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Recreational facilities manager

Also called cinema manager, fitness manager, theatre manager

Recreational facilities managers direct the operations of facilities that provide recreational services such as gardens, spas, zoos, gambling and lottery facilities. They plan and organise the daily operations of the related staff and facilities and ensure the organisation follows the latest developments in its field. They coordinate the different departments of the facility and manage the correct use of rescources and budgets.

Will there be jobs?Limited prospects19 jobs to fill by 2035 for every 100 people doing this work today.Hospitality, retail and other services managersWhat does it pay?Well above averageFrom about €2,600 (Romania) to €10,300 (Luxembourg) a month, depending on the country.Estimate · Hospitality, retail and other services managersWhat do I need to study?Usually post-secondary or a short degree4 in 10 have a degree. 7 in 10 train through vocational routes.Hospitality, retail and other services managersWill AI change it?LittleLevel 2 of 6. AI could help with only small parts of the tasks.Sports, recreation and cultural centre managers · ILO

What you'd do

Sports, recreation and cultural centre managers · ILO
  • Planning and organizing the range and mix of entertainment, attractions, cultural activities, and sports and fitness programmes to be offered by the centre
  • Ensuring that facilities are kept clean and in good condition
  • Keeping abreast of new trends and developments in the creative arts and arranging theatrical productions and performances by bands and orchestras
  • Advising on the facilities available and promoting publicity in relation to events, shows and activities
  • Checking and keeping custody of all cash receipts and making regular stock checks
  • Establishing and managing budgets, controlling expenditure and ensuring the efficient use of resources
  • Planning and directing daily operations
  • Controlling the selection, supervision and performance of staff
  • Ensuring compliance with health and safety regulations
Schedule recreation facilitiesManage logisticsSupervise daily information operationsManage recreational facilityRepresent the organisation+ 8 more essential skills
What the work is like
  • Indoors and outdoors
  • A mix of sitting and standing
  • Constant contact with people, including the public
  • Good freedom to decide
  • Usually 40 hours a week
  • Deadlines most weeks
  • Some repetitive tasks
US data: based on the O*NET profile of the US job "Entertainment and Recreation Managers, Except Gambling"

Will there be jobs?

Limited prospects

Fewer jobs than in most work will need filling by 2035.

People working as hospitality, retail and other services managers in the EU
2.49m2.88m2.62m 201520232035

Solid: measured. Dashed: forecast.

Jobs to fill, 2026–2035
721,000 replacing leavers 200,000 jobs disappear
Jobs to fill per 100 people working now
Hospitality, retail and other services managers19
All jobs29
Right now
1 of 27 countries report a shortage of sports, recreation and cultural centre managers, 6 a surplus.
Sports, recreation and cultural centre managers · EURES

What does it pay?

Well above average

Pay depends a lot on the country: from about €2,600 a month (Romania) to €10,300 (Luxembourg), before tax.

Pick a country at the top of the page to see typical pay there, for people under 30, and compared with all jobs.

Among managers in the EU, women earn 27% less per hour than men. Managers · Eurostat

What do I need to study?

Usually post-secondary or a short degree

Post-secondary training or a short degree in travel, tourism and leisure is the usual route.

Highest qualification of hospitality, retail and other services managers (EU, 2025)
Degree 36%Vocational 33%General secondary 15%Basic schooling 16%
Field that teaches it
Travel, tourism and leisure
Vocational route, EU
7 in 10 trainees in this field
Services graduates in a matching job
59% in the EU

819 institutions in the EU offer services bachelor's degrees. Pick a country at the top of the page to see where to study and the official course finders.

Will AI change it?

Little

AI could help with only small parts of the tasks.

How exposed is this job? ILO scale
Very low
Low
Some tasks
Moderate
Significant
High

Average task score 0.32 on a scale from 0 (AI can't do it) to 1 (AI could do it fully).

See the score for each of the 9 tasks
Establishing and managing budgets, controlling expenditure and ensuring the efficient use of resources0.43
Advising on the facilities available and promoting publicity in relation to events, shows and activities0.38
Planning and directing daily operations0.36
Checking and keeping custody of all cash receipts and making regular stock checks0.35
Keeping abreast of new trends and developments in the creative arts and arranging theatrical productions and performances by bands and orchestras0.35
Planning and organizing the range and mix of entertainment, attractions, cultural activities, and sports and fitness programmes to be offered by the centre0.35
Controlling the selection, supervision and performance of staff0.34
Ensuring compliance with health and safety regulations0.24
Ensuring that facilities are kept clean and in good condition0.10

Based on what AI could technically do when assessed in 2025. It is not a forecast for a future year, and not a forecast of job losses. Scores for sports, recreation and cultural centre managers. Source: ILO (2025), adapted (credits).