Benchmark's French Lick to Reopen in November
Retains and Retrains Employees,
HOUSTON, TX, May 2, 2006. Benchmark Hospitality International will reopen the restored and expanded French Lick Springs Resort & Casino in November of this year. Upon reopening, 350 + employees will return to work fully retrained, having enjoyed the benefit of full compensation during a year of suspension of operations, and with new hospitality skills to serve the returning public and corporate guests to the historic Midwest resort.
French Lick Springs Resort suspended operations on November 20, 2005, to enable the more than $382 million resort restoration and casino construction programs to move forward swiftly, safely and ahead of the original completion schedule. All employees received 100 percent of what they would have earned, including benefits during suspension of operations. In addition, the resort is investing $1.8 million to provide extensive training to all employees to prepare for the resort's reopening.
"Providing for employees financially during a period of suspension of operations and while offering extensive service training is highly unusual in our industry," said Scott Spurlock, Benchmark's general manager at the resort. "What Benchmark, Cook and Lauth are doing is quite extraordinary and extremely unique. Employees are experiencing a chance-of-a-lifetime opportunity to have their well being provided for while receiving training in new job skills -- with all expenses being absorbed by us. This retraining will enable us to provide our guests with the best possible service from the day we reopen our doors."
Benchmark Hospitality International and owners of the resort, Blue Sky - which is comprised of Orange County Holdings, LLC and Lauth Resort and Casino, LLC - are partnering with Ivy Tech Community College of Bloomington, Indiana, to train Benchmark's employees at the resort, ensuring hospitality service standards are the highest possible upon reopening the resort and its new casino. Benchmark and Ivy Tech jointly developed the customized training curriculum, entitled "5-Star Certification."
Benchmark is providing the hospitality training, with Ivy Tech supplementing efforts through assessment tests, GED programs and other classes. Existing employees and all new employees will receive the training prior to the resort's reopening.
Upon completion, French Lick Springs Resort & Casino and its sister property located less then a mile away, West Baden Springs Resort, will collectively employ 1,400 people. Benchmark Hospitality International manages both resorts.
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