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Jun. 25, 2007
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MARKETPLACE: Casino hiring scramble starts

Palazzo opens new job center, anticipates flood of applicants for positions

By HOWARD STUTZ
REVIEW-JOURNAL

PLACEMENT AT PALAZZO

The Palazzo employment center is away from the Strip and The Venetian and Palazzo complex.

The 12,000 square-foot center is at 7180 Pollock Drive, one block west of Warm Springs Road just off the Las Vegas Beltway.

The center has 65 computer terminals where people can fill out applications.

People can also apply online at www.venetian.jobs.

The employment center can be contacted at 414-5627.

REVIEW-JOURNAL

The Palazzo is getting a jump on its competition in what some gaming analysts believe could be an all-out battle for casino employees.

An employment center for the $1.8 billion resort opens this morning as Las Vegas Sands Corp. begins the process of hiring some 4,000 workers for the Strip resort, which is scheduled to open by the end of the year.

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INNER CITY, INNER BEAUTY

Because the 3,000-room Palazzo is a sister property and connected to the 4,000-room Venetian, many noncustomer service and back-of-the-house support positions will be shared by the two hotel-casinos.

Nevertheless, the Palazzo has 420 job classifications including positions in housekeeping, gaming, food and beverage, property operations, marketing, telecommunications, wedding services, entertainment and administration.

"We think this process will lead to between 10 and 13 applicants per available position," said Mike Gentry, vice president of human resources for The Venetian and Palazzo. "We're preparing for more than 50,000 applicants because this is a top-tier gaming property. Our plan has been to go through a four-month hiring process."

Gentry expects that between 700 and 1,000 current Venetian employees will probably apply to switch to the Palazzo, which means those positions would also have to be refilled.

Prospective Palazzo workers will be able to set times for their job interviews, to keep the employment center free of long lines and clutter.

"That's one thing we learned from watching how our competition recently went through this process," Gentry said. "This is much more convenient for applicants."

The hiring process for the Palazzo employees commences the next wave of new Las Vegas hotel-casinos, following the 2005 openings of Wynn Las Vegas and the South Point and the 2006 opening of Red Rock Resort.

Palazzo, which hasn't set a firm opening date, is the first of the new Strip resorts to go online and is expected to be followed by the $2.1 billion Encore, a sister property to Wynn Las Vegas, in 2009 and MGM Mirage's $7.4 billion CityCenter, also in 2009.

On a smaller scale, the initial tower of the nongaming Trump International Hotel & Tower opens next year as will Station Casino's $650 million Aliante Station in North Las Vegas. Boyd Gaming Corp.'s $4.8 billion, 5,000-room Echelon project broke ground last week but is not expected to open until 2010.

In a February report to investors, Wall Street firm Deutsche Bank said the Las Vegas casino industry will need to fill some 113,500 positions by 2012. The report was completed before the New York-based Elad Group announced plans in May to replace the New Frontier with a $5 billion resort and joint-venture development on the Strip's north end between MGM Mirage and Kerzner International.

Gaming analyst Bill Lerner, who authored the Deutsche Bank report, said the job market could be stressed after CityCenter begins filling its available positions.

Even with Nevada's relatively low unemployment -- the rate is now 4.6 percent -- Gentry believes the Palazzo will find an available work force. Some potential employees could come the shuttered Stardust, which closed in November, and New Frontier, which is closing in July and will displace about 1,000 hotel and casino workers.

The Palazzo, he said, should also be able to draw from other Strip casinos.

"The older resorts are going to have a problem as this hiring phase begins," Lerner said. "They will probably lose employees disproportionately as the new casinos hire workers. For the Palazzo, as a high-end property where quality of service is critical, the earlier Las Vegas Sands can bring in the staff and train them, the better it is for the customers."

Gentry is happy the Palazzo is first in line.

"We're hitting the market at just the right time," Gentry said.

