When we think about a hotel entertainer in a hotel resort, the first thing that comes to our mind is usually a person who plays games with kids, holds dance classes at the swimming pool or plays theatre while the guests have their dinner. We often use the term animator for a hotel entertainer.
We also associate hotel entertainers with Greece, Spain, Portugal, and, of course, with island summer holidays! People expect their vacations to be perfect, meaning: relaxing, exciting, social and full of unforgettable memories. And this is exactly where hotel entertainers come in.
Behind every fun pool activity, evening show, fitness session or themed party, there is usually a team of entertainers responsible for creating the atmosphere that makes guests truly enjoy their stay. Their job is not only to entertain people, but also to bring energy into the hotel, encourage interaction between guests and make every day feel like a special experience.
For many young people, becoming a hotel entertainer is also one of the most exciting ways to work abroad, travel, meet interesting people and spend a summer in some of Europe’s most beautiful destinations.
If you’re interested in finding hotel jobs abroad or seasonal entertainment positions in destinations like Greece, Spain or Portugal, platforms such as Anywork Anywhere regularly publish opportunities with accommodation included for this summer season.
What Is It Like to Work as a Hotel Entertainer?
First things first, we need to understand that hotel entertainers are responsible for creating a fun, welcoming and social atmosphere for guests during their holiday. They are the people who bring the good energy and help guests relax, enjoy themselves and make the most of their vacation.
A typical day working as a hotel entertainer in a resort can look very different depending on the role and the type of activities they are responsible for. Some entertainers focus more on sports and fitness activities, while others work with children or perform in evening shows. However, before looking at the different types of hotel entertainers, let’s first go through the main responsibilities they usually have.
Some of the most common responsibilities of a hotel entertainer include organizing games and activities for guests, leading fitness or dance sessions, interacting with visitors around the resort and helping create a lively atmosphere throughout the day and night (we would say this is the most important thing that has to be accomplished).
Hotel entertainers often participate in evening programs such as karaoke nights, themed parties, mini discos for children or live performances. In many resorts, they are expected to encourage guests to join activities and make everyone feel included and comfortable.
For example, just like in the movies, imagine this scenario: guests finishing eating dinner; outside, in a very beautiful garden decorated with warm lights; the karaoke night starts but some of the people might feel awkward to join; the entertainers invite these people to take part of the activity, help them feel comfortable having fun, create a safe space for them to release their inhibitions. And now these guests already have 1 good memory from their summer holiday.
Of course, depending on the hotel and the role assigned, some entertainers will work with different age groups and specialize in different types of entertainment. Some focus mainly on children’s activities, while others are responsible for sports tournaments, pool games or evening shows.
Even though the job may look easy from the outside, working as a hotel entertainer requires a lot of energy, communication skills and confidence. Since entertainers spend most of their day interacting with guests, they play a huge role in shaping the overall holiday experience. It does require a lot of energy to keep people engaged, so being an extrovert will probably be pretty helpful in this case!
Types of Hotel Entertainers
Different types of hotel entertainers exist because different types of activities exist in a hotel/resort, particularly during the summer season when people tend to get more relaxed. After all, they came on that vacation to have a good time!
Especially in larger resorts, entertainment teams are usually divided into different roles so that guests of all ages can enjoy activities throughout the day. Here we have all the types of hotel entertainers:
All-round entertainer
The all-round entertainer is one of the most common roles in hotels and resorts abroad. As the name suggests, these entertainers do a bit of everything and are involved in many different activities during the day and evening.
An all-round entertainer will:
- organize pool games,
- lead fitness sessions,
- participate in kids activities,
- host quizzes or karaoke,
- perform in evening shows,
- socialize with guests around the resort.
This role is especially popular for people applying for summer jobs abroad because it allows them to experience different areas of hotel entertainment without specializing in only one activity. In this role, you’d have the chance to learn what you’re good at and what you’d like to do more of next summer season!
