Thousands of jobs on offer at Queensland’s biggest tourism operators

After a disastrous 18 months, Queensland tourism operators are launching a recruitment blitz to fill thousands of jobs. SEE WHO’S HIRING.

MAJOR tourism operators are offering extraordinary incentives including free holidays and birthdays off to lure workers back to the industry as the sector faces its latest Covid crisis.

Crippled by the coronavirus pandemic with an estimated 50,000 job losses in the past 18 months, the tourism sector is going into recruitment overdrive as operators prepare for the return of interstate and eventually international visitors in the months ahead.

SCROLL DOWN TO SEE THE LIST OF THE MAJOR TOURISM PLAYERS WHO ARE HIRING IN BIG NUMBERS

The State government is also ramping up the return of the ‘Work in Paradise’ initiative, with a multimillion-dollar ad campaign to lure fully-vaccinated southerners to help fill tourism jobs from December 17.

Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said the State government recognised the need to attract talent to fill tourism jobs.

“In our tourism industry, we’re creating more jobs than we have Queenslanders who want to fill them – that’s why this week we’re boosting our Work in Paradise campaign to entice workers to join our tourism industry in north, far north and west Queensland,” she said.

The State government’s Work in Paradise campaign will relaunch a push for interstate workers to fill thousands of tourism jobs.

Tourism Minister Stirling Hinchliffe said the push would also include a deliberate play at school-leavers and university students to take a ‘Gap Year’ working in Queensland’s tourism industry.

“Our aim is to inspire and incentivise potential staff to work in some of our State’s world-class destinations,” he said.

Work in Paradise incentives include a $1500 cash bonus paid over six months plus $250 for workers travelling more than 100km to take up a job.

The private sector is also getting in on the act, offering incentives such as free holidays, same-day hire and paid leave for birthdays in a bid to lure people back to the industry.

Accor, which operates more than 100 hotels and resorts across the state, has launched a campaign for more than 500 positions in Queensland alone.

The bulk of the jobs, with roles including food and beverage, housekeeping and chefs, are on the Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast and Cairns.

Accor’s CEO of Pacific, Simon McGrath, said he hoped to attract talented workers who would help drive the industry’s future.

Accor's Pacific CEO Simon McGrath.

“As we prepare for the tourism rebound in Queensland, the tourism industry is currently facing a critical shortage of workers,” he said.

“The industry has a bright and exciting future ahead and needs talented individuals who want a rewarding career.”

The company has launched a “Work Your Way” recruitment drive, with initiatives including same-day hire where successful applicants can start work on the very day they apply for a job, with benefits including travel allowances and paid days off for your birthday.

Peppers Resort Noosa staff Adam McKenzie, Sandy Welk, Irene Koh and Ben McCosh have joined a statewide blitz on hiring thousands of new staff for the tourism and hospitality sector in the lead-up to the summer holidays. Picture: Lachie Millard

On Wednesday, Wyndham will hold a recruitment day at all Australian resorts as well as Ramada resorts at the Sunshine Coast and Port Douglas.

Successful applicants will receive a free two-night getaway, a $100 welcome gift, and paid parental leave for full-time employees, while a 20 per cent hotel discount will be given to anyone who even turns up for an interview.

Star Entertainment has more than 400 jobs on offer across Brisbane and the Gold Coast, including 80 at the soon-to-open Dorsett Hotel at Broadbeach.

Village Roadshow Theme Parks is seeking more than 500 people to fill jobs including lifeguards, food and beverage servers and retail attendants while Ardent Leisure, which runs Dreamworld, WhiteWater World and SkyPoint, hopes to employ almost 300 people over the summer season, a 20 per cent on the same time last year.

Virgin Australia, which bases almost 75 per cent of its workforce in Queensland, is also looking for hundreds of new employees.

THOUSANDS of jobs are up for grabs at some of Queensland’s most appealing tourism destinations. Picture: Ocean Rafting

Queensland Tourism Industry Council CEO Daniel Gschwind said the huge number of job opportunities should give hope to those who had lost work during the pandemic, but warned it would also present a major challenge for the sector.

“It’s positive to see so many businesses with the confidence to advertise for staff but there is a challenge as well,” he said.

“The industry has lost so many talented people over the past 18 months and you can’t replace that experience.

“We want to fill these positions and importantly, we want to fill them with talented people because right now there is a wonderful opportunity to convince Australian travellers of the worthiness of our tourism experiences, but that opportunity won’t last forever.”

For more information on the Work In Paradise program, visit www.workinparadise.com.au