Several Okanagan ski resorts are just weeks away from welcoming the public, but a staffing deficit that is being felt throughout the province’s ski resort industry is raising some questions ahead of the 2019 ski season.
The struggle is at an all-time high, according to James Shalman, manager of Apex Mountain Resort.
“I have no idea what is happening. The whereabouts of the employees is unknown.
Shalman claims it has been difficult to fill at least 150 posts.
He claims that on November 2 from 4 to 7 p.m. at the Penticton Lakeside Resort, the hill would hold a job fair.
In fact, Shalman stated, “We need to hire positions in every single discipline.”
“So that may be sales and marketing, ski school (instructors), and lifties (chair lift operators). Everything. even the driver of a Zamboni.
Shalman stated that he is considering the addition of additional incentives to entice staff, such as providing ski packages at other nearby ski resorts.
Silverstar Resort used that tactic, and as a result, they now claim that just a small number of job advertisements are still open.
In addition to a lack of personnel, Big White is also having trouble finding enough room to accommodate them.
Senior vice president of Big White Michael J. Ballingall cited the average workforce size as being “twelve hundred individuals, prior to COVID.”
“Right now, we’re somewhere around 600, and we know there are roughly 450 staff beds on the mountain this year.”
A lack of employees and inadequate lodgings for them, according to Ballingall, could result in some modifications at the resort.
“We’re working with some developers down in the valley, but there might be some parts of our business, especially in the hospitality sector, that we might not be able to open for breakfast, lunch and dinner,” said Ballingall.
Therefore, it won’t actually be tested until game day.
Ballingall expressed his continued optimism that more rental spaces at the resort may become available following the winter holiday season.
He noted that many lodgings frequently become vacant after Christmas.
“We know that if we can make it through the Christmas season, a lot of beds will open up, whether the owner is only using it over Christmas or they’re getting the revenue from the tourists.
Big White’s scheduled opening day is November 24, Silverstar intends to open its doors on November 25, and Apex plans to launch on December 10.
Ski resorts in the Okanagan are having personnel issues.
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