At Wyndham Vacation Resorts in Branson, having fun at work is just good business, says Recruiting Manager Jeanna Callahan.
The Branson operation focuses on face-to-face vacation sales and does not have a call center. Wyndham has four resorts in Branson: Worldmark by Wyndham, Wyndham Vacation Resorts at Branson Meadows, Mount Vista and The Falls.
The company's representatives work on a sales floor that's actually a large, open room filled with high-energy music.
"I've seen reps that will get up and start dancing with their tours," Callahan says.
"Our sales are based on having a good time, having fun with the owners, and that's really a lot of why people buy; that excitement just transfers."
And the good time continues on payday.
"Our top 30 reps here in Branson averaged (more than) $183,000 apiece," Callahan says. "Our top reps last year cleared $300,000 to $400,000."
For Mark Gunter, senior sales representative, the benefits - including time off to spend with his family - far outweigh his daily commute from Nixa to Branson.
"It's like being on vacation ... I get to show people how to have fun every day," he says. "I've made more money than I've ever had in my entire life."
Compensation for sales staff is by commission, but now, representatives have a new choice to consider.
"We have introduced a new salary option this year where reps, when they start out, have the option of a salary or a higher commission," Callahan says, noting that it adds a level of comfort and stability. "In sales, it does take a little while to get something in the pipeline before you're paid out on that."
On the resort and administrative end of the business, Wyndham has a structured merit program that bases salary increases on yearly performance appraisals, with increases typically coming in at 2 percent to 6 percent.
Company leaders got their start on the sales floor, and promoting from within crosses over to the resort side of the business as well, says Laura Klouw, Wyndham's regional director of human resources.
"Our resort manager has been with us for almost 30 years. She started at Fairfield Bay in Arkansas and has just worked her way up," Klouw says. "Our assistant resort manager started as a guest services manager. Our guest services manager started as a guest services associate."
Wyndham pays more than half of health coverage premiums for full-time employees, according to its Choice Employers survey, and the company encourages healthy activity through discounted memberships at the Branson RecPlex.
Wyndham also offers a 401(k), matching up to 6 percent for full-time employees who have been with the company for at least one year.
The company is dedicated to developing its employees, paying employees up to $4,000 a year for undergraduate courses completed and up to $6,000 a year for master's courses.
Also, My Learning, an online program, serves as "our own little Wyndham University," Klouw says. Employees can research a wide range of subjects, and enroll in Webinars and online courses.[[In-content Ad]]
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