Where do big resorts get (hire) their work force?

Bizzy Relaxing · 08-30-2003

I was wondering where these big resorts get their work force from. Do they hire locally or do they have staff brought in from other areas.

Just curious if there are any policies in place for these big resorts to help the local economy.

Cheers!

**Anna** · 09-01-2003

Staff such as maids, janitors, barmen etc are usually hired locally. Some personal, such as animation team members, dive staff and receptionists come from other countries sometimes, usually because of language skills. Here in Playa del Carmen, most of the Mexican staff originally comes from somewhere else in Mexico - this was a pretty scarcely populated area only 10 years ago.

As far as helping the local economy - most of these big resorts are owned by foreign interests, usually chains. I've heard that as much as 85% of the profit leaves the country (or never gets here...), and although I have no proof of that specific figure, I don't doubt that it's a high percentage.

Deb Williams · 10-01-2003

When we visited the Viva Maya we were surprised to find a girl from our part of the state of New Jersey working there as an activities aide. She said she came down on vacation a few weeks before us and decided to apply for work there and landed a one year contract with that resort. She said it included room and board but I don't know what the pay was. She spoke Spanish as well as English and I am sure that was a plus for her being hired so easily.

alde · 10-02-2003

Ok .. understand that I don't know this for a fact, but have this on good authority from people we met who stayed at the property (Riu Palace) for many years. They know the managers and staff so I think thety can speak from some level of authenticity....

Firstly, we were told that the staff is only paid $4 per day and that the days are very long (10-12 hrs) and they work 6 days aweek. I've heard that other properties, pay the employees between $7-10 per day. Now the reason for the low pay scale at the Riu properties is because the staff is fed and supplied housing nearby in Playa del Carmen. Their transportation to and from the hotels is provided by the hotel, so they essentially have to spend little on what they earn for themselves. yes, I am aware that they may need personal items and/or on their days off (if theyu have any energy left!) may need to spend what little money they earn on entertainment. I think for the most part these people send most if not all they own back to their families.

Let me say, that I never seen people work so hard in my life. I don't have a clue as to the econimical structure of Mexico nor what it costs to live their with respect to the people that work in these hotels. I can only say that if they are working as hard as they do for as little money as they get, they may not have many options.

Now the "entertainment" staff may get slightly higher wages, but I can't say for certain. We also met a woman from NJ whose sister moved to Mexico. During one of her visits, she decided to apply for a position at the Palace and is working there for a year. She said she wanted to make a few dollars and to have the experience before returning to the US to possiblyu consder going back to College.

All in all I was very appreciative of the service that we recieved from all the staff... though I had mixed feelings as well because I also knew haow very hard they worked for seemingly such small wages.

MoonDance · 10-02-2003

I am also interested in this topic & wonder how the wages at the resorts compare to businesses in pdc itself. For example, does anyone know what a waiter would earn at one of the restaurants listed in the PlayaInfo directory & whether there is a standard practice with respect to sharing tips amongst waiters/cooks etc...

There have obviously been benefits in Playa from the growth of tourism as discussed in a recent post by Ryberg about upgrades to infrastructure and the like. Can anyone comment on whether the standard of living for the average wage earner in the area has improved? I realize that this post is in the All-Inclusive forum but someone here may have comment.

08-30-2003	#1 (permalink)
Bizzy Relaxing lost on fifth Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Canada eh! Posts: 12	Where do big resorts get (hire) their work force? I was wondering where these big resorts get their work force from. Do they hire locally or do they have staff brought in from other areas. Just curious if there are any policies in place for these big resorts to help the local economy. Cheers!

10-01-2003	#3 (permalink)
Deb Williams lost on fifth Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: NJ, United States Posts: 24	local from NJ When we visited the Viva Maya we were surprised to find a girl from our part of the state of New Jersey working there as an activities aide. She said she came down on vacation a few weeks before us and decided to apply for work there and landed a one year contract with that resort. She said it included room and board but I don't know what the pay was. She spoke Spanish as well as English and I am sure that was a plus for her being hired so easily.

09-01-2003	#2 (permalink)
Anna top babe admin Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: after 10 wonderful years in Playa, now back in Sweden Posts: 3,062	Staff such as maids, janitors, barmen etc are usually hired locally. Some personal, such as animation team members, dive staff and receptionists come from other countries sometimes, usually because of language skills. Here in Playa del Carmen, most of the Mexican staff originally comes from somewhere else in Mexico - this was a pretty scarcely populated area only 10 years ago. As far as helping the local economy - most of these big resorts are owned by foreign interests, usually chains. I've heard that as much as 85% of the profit leaves the country (or never gets here...), and although I have no proof of that specific figure, I don't doubt that it's a high percentage.

10-02-2003	#4 (permalink)
alde sandflea Join Date: Jul 2003 Posts: 6	Ok .. understand that I don't know this for a fact, but have this on good authority from people we met who stayed at the property (Riu Palace) for many years. They know the managers and staff so I think thety can speak from some level of authenticity.... Firstly, we were told that the staff is only paid $4 per day and that the days are very long (10-12 hrs) and they work 6 days aweek. I've heard that other properties, pay the employees between $7-10 per day. Now the reason for the low pay scale at the Riu properties is because the staff is fed and supplied housing nearby in Playa del Carmen. Their transportation to and from the hotels is provided by the hotel, so they essentially have to spend little on what they earn for themselves. yes, I am aware that they may need personal items and/or on their days off (if theyu have any energy left!) may need to spend what little money they earn on entertainment. I think for the most part these people send most if not all they own back to their families. Let me say, that I never seen people work so hard in my life. I don't have a clue as to the econimical structure of Mexico nor what it costs to live their with respect to the people that work in these hotels. I can only say that if they are working as hard as they do for as little money as they get, they may not have many options. Now the "entertainment" staff may get slightly higher wages, but I can't say for certain. We also met a woman from NJ whose sister moved to Mexico. During one of her visits, she decided to apply for a position at the Palace and is working there for a year. She said she wanted to make a few dollars and to have the experience before returning to the US to possiblyu consder going back to College. All in all I was very appreciative of the service that we recieved from all the staff... though I had mixed feelings as well because I also knew haow very hard they worked for seemingly such small wages.

10-02-2003	#5 (permalink)
MoonDance way into it Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Vancouver, B.C. Posts: 181	I am also interested in this topic & wonder how the wages at the resorts compare to businesses in pdc itself. For example, does anyone know what a waiter would earn at one of the restaurants listed in the PlayaInfo directory & whether there is a standard practice with respect to sharing tips amongst waiters/cooks etc... There have obviously been benefits in Playa from the growth of tourism as discussed in a recent post by Ryberg about upgrades to infrastructure and the like. Can anyone comment on whether the standard of living for the average wage earner in the area has improved? I realize that this post is in the All-Inclusive forum but someone here may have comment.

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