Kids club entertainer
Kids club entertainers focus mainly on activities for children and families. Their role is to create a safe, friendly and fun environment where children can play, learn and interact with others while parents enjoy their vacation.
Their daily responsibilities often include:
- organizing arts and crafts,
- face painting,
- treasure hunts,
- mini discos,
- interactive games,
- supervising children during activities.
Taking care of children requires a lot of patience, creativity and strong communication skills. Hotels look for energetic and responsible people who enjoy working with children.
Sports entertainer
Sports entertainers are responsible for keeping guests active and involved in physical activities during their holiday. They usually organize:
- volleyball tournaments,
- football matches,
- water polo games,
- golf lessons,
- tennis clinics,
- yoga or stretching classes,
- dance fitness activities.
If you are energetic, sporty and like to lead groups, then for sure this role is for you. In many beach resorts in Greece, Spain or Italy, sport entertainment is one of the most popular daily activities among guests. Many of them want to have fun while meeting other people and maybe even learn how to play something new, like beach volleyball!
Fitness entertainer
Although sometimes combined with sports entertainment, fitness entertainers usually focus more specifically on wellness and exercise activities.
Their responsibilities usually are:
- leading morning workouts,
- organizing aerobic classes,
- aqua gym sessions,
- running stretching sessions,
- supporting wellness activities around the resort.
As a note, hotels often prefer candidates who already have some fitness or dance background for this role.
⭐ The main difference between sports entertainer and fitness entertainer is that the first one will focus on competitive, organized games, while the second one will focus on structured, wellness-oriented classes targeting health-conscious guests. As you can see, both of them can organize common sporty activities, so the difference between them is very subtle. However, depending on the hotel requirements, some roles will have diverse responsibilities, like the all-around entertainer. In this case, don’t be surprised if you applied for a sports entertainer but in the interview you might be asked to lead morning workouts. In the end, the focus is always the same one: help guests have a wonderful experience in their vacation.
Evening show entertainer
Evening show entertainers are responsible for nighttime entertainment programs in hotels and resorts. These entertainers often perform in front of large groups of guests during dinners or evening events.
They will participate in:
- dance performances,
- musicals,
- comedy sketches,
- cabaret shows,
- live themed performances,
- guest interaction games.
This role is perfect for people who enjoy performing, acting or dancing. In many hotels entertainers rehearse for hours per week to prepare their show for the weekend or for the everyday plays. There are cases in which they spend months building the whole performance from scratch. Theatre plays and activities with children require special, long time preparation in order to have a professional outcome.
How to Find Summer Jobs Abroad as a Hotel Entertainer
Becoming a hotel entertainer is often much easier than people expect. While some resorts look for candidates with dance, fitness or tourism experience, many hotel entertainer jobs abroad are open to beginners with the right personality and attitude. Oftentimes, these jobs require motivation and willingness to learn, even if you never did this before!
Hotels and resorts usually care more about energy, communication skills and motivation than about having years of professional experience.
This is why hotel entertainment is such a popular option for students and young people looking for summer jobs abroad.
What skills do you need?
Even though every hotel has different requirements, there are some qualities that are highly valued in all entertainment teams.
A good hotel entertainer has to be:
- outgoing and social,
- energetic and positive,
- comfortable speaking in front of groups,
- friendly and approachable,
- confident working with international guests,
- flexible and adaptable,
- comfortable working in teams.
Of course, let’s not forget about being comfortable speaking a foreign language if you choose to work abroad this summer! English is almost always required, and knowing additional languages such as German, Italian, French or Spanish for sure will be a huge advantage in popular European tourist destinations.
Whether you are looking to travel, meet people from all over the world or simply try something completely different this summer, working as a hotel entertainer can be one of the most exciting summer jobs abroad. It is a role full of energy, creativity and social interaction, where no two days are ever the same.
Daydream for a bit, who knows? What starts as one summer season abroad could easily become an unforgettable experience or even the beginning of a career in tourism and entertainment!