Hospitality industry markets itself to job seekers

Steve Humm

Friday, June 12, 1998 | 10:57 a.m.

Attendance soared at a hospitality industry job fair in Las Vegas this week. That was good news for the industry, since it must fill an estimated 25,000 jobs in the next year.

More than 1,200 job seekers and some 35 employers from the culinary and hospitality fields in Nevada, California and Utah participated in the job fair at the Las Vegas Convention center.

The event was presented by the Nevada Hotel & Motel Association, the Nevada Restaurant Association and Las Vegas Employment News. The Hospitality Job Fair was run for the second year in conjunction with the 19th annual Las Vegas International Hotel and Restaurant Show featuring hospitality trends, products and services.

Van Heffner, president of the Nevada Hotel & Motel Association and the Nevada Restaurant Association, said attendance was up from 700 a year ago.

He said positions are available at all levels to individuals with a variety of backgrounds. He emphasized the quality of jobs in the hospitality industry, which includes hotels, casinos, restaurants and some tourist venues.

"It's about lifestyle, it's much more than making a living," he said.

Mary Peters, employment manager for the Hotel Del Coronado in San Diego, said the hotel participated to expose itself to the large pool of educated workers available from UNLV. Entry level as well as management positions were available at the hotel, which accepted around 75 resumes from people who expressed a willingness to relocate.

"We're leaving with exactly what we came for," Peters said.

Boyd Gaming Corp. was also on hand with positions available at all seven of its Las Vegas area properties including the Sam's Town and Stardust hotel-casinos. Anna Corbett, brew pub manager at Boyd's Main Street Station, said the turnout was greater than she expected.

The Venetian hotel-casino under construction on the Las Vegas Strip participated in anticipation of its April 1999 opening.

"We hope to build awareness about our project through all traditional means in people who will be seeking employment at the Venetian," said spokesman Kurt Ouchida.

The Venetian will employ about 4,000 people. An additional 4,000 to 5,000 people will be employed at its restaurants and retail outlets, Ouchida said.

Job seekers expressed mixed responses. Some were pleased with the convenience of meeting several potential employers in one location, while others questioned the value of the event.

Amira Macdonald, who is currently working in public relations but seeking other job opportunities, rated the event highly.

"They should do this more often. Putting the hotels together like this is a wonderful idea," she said.

But a local restaurant manager who has worked in the field for 20 years and who is looking for advancement was disappointed with the lack of information he saw provided by the employers. He expected more immediate action, perhaps including on-the-spot hiring.

The three-day Las Vegas International Hotel & Restaurant Show also featured 340 trade show booths and several special events including the Las Vegas Culinary challenge, ice carving demonstrations, a menu design contest and a bed making competition.

Awards recognizing the leaders in Nevada's hospitality industry were presented at a luncheon on the final day of the event.

Anthony F. Santo, president of the Reno Hilton, was named Nevada Hotelier of the Year; and Karen Dorsey, vice president of operations at the Ellis Island Casino, was named Nevada Restaurateur of the Year. The Nevada Hotel & Motel Association presented its second Lifetime Service Award to Juanita Wilson, owner of the Econo Lodge Downtown Las Vegas.