Along with announcing its $507 million Lumiere Place entertainment district will welcome customers and light up the St. Louis skyline on December 19, Pinnacle said it officially closed the deal to open a Four Seasons Hotel in the first quarter of 2008.
Many of the hotel’s new employees, and there will be hundreds, will be African American.
About 1,000 people attended at Lumiere Place job fair last month at America’s Center, which targeted hospitality workers.
“It’s was just an outstanding turnout,” said Mac Carheel, Lumiere Place director of talent sourcing and staffing.
“The amount of diversity we will have is obvious.”
The overwhelming majority of individuals at the job fair were black. And they weren’t applying for dead-end jobs.
Dozens of hospitality positions were available for jobs including cook, prep cook, kitchen worker, food server, bus person, dining room employee, bar back, host/cashier, desk clerks and guest room attendants.
And these positions are anything but, “dead-end jobs.”
Among the benefits are competitive pay, with full-and part-time jobs having salaries ranging from $8.50-$16.00 per hour, depending on the position and the shift.
Also included is self-insured health, dental and vision coverage, short- and long-term disability benefits, life insurance, a 401(k) plan, dependent scholarship funds, tuition reimbursement and paid time off.
Carheel said he was impressed with not only the number of diverse applicants, but also the genuine effort that was needed to even take part in the job fair.
“People had to do some home work before getting here. That helped them, and it helps us find them positions.
An on-line application had to be completed, professional attire was required and all applicants had to be armed with resumes and three reference contacts.
Those employees hired for the Four Seasons will help bring luxury to downtown St. Louis.
Owned by Pinnacle Entertainment and managed by Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts, all guestrooms will feature floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the Mississippi River, many with a view of the Arch and downtown skyline. State of art plasma-screen televisions, wireless Internet access and bathrooms featuring in-mirror plasma-screen televisions are also part of the splendor.
Other hospitality positions will be in the former Embassy Suites hotel, which is being renovated into a four-star-quality property called The Suites at Lumiere Place.
African-American-owned Legacy Building Group of St. Louis manages the $16 million project, and the renovated hotel will be connected to the casino via sky-bridge.
On Monday, Pinnacle announced that Asia, a contemporary restaurant featuring authentic Asian cuisine, is opening its second U.S. location at Lumiere Place.
The menu offers traditional Chinese, Japanese and Vietnamese meals, soups and quick snacks.
Sauce magazine also reports that Lumiere Place will house the restaurant Sleek, owned by the restaurateur that operates Fleur de Lys restaurants in San Francisco and Las Vegas.
Among menu items will be Kobe beef steaks, lamb, veal and a lounge with a special menu made to pair with cocktails.
In all, there will be seven restaurants as part of Lumiere complex.
“These will be good jobs in great places to work,” said Carheel.