LAS VEGAS (KTNV) — It’s back to business in Nevada. And just in time for summer, hotels, casinos, restaurants and all businesses are permitted to operate at full capacity.
In May, Gov. Steve Sisolak announced all COVID-related restrictions would expire by June 1. And Clark County commissioners followed suit, saying Las Vegas would be allowed to fully reopen as well.
Now, businesses are scrambling to fill their staff, including Texas Roadhouse.
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On June 7, the steakhouse known for its ribs and hand-cut steaks will be hosting a hiring event.
Like many restaurants across the valley, at the start of the pandemic in 2020, Texas Roadhouse shut down its dining area and pivoted to filling orders solely out of their to-go window.
“It’s tough because we’re actually doing crazy sales right now,” said Senorina Talavera, local store marketer at Texas Roadhouse on Craig Road. “But surprisingly, we are short-staffed and our sales are more than the sales than when we first opened the restaurant.”
Hiring staff to fill the increase in orders is a problem many restaurants and businesses are dealing with.
Even though the unemployment rate is inching down, economic experts say there’s not a lot of incentive to fill these job openings.
“With the unemployment and stimulus money still flowing out there, many folks are choosing to stay home rather than go back to work,” said financial analyst Steve Budin.
He says even the convention business is struggling. Now, that Las Vegas is fully open, the leisurely travelers will hold up the local economy, but that’s just for the summer.
“The big challenge that Vegas is going to face is in the fall and in the winter when a lot of those business travelers are supposed to come in,” Budin said. “Business travelers that attend conventions, statistically tend to spend a little bit more money.”
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The Westgate Las Vegas Resort says it's expecting several conventions in the fall. However, right now they're focused on all the events planned in the coming weeks and over the summer.
Two cabaret shows open -- Barry Manilow is coming back in September, George Wallace and the Sexy Show are also returning -- along with the SuperBook operating at full capacity.
And the Westgate says it needs the staff to accommodate all the guests coming to visit and looking to fill new positions.
“If you’re interested in a career in the security world, we’ve got positions open for that," said Gordon Prouty, vice president of public relations at the Westgate. "We’ve got some openings in our retail department, and even the casino cage.”
During the pandemic, Westgate furloughed several employees but management says those employees will be among the first to be welcomed back.
“We’ve been bringing back more and more people to be able to accommodate everybody,” Prouty said.
For more information on jobs at Texas Roadhouse, click here.
For more information on positions open at Westgate, click here.
