A year ago, Grand Junction, Colo., native Cara Hoyt had a singular goal—moving to Las Vegas and working at a pool while finishing her education. So Cara Hoyt packed up her belongings, said goodbye to Denver, where she had worked as a bartender and cocktail server for five years, and moved, along with her 6-year-old daughter, to the city.

Today, Hoyt loves life poolside at Green Valley Ranch Resort and Casino, an off-strip luxury property in the heart of the suburbs. At the sprawling pool—which includes special features like a beachlike area with sand—Hoyt is a VIP cabana host. The cabanas really are fit for royalty, situated above the main pool area with private dipping pools just steps away.

“My job is to help create the scene, the party, the environment,” she said. “If my guests need something, I’m going to make sure they have it. I love getting to know my guests. That way, I can accommodate them better.” And guest interaction is a favorite thing about her job. “I’ve always been outgoing. When bartending in Denver, I liked that one-on-one interaction.” Hoyt can also suggest some of the best cocktails for relaxing poolside: she’s also a certified mixologist.

Pina Colava

Pina Colava

Outside of work, Hoyt is working on a kinesiology degree, with the goal of opening her own physical therapy practice one day. But she’ll be poolside for quite a while: “I love this industry; I love being a cabana host. I’m going to do it as long as I can.”

Pina Colava

Yup, you’re reading that right (think a mix between a Pina Colada and a Lava Flow). The Pina Colava is one of the specialty cocktails at Green Valley Ranch’s pool, served in a pineapple for that extra-special twist. The cocktail blends ice with Bacardi Razz rum and Pina Colada mix with a swirl of Island Oasis raspberry purée. This eye-catching concoction is so much more than presentation—it’s delicious and the perfect seasonal drink to sip poolside.