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Esalen Institute

Experiential education and personal transformation workshops

Guest Services Representative

Full-Time
$18.50 - $21/hr
Mid, Senior
Big Sur, CA, USA
In Person
Food Service & HospitalityHotel Guest Services

About the job

Requirements
  • Prior work experience at Esalen is essential; candidates must be graduates of Esalen’s three-month REEP program or current staff members employed for at least three months.
  • At least 2–3 years of customer service experience.
  • Customer reservations experience and an exceptional phone manner.
  • Strong communication skills and the ability to set boundaries.
  • Ability to make effective decisions and deal compassionately with difficult situations.
  • Ability and willingness to train new team members.
  • Ability to work independently, take responsibility, receive guidance, and provide feedback with care and respect.
  • Detail- and solution-oriented, highly organized, and proficient in seeing a project through to completion.
  • Experience reviewing business procedures and recommending improvements to guest experience and operational efficiency.
  • Strong computer skills, including Microsoft Office Suite, Google Suite, and Adobe.
  • Strong knowledge of property management system (PMS), massage booking software, and retail management software.
  • Ability to work shifts split between the Front Desk and Gate, potentially including overnight shifts.
  • Ability to conduct property patrols, monitor radio traffic and campus entrances, and support emergency response.
  • First Aid support capability and CPR certification.
  • Ability to provide emotional support to people in shock or crisis and prevent and resolve conflicts.
Responsibilities
  • Provide customer service and welcome and support guests, faculty, and staff with kindness and respect.
  • Review incoming requests, answer phones, and manage guest complaints using trauma-informed language.
  • Assist with onboarding and training new team members.
  • Work with other departments to document guest and faculty communications.
  • Organize check-in materials for visiting guests, faculty, scholarship recipients, and staff enrolled in workshops.
  • Complete daily checklists, including managing call and email queues, booking massages, processing online retail purchases, stocking, and preparing daily shift notes.
  • Troubleshoot guest and faculty concerns and document problems and solutions in shift notes and the property management system.
  • Work with team members to review Guest Services processes and recommend plans to improve effectiveness, efficiency, and service quality.
  • Check in staff, guests, and faculty during Gate shifts; manage parking, conduct property patrols, and provide guest support.
  • Monitor campus entrances and radio traffic, manage emergency responses, provide First Aid and emotional support, and prevent and resolve conflicts.
  • Process payments and support reservations, check-in, orientation, guest questions, massage bookings, retail operations, and guest and staff needs.

About the company

Esalen Institute runs a nonprofit center that fosters human potential through experiential education and research. It sponsors and hosts workshops and residential programs that guide personal, spiritual, and social transformation for participants and staff, using a mix of experiential practices, seminars, and collaborative research. Programs are delivered through immersive experiences at its Big Sur campus, with about 12,000 visitors annually. That combination of experiential learning, spirituality-focused practices, and a retreat model differentiates Esalen from traditional academic or wellness centers, along with its long-standing history and emphasis on community living during programs. The organization aims to contribute to a more just, creative, and sustainable world by developing people’s capacities and sharing transformative methods.

Company Size

51-200

Company Stage

N/A

Total Funding

N/A

Headquarters

Big Sur, California

Founded

1962

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Simplify's Take

What believers are saying

  • October 2026 workshop calendar is full, showing sustained demand for paid retreats.
  • September 2026 newsletters and new faculty announcements signal active programming momentum.
  • The June 2026 updated press page shows Esalen reopening after closures and operating again.

What critics are saying

  • August 2026 Timber Fire evacuated Esalen and closed the campus immediately.
  • Highway 1 closures north and south repeatedly cut off Big Sur access in 2026.
  • A prolonged wildfire, landslide, or road shutdown destroys occupancy and cash flow.

What makes Esalen Institute unique

  • Esalen owns a rare Big Sur campus on Highway 1, impossible to replicate.
  • Its 2026 program mix spans AI, mindfulness, conflict, ritual, and bodywork.
  • Donor-funded scholarships keep a 501(c)(3) experiential retreat accessible to broader audiences.

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Benefits

  • Health Insurance
  • Dental Insurance
  • Paid Vacation
  • Meal Benefits
  • Professional Development Budget