More than one thousand job seekers are competing for fifty vacant positions at a brand new Oaks Resort located in Broome, Western Australia.
Employment Office launched The Oaks Group recruitment drive this month, with opportunities available for housekeeping, grounds maintenance, food and beverage staff.

The campaign has generated a surge of interest from job seekers nationwide and overseas, reflecting the growth and attraction of Western Australia’s tourism hot spot.

Despite the diversity of applications, The Oaks Group is committed to providing long term employment opportunities to the surrounding community.
Reno J Verikakis, area director of sales and marketing, says the resort’s staff will play a vital part in introducing visitors to Broome’s unique heritage and regional culture.

“We wanted a local push to draw upon a wealth of area knowledge. We’re so close to the Kimberley and outback exploration areas, it’s a beautiful and exciting place that takes you out of ‘the norm’”.

The 4/4.5 star resort, due to open its doors in July, comes as a welcome boost to the tourism industry, which has been shaken by negative forecasts following the economic downturn.

Last month, the Tourism & Transport Forum (TTF) warned tourism will be one of the sectors most severely impacted by the recession, placing an estimated 29,000 jobs in jeopardy.

However, The Oaks Group has shrugged off the gloom of the global financial crises by tapping into tourism’s growth industry and offering visitors a money savvy alternative to traditional hotels.

“We don’t have all the bells and whistles of a traditional hotel in the sense that we don’t have a concierge waiting at the door. We’re a bit more realistic,” Mr Verikakis said.

“We offer apartment-style accommodation for the same price as a hotel room, so guests can save money on all the extras. For example, they can watch their food costs by cooking in their own apartment rather than dining out for every meal.

“We are often compared to a low cost carrier airline, and what that means is we offer a great product that suits the current market at a realistic rate”.

The recruitment campaign is being run by recruitment marketing specialist, Employment Office, who was selected because of their ability to effectively manage and screen a high volume of job applications.

Employment Office sales director, Susanne Mather, said the huge response to the recruitment campaign is a reflection of the current market.

“Heightened competition for jobs has driven people to look for opportunities away from home or outside of their current career path. When opportunities arise, people are now willing to make a change and go for it,” she said.

“The Oaks Group has received such a positive response because they offer applicants a long-term and secure position. Even during the low season, employees are given the chance to transfer to other resorts”.