Job recruitment for Sam Lord’s likely to start next month

In a few weeks Barbadians could expect to see 300-plus vacancies on offer as the multi-million dollar Wyndham Sam Lord’s Castle, the island’s largest hotel property, gets ready for a January opening.

Chief executive officer of the Barbados Tourism Investment Inc. (BTII) Stuart Layne disclosed on Monday in an update on the project.

Stating that “all hands were on deck” and every effort was being made to complete construction in the next four months, Layne anticipated that in the initial stages, there would be need for more than 300 staffers. That figure, he said, could more than double to 1 000 as the operation gets going.

“This starts in September [recruitment] so probably towards the middle of next month you will see ads going out.”

The operators of Wyndham Grand Resort, have indicated that job fairs will be held, added Layne. “Requests will be in various media so that they can start interviewing people and get ready for opening,” he said.

Layne said there was “pent-up” demand for the resort that was being constructed to Five Diamond specifications which refers to the ultimate luxury hotel ranking.

“Demand for the project is very, very strong so it is going to be a successful project based on the feedback that we are getting. Completion is December 31st and the opening is in January. This would be a positive venture for the island. More foreign currency would be coming in, providing many job opportunities and Wyndham is committed to backward/forward linkages with local farmers and other suppliers benefitting from this project.”

The hotel will be the largest on the island with 420 rooms.

In November 2015, then Prime Minister Freundel Stuart signed an agreement with China’s Ambassador Wang Ke for the local government to receive a US$170 million loan to restore Sam Lord’s, which would be constructed by the Chinese company, COMPLANT (China National Complete Plant Import and Export Corporation).

In June 2016, the over US$200 million project got underway when bulldozers from C.O.Williams Construction demolished the pre-existing buildings.

Sam Lord’s was destroyed by fire in October 2010.

sheriabrathwaite@barbadostoday.bb