Las Vegas Weekly

October 8, 2008 · 1:29 PM

65,000 applicants not enough for Wynn?

By Sarah Feldberg

About a week after the Las Vegas Sun reported on September 25 that Wynn Resorts had received 65,000 applicants for 5,300 available positions at the new Encore resort and casino, an ad appeared in the food/beverage/hospitality section of the jobs listings on Craigslist. Actually, there were a few ads. “Cocktail server – Wynn Las Vegas/Encore.” “Food and Beverage Manager – Wynn Las Vegas/Encore.” “Host Person – Wynn Las Vegas/Encore.” The ads bragged about the Wynn’s 111,000 square foot casino, “22 food and beverage outlets” and “on-site Ferrari and Maserati dealership.” They extolled the Encore’s “seven cozy bars and lounges, five signature restaurants and opulent spa and salon.” And then they proffered a gilded carrot. “We want to hear from you!”

I only have one question: Huh?

With the statistics reported in late September, Steve Wynn would only be able to hire about 8 percent of the applicants. That means nearly 60,000 applications are heading straight for the trash. And yet, there’s that perky little Craiglist posting seeking determined and ambitious individuals. Is it possible that of the 65,000 job-hungry individuals who took the time to fill out an application for Wynn Resorts, there weren’t a sufficient number of capable cocktail servers, a handle of potential managers or enough welcoming hosts? Do they really need to add more lobsters to the pot? Via Craigslist, it seems that Wynn is saying “yes.”

If the resort doesn’t draw the line soon, they may need to add a new listing to the Craigslist pile: Hiring manager – Wynn Las Vegas/Encore.

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