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Please enter your name Name: Please enter your email Email: Please enter a comment COMMENTS : (word count limit is 300) You have reached the maximum number of words allowed Current Word Count: Michael Ray Thompson wrote on October 20, 2008 08:09 PM: RNC, shame on you. How could you let a nobody, one-term Senator become President? How could you lose the money war in the campaign? Rich Republicans should vote with their feet. They should abandon the Party for a third party. Maybe Libetarian? Joseph Benavides wrote on November 27, 2007 11:45 AM: Joseph Benavides: Just moved from Laughlin,NV. Looking for any posion in the entertainment field. Resume upon request, with letters of recomendations. Thomas Hanauer wrote on November 25, 2007 06:19 AM: Moveing to Las Vegas the 15th od Dec.Looking for full time dealer position.I have 15 years of table games. I know how to provide outstanding customer service. If you dont have any thing in table games,I will take anything in customer service.3202331748. Michael Ray Thompson wrote on November 19, 2007 04:20 PM: Michael Ray Thompson 525 E. Bonanza Road #110 Las Vegas, Nevada 89101 (702)366-0456 allpoliticalmike@yahoo.com Objective Seeking a rull time positon as a porter, barback or customer service position Desired Occupations Bellman Kitchen Steward Hotel Sales or Telemarketing Skills and Abilities 10+ years telemarketing: answering telepphpone & conducting client surveys, 5+ years hotel bellman: transferring luggage, trunks and packages to and from rooms, loading areas, vehicles and terminals by hand and luggage carts, provided excellent guest & security services, 4 years food preparation: Cleaning equipmenet, packaging & serving guest food, 5 years ticket agent, i.e., reservations Education Bachelor of Music May, 1978 Sam Houston State University Relavant Experience Aramark, Inc. 1/2002-5/2006 Huntsville, Texas Banquet Food Services Cook & Food prep, food service, table service, supply ordering & restocking, catering preparations, kitchen mantenance and cleaning Red Lion Hotel 04/1999-12/2001 Bellman Transferred luggage, trunks and packages to and from rooms, loading areas, vehicles and terminals, by hand and baggage carts. Provided excellent guest & security services Dear Palazzo Guest Services Management, Please accept my resume and application for both kitchen steward and bellman positons. I am a very dilligent, efficient worker with a strong commitment to detail and courteous guest service. I pride myself in being punctual and courteous to guest and fellow workers. joseph carrasquillo wrote on November 19, 2007 03:56 PM: I delt blacl jack and roulette ofr 18 years AND ALL THE CARNEVAL GAMES,I CAN DO THIS OR IF YOU PERFER ME TO BE A BELLMAN OR VALET? Felton O. Brown wrote on November 17, 2007 07:45 AM: I"m a BASSET Certified Bartender from Chicago, and I would do anything to just leave here, and work as a bartender in Vegas. kathleen delaney wrote on November 14, 2007 08:53 AM: experienced dealer for 15 years, looking for dealing position. can deal all but craps and poker. Susan Impellizzeri wrote on November 08, 2007 09:24 PM: I have recently relocated from the New York area and I am presently looking for employment, preferably part time but any position would be considered. I would be available as needed and would be happy to furnish my resume and references upon request. dao duncan wrote on November 08, 2007 07:58 AM: Dao M. Duncan 3125 West Warmsprings Apt. 1228 Henderson Nevada 89014 OBJECTIVE:SEEEKING A FULLTIME POSITION IN HUMAN RESOURCES, SALES, COSTOMERSERVICE,FOOD With over 20 years experience in costomer relations and services in restraunt and cafe I am confident and ready to learn and grow with any organization. SKILLS: 12years and more in restraunt services 12years and more in costomer services 12years and more in sales I am a new resident of Nevada with a strong love and passion for helping people Michael Ray Thompson wrote on November 01, 2007 03:44 PM: Michael Ray Thompson 525 E. Bonanza Road #110 Las Vegas, Nevada 89101 (702)366-0456 allpoliticalmike@yahoo.com Objective: Seeking a full time position as a bellman or barback Skills and Abilities 5+years experience as a luxury hotel bellman 10+years experience as a barback 10+years experience as a kitchen steward high dedication to professionalism, concentration on communication with chef, front office personel to insure that guests needs are met and operation is run efficiently Education Bachelor of Music 5/1978 Sam Houston State University-Huntsville, Texas Relevant Experience Aramark, Inc. Jan. 2002-May.2006-5.Huntsville, Texas Food Services Cook & food prep., food service, table service, supply ordering & restocking, catering preparations, kitchen mantenance, cleaning and food prep. 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