DETAILS: Jobs in Paradise

Tempted to leave the 80-hour-a-week grind to run a multi-room slice of paradise? Good news: According to the American Hotel & Lodging Association, the hospitality industry may generate 300,000 new jobs by 2014. Not all will be in paradise, of course, but here are some tips on pursuing this dream career, courtesy of Hix Island House manager Bob Gevinski and the AHLA.

· Take a class. The association's American Hotel & Lodging Educational Institute (http://www.ei-ahla.org/content.aspx?id=186) offers distance learning courses and certification programs covering all facets of hospitality management. For aspiring managers, the institute's new Professional Development Program includes an online workbook that delves into such topics as quality service, food and beverage systems, and conflict management.

· Learn to multi-task and be flexible. "Between guest requests, vendor issues, deliveries and other urgent demands," Gevinski says, "I'm constantly prioritizing and rescheduling my day."

· Accept the 24-7-365 work schedule. Managers are always on call, for a clogged toilet at midnight or a muffin request at dawn. In addition, at small properties, the manager must be experienced in (or at least familiar with) multiple disciplines, such as marketing, accounting, landscaping, coffee making and human resources.

· Adapt and adjust to a new culture. For hotels in foreign destinations, learn the language and traditions by frequenting local establishments, befriending residents and becoming a familiar face around town. In other words, make nice with the fruit vendor, the ferry captain, the bartenders: These are your new best pals. Also realize that in some locales, the workday clock may tick at different hours and slower speeds, so be patient. "The culture will not change," Gevinski says, "so you must."

· Surf the Web for jobs. Check out http://www.itshospitality.com, http://www.anyworkanywhere.com or the AHLA Career Center's listings at http://www.hcareers.com/cjb/ahla. If you have some cash to spend, there is a multitude of inns around the world for sale. Stoke your fantasies at http://www.hotelsforsale.com or http://www.hotelrealtyresource.com.

-- A.S.