Summer accommodation bookings are showing strong visitor demand, but employers say staff shortages are a major concern.

Thirty-six employers attended a recruitment event at the Lake Wānaka Centre on Wednesday (September 28) night who, between them, had 330 job vacancies. 

“The situation is dire; we desperately need staff,” ASURE Brookvale Motel lessee Mary Houghton said.

“The summer demand is looking really busy and we need two-to-three staff.”

The recruitment event was an attempt to keep the winter workforce in Wānaka to fill the large number of summer vacancies.

“We’re trying to showcase that we are a really cool summer destination and try to keep some of the winter workers in town,” Hospitality New Zealand regional manager Darelle Jenkins said.

“The need is great. We have 36 employers with 330 jobs on the table. That is not including horticulture who need thousands.”

Yello! owner Ramash Swarmy said he had interested candidates to follow up with as a result of the recruitment event.

“There was a big cross section of people which was brilliant and we did have a range of people enquiring,” he said. 

About 60 potential candidates attended the event and Darelle said most employers received interest from job seekers.

“There’s still a big gap but it is something,” she said. 

The recruitment event was organised by the Ministry of Social Development (MSD), Hospitality New Zealand, and Go With Tourism.

PHOTO: Wānaka App