswith a giant wave pool, splash park,pirate ship as well as petrifying slides andan adventure river - there's somethinghere for the whole family.Are there any unusual elementsto your job that people wouldbe surprised to hear?I’m head of the Cool Pool Board of directors,which is something that’s impressedmy family! The Cool Pool board includesseven children we found in a nationwidesearch in April who will be consulted onany new build Splash Resorts.Pool testing sounds like adream job, is it really?I won't lie, it’s a lot of fun. But in all seriousness,I enjoy making a difference topeople's holidays. My aim is for the kids'first reaction to be 'wow!' when they see the resorts.What’s the most difficult part of the job?More often than not I have to do my visits in the colder monthswhen we have fewer customers in resorts, so the slide testingcan really get my teeth chattering. I also find it difficult to breakthe bad news to resorts that haven't quite made the grade.Also, the desk part of my job is hard to come back to after oneof my pool testing trips. As I'm out of the office a lot, I alwayscome back to a mountain of paper work.How do people react when you tellthem your job is testing pools?Generally they don't believe me. When I finally convince themit's true they think I've been a bit jammy landing this role. I'msure there would be no shortage of applicants if I ever left. ●74 Read Leisure Management online leisuremanagement.co.uk/digitalISSUE 3 2009 © cybertrek 2009