Resorts happy with prospects

Pauline Bell

Monday, Oct. 14, 1996 | 11:59 a.m.

Human resource directors at New York-New York, Main Street Station and Orleans hotel-casino say they're pleased with the number of job applicants they're seeing.

"It has far exceeded my expectations," said Susan Cangurel, director of human resources of the Orleans, of both the quality and number of applicants.

Orleans, which opens in mid- to late December, is in the fourth week of a month-long hiring blitz to find 2,300 workers. The company has received about 3,000 applications a week for jobs so far. Resort officials are interviewing this week for casino and gaming jobs for the property at West Tropicana Avenue and Arville Street.

Cangurel said she expected the labor supply to be a lot tighter because of the competition. But she is confident the hotel will be able to fill all its positions with qualified employees.

Main Street Station opens with 700 workers in November, New York-New York opens Jan. 3 with 2,100 workers in addition to the more than 1,100 food service and retail contract employees who don't work for the hotel directly. And, expansions at existing hotel-casinos like the Rio, Luxor, Circus Circus and Harrah's mean an estimated 5,000 additional employment opportunities.

But the closing of the Sands and the announced closing of the Hacienda have led to the availability of workers. And, the fact that Las Vegas is entering what has traditionally been a slower time of year is helping fuel the supply of workers.

Main Street, which wrapped up a two-week hiring blitz on Friday, received 3,500 applications for the 700 jobs in a week and a half, said Adrianne Van Strander, director of human resources.

New York-New York, which has been conducting interviews since summer, gave out 30,000 applications and has interviewed 16,000 people for positions. Job offers will be extended in three to four weeks, said Dennis Shipley, director of human resources.

"There is a lot of competition, but we feel we've got the advantage because of the draw of the property itself," said Shipley.

He said 70 percent of applicants already are employed someplace "which is good because they can afford to wait."

Cangurel said she has noticed a shortage of applicants for guest room attendants, probably because it's a job that is physically demanding and involves catering to guests.

Shipley said he hasn't noticed the same shortage. But when it comes to gluts, he's seen a large number of people who want valet or bellhop jobs because they make more money.

The human resources director said he doesn't really know how much. "I'm guessing upwards of $40,000," he said.

He said the notion that casino jobs are all minimum-wage positions is a myth. Dealers make close to minimum wage but make their real living in tips. "These guys make a good living," Shipley said.

And starting guest room attendants make $7.69 an hour under existing Culinary Union contracts.

"That's not a minimum-wage job. People who don't have a lot of job skills can come to Las Vegas and make a fairly respectable living. These are not high-tech jobs, but some people coming to town may not be high-tech people," Shipley said.