Animation; It is a word that has entered our daily life from French.

Animation, which consists of a quick display of several cartoon pictures in quick succession, is called animation. In resort hotels, it is used in the art of entertaining guests. 

Animation teams in resort hotels are a department that meets not only the entertainment needs of the guests but also their versatile needs. 

Animation is a department

It is a department because if it is not in resort hotels, there will be a big gap. It is a department because, depending on the hotel's guest capacity and the number of stars, the number of animators can reach 100 in some hotels. Even if they are 15 in number, it is still a department. It should not be forgotten that they provide a versatile and self-sacrificing service in a wide range of time zones. The absence of the animation department in resort hotels is unthinkable. Just as we cannot imagine not having one of the accounting or F/O departments. 

The purpose of the animation department

The purpose of the animation department; By organizing various activities during the day, to attract guests to sports activities, to turn guests from passive to active by organizing games and competitions, to break the shyness of the guests, to ensure them to socialize with each other, to organize special activities for the guest children, to prevent them from being idle, and to ensure that parents have a comfortable holiday. to enable them to do, In the evenings; To ensure that the time is pleasant by organizing stage plays, skits, ballet, musicals, comedy, dance shows and gala nights.

animators

The team that can do these activities; sporty, young, knows how to laugh, loves to have fun and entertains, can distinguish between sincerity and vulgarity, knows the limits of his duty, takes care of work discipline, is selfless, has special vocational training, knows how to dance or is inclined to dance, talented, decent physical appearance, decent It should consist of individuals with diction and language skills. 

It is obvious how difficult it is to be an animator and to find an animator in a profession with such a wide range of qualifications. For this reason, we must accept that it would be very wrong to underestimate animators and the tasks they do, and not everyone can be successful in these tasks. According to my personal observation, I believe that successful chief animators from the French are trained, and from the CIS countries good animators from ballet, sports, theater and conservatory graduates. 

It is essential for the animation team to stay away from alcoholic beverages, cigarettes and debauchery, to be successful in their business and to work steadily in the business. It is known that the animators are constantly intertwined with the guests between 09.00 - 24.00, and a high degree of intimacy and emotionality arises between them and the guests. It is known that the business management did not turn a blind eye to the fact that this closeness was carried to different dimensions within the boundaries of the enterprise, and even the animator was dismissed from the team. 

Meeting with the partner of the animator in front of the business door and looking into the eyes of the other employees is also a sufficient reason for a sanction to be imposed on him. 

Who does the animation belong to?

In some businesses, it is debatable to whom the animation team will report in the hotel management organogram. Animation teams act as hotel staff in some hotels and as subcontractor staff in some hotels. 

In my opinion, this is a versatile service branch beyond the specialties of hotels. For this reason, it is very beneficial to sign a detailed contract with a reliable and institutionalized subcontractor with good references. 

Professional supervision of the team, personnel reinforcement, logistic support, etc. Meeting the needs of an animation company by an animation company is both more useful and a matter of expertise. However, they should be under the control of the hotel management in terms of business discipline, service quality, guest satisfaction, and guest wishes. 

According to the capacities of the animation teams of the hotels; GM, Asst. They are tracked as affiliated with GM, Operation Mgr, or F&B Mgr. In my opinion; If the facility where animation services are provided has a large capacity, the animation team; Operation Mgr. or Asst. It should work under GM. However, all problems related to contract clauses should be discussed with the subcontractor representative by GM. 

One of the top management of the hotels must regularly watch the activities during the day and the evening shows in order to observe the guest satisfaction and animation success. 

Duties of businesses for the animation team to work effectively and successfully: 

1. Building an amphitheater suitable for maximum guest capacity,
2. Planning the scene as wide as possible, 
3. Planning the two entrances from the backstage to the stage, 
4. The stage is 1 Mt. from two different places through the amphitheater. Planning a wide staircase, 
5. Large-capacity decor warehouse and decor preparation workshop, 
6. Tailor's room to be used in small sewing, decor making and repair works,
7. Planning a service bar close to the amphitheater area,
8. Establishment of rich light installation and powerful sound system,
9. Planning the amphitheater area as far away from the rooms as possible, 
10. Separate make-up rooms for men and women, full-length mirrors,
11. Separate dressing rooms for men and women,
12. Separate dressing rooms for men and women,
13. Separate male and female toilets, washbasins, urinals for men, 
14. Separate showers for men and women,
15. Animator common lounge,
16. Animation supervisor office,
17. Planning the lodgings within walking distance of the hotel. 

The infrastructure and equipment investment that I have listed above is essential for the success of the animation team, thus the success of the hotel and the happy departure of the guests. Do not forget that; The investment you make in your business and your employees and your success go hand in hand. I liken this parallelism to the unified container theory in physics. 

Animation company music

Every business where animation events are held has a symbolized company music. The choice of company music is very important. This music should identify with the business and be renewed every year. In the selection of music, either the GM should give an opinion or the animation company should bring alternative offers to the GM.

The hotel guest profile should be taken into account in the selection of music. Music can carry an international or national identity. However, the music to be chosen should be rhythmic music that is pleasant to the ear, easy to remember, can represent the business. 

Sometimes the music we call company music is so popular that the company receives intense CD demands. Years ago, by bad luck, I was in a lousy business. The location of the business is perfect, but it is very interesting, the company's music was very popular, although the management and animation team were lousy. When there was a strong demand for CDs from our guests, we bought as many CDs as there were in the region, put a profit on them, and offered them for sale at the reception. When we could not meet the demand, we requested a CD from the CD company in Istanbul. 

In my opinion; If the photo services serving the hotels, with the knowledge and permission of the business management, professionally videotape animation games, programs, mini club programs, teenager programs, gala nights with sound and music and offer them for sale, they will not only provide an extra income, but also a large advertisement of the business for free. will be done. 

I suggest that this issue should be well considered by the management. However, the approval of the business management must be obtained while determining the sales prices of the products. It is in the interests of the enterprises that the products are offered for sale at low profitable prices. It should be noted that the more products are sold, the wider the advertisement of the business will be. 

It is certain that the right company music promotes Turkey more effectively than the promotional films of the Ministry of Tourism. Likewise, we should not forget that the right company music is the cheapest and most effective way to promote and advertise the business. For this reason, take care to choose a music that will identify with your business and will always remind you of your business. Also, keep in mind that this type of music and memories increase the number of "Repeat Guest".

Conclusion

The hotel industry is similar to crochet and needlework. The more attention we pay to details, the more accurate investment we can make, the more we can make our employees happy, the happier our guests will leave. 

The largest, most effective and least expensive advertisement for a country and a business is provided by the "Repeat Guest" height. Seeking and finding ways to increase this number as much as possible and making a difference should be the target task of the management teams of the enterprises. 

Animation events and success are just one of the ways to achieve this goal.