Around 650 jobs are up for grabs at four North East holiday parks owned by Parkdean Resorts as the firm gears up for a bumper year.
Gosforth based Parkdean Resorts is the biggest holiday park operator in the UK, with 66 centres, and the company's CEO says he expects bookings to hold firm, having seen record bookings last year. That is leading to a major recruitment drive across its portfolio of parks, with more than 11,000 jobs being created across its portfolio. Now bosses at the firm say they are looking for 650 new staff members in the region as part of a recruitment drive for the 2023 season.
Parkdean Resorts – which has Church Point, in Newbiggin-by-the-Sea, Cresswell Towers at Druridge Bay and Sandy Bay in Ashington, Crimdon Dene, near Hartlepool, and Whitley Bay in the region – is hiring cleaners, bar staff, chefs, kitchen team members, waiting staff, receptionists, lifeguards and security officers.
Read more: French bistro Ophelia opened in Gosforth by team behind popular restaurant The Patricia
Lisa Charles-Jones, HR director at Parkdean Resorts, said: “A career in hospitality is truly rewarding and we’re delighted to be hiring so many new recruits in the North East this year. We have a range of positions available and each plays a crucial role in our business, so we’re really looking forward to welcoming some new faces to the team, as well as familiar faces who’ve worked with us before, and encourage anyone who’s interested to apply.
“Working at Parkdean Resorts means making a real difference to our holidaymakers and home owners and helping them to create lasting memories with their families, so this is a fantastic opportunity to get involved and develop some new skills.”
The drive follows on from a year of investment at Parkdean Resorts last year, which saw it invest £140m – its largest annual investment – into boosting the guest experience with new accommodation, new and upgraded activities and facilities, and the installation of park-wide wi-fi.
CEO Steve Richards said that, with the UK in the grip of economic uncertainty, Parkdean Resorts should see bookings hold steady this year. He said customers will prioritise trusted operators who can deliver value for money experiences.
He added: “The sector as a whole is facing huge challenges at the moment, in terms of recruitment and inflation. Given the current economic climate, we expect consumers to begin planning holidays for the new year sooner than ever before, prioritising ‘value for money’ and cost-effective deals to make their money go further without compromising on quality. We expect the UK will likely remain a popular holiday choice and we’re therefore hopeful the demand for staycations will remain high into the new year.”
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