Suffolk County Anticipates Over $120 Million in Regional Economic Impact from the Golf Championship
Photos from the Event Available Here
Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone today announced that the county will be supporting the recruiting efforts of Ridgewells, one of the vendors for the U.S. Open Golf Championship, to fill over 550 temporary food service and hospitality jobs at the 118th U.S. Open Championship.
Ridgewells will also be recruiting for the open positions at the upcoming East End Job Fair this Friday, February 9 at the East Hampton Library from 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM. To complement its recruiting efforts, the company will be working with St. Joseph’s College through the college’s Hospitality and Tourism Management program as another avenue to generate additional interest.
“The ultimate test in golf is returning to Suffolk County, Long Island,” said Suffolk County Executive Bellone. “I encourage anyone who is interested in seeking a temporary job or looking to take advantage of the historic experience to apply online as we look this make this another memorable event.”
In partnership with the Suffolk County Department of Labor and the Suffolk County Department of Economic Development and Planning, Ridgewells will manage the recruitment, hiring and training of all event staff to support the large scale catering operation at the U.S. Open. A mix of front- and-back of house catering positions are available that include tent supervisors, beverage managers, buffet managers, bartenders and servers, tent chefs, sous chefs, kitchen assistants, action station attendants, dishwashers, and operation helpers.
This is the fifth time the championship is being hosted at the historic golf course, which will be held from June 11 – 17 at Shinnecock Hills Golf Club in Southampton, New York.
The golf championship is anticipated to generate between $120 million - $130 million in economic impact for the region. This analysis is based on expected weekly attendance of over 200,000 people, which include players, fans, volunteers, vendors and media. There will also be approximately 8,000 hotel rooms booked along with an average of 3,500 temporary job opportunities, with many more to be unveiled in the coming months ahead. The championship is expected to be viewed by more than 80 million people in over 150 countries, creating additional tourism exposure for Suffolk County.
Interested candidates are encouraged to send their resumes to usopenstaff@ridgewells.com and indicate the position in the subject line. For more information on county-wide job fairs, please call 631-853-6600 or visit the One-Stop Employment Center at www.suffolkcountyny.gov/labor.
Charlie Howe, USGA Director, 2018 U.S. Open Championship, said: “Hiring workers from the surrounding communities is an essential element in providing a first-class experience for fans at the U.S. Open. As the Championship approaches we will see more of our vendors seeking local employees to fill key positions. We encourage interested parties to check the New York State Job Bank for updates and additional opportunities.”
Susan Lacz, Principal/CEO, Ridgewells Catering said: “Ridgewells is once again excited to partner with the USGA for the 2018 U.S. Open at Shinnecock Hills. With over 550 positions to fill, our team is diligently working to put together a group of talented professionals to provide our guests with an unforgettable experience. Supporting the local economy wherever we go is important to our company and that starts with hiring locally.”
Suffolk County Department of Economic Development and Planning Commissioner Theresa Ward said: “This is a great opportunity for locals to participate in this global event and earn extra income. It's a win-win for Suffolk County.”
Kristen Jarnagin, President and CEO of Discover Long Island, said: “In addition to the hundreds of jobs and more than $120 million in economic impact that this world class event brings to Suffolk County, the U.S. Open Championship provides immeasurable worldwide media exposure to millions of television viewers who will be exposed to Long Island’s incredible scenic beauty, our pristine golf experience, and the many other amenities that contribute to our $5.6 billion annual tourism industry.
Gail Lamberta, Ph.D., Associate Dean, Community Development, Department Chairperson & Professor at St. Joseph’s College, said: "St. Joseph’s College has an excellent working relationship with the County Executive Bellone and the Suffolk County offices Department of Economic Development and Planning. And as such, we were introduced to the leadership at Ridