Wynn set to start taking job applications for new resort

By Jeff Simpson (contact)

Tuesday, Oct. 19, 2004 | 10:54 a.m.

More than 125,000 of the city's best workers are expected to apply for jobs at Steve Wynn's new $2.4 billion Strip resort.

And Wynn's looking to land 8,000 of the city's top employees.

It's the Las Vegas version of the Gold Rush.

Wynn Las Vegas will begin taking job applications Nov. 1, offering the valley's hotel workers a chance to work at the city's most expensive resort.

But Wynn said it's his company that's doing the serious prospecting, noting that the success of his resorts has always been a direct result of superior employees.

"They are the contact with the customer," Wynn said Monday afternoon. "They're the ones that create a relationship with the customer."

Wynn's human resources team has trained managers to select the top possible team, expected to total 8,000 workers at the property's scheduled April 28 opening.

They expect to consider 125,000 to 150,000 online applications, and hold 50,000 interviews. Online applications will be accepted beginning Nov. 1 at wynnjobs.com.

Applicants without online access or those who need Spanish-language help with the application can apply at the Wynn Las Vegas employment center at 4225 Industrial Road, near the Rio. Bilingual telephone assistance is available at 770-5627.

Chief Human Resources Officer Arte Nathan said the Wynn Las Vegas' online application process not only allows prospective workers to apply from home, but also allows the prospects to monitor the status of their applications.

Nathan said the online application saves time on the company's end by eliminating the need to enter application information into a database.

Nathan said he expects that more than 90 percent of the property's opening staff will be current Las Vegas hotel employees, and guessed that about 25 to 30 percent of the staff will have previously worked for Wynn when he ran Mirage Resorts.

"Steve Wynn is a single owner, and his rule is this is going to be a fair place to work," Nathan said.

Wynn and Culinary boss D. Taylor met Monday afternoon, in the final stages of hammering out a deal Wynn said would be a "revolutionary partnership."

Wynn said the proposed deal, if the property's workers choose to join the Culinary, would help ensure that Wynn Las Vegas opens with the city's top workforce.

Once he finds the workers, motivating them is simple, Wynn said.

"It's all about us finding out what makes them happy, because they're the contact with the customer," Wynn said.