A Colorado lodging company is preparing to hire more than 400 workers for its seven hotels at Grand Canyon National Park, but it is getting harder to find employees who want part-time jobs.
Officials with Xanterra Parks and Resorts said they cannot find enough seasonal employees at Grand Canyon. Spokesman Bruce Brossman said that is because more tourists are visiting the South Rim in the fall when most seasonal employees have gone home.
“We don’t just have a need in June, July and August like we used to have. We’ve very busy experiencing high business levels from March through the middle of November, so we have to have employees to supplement the traditional college break students," said Brossman.
Brossman said college students who work at the hotels return to school in summer, but more people are starting to visit the park in the fall.
“The more senior travelers likes it when the kids are back in school, so we do see a lot of change in demographics in the fall and early winter," explained Brossman. "The parks are quieter, but they are still busy and there’s not as many kids running around."
Brossman said during the height of the recession, finding seasonal workers was not a problem, but he said as the economy continues to grow, people are looking for full-time jobs. He said Xanterra is searching for room keepers, cafeteria and gift shop workers.
Xanterra also is trying to fill dozens of positions with Grand Canyon Railway. Brossman said the positions for this upcoming summer season are being filled right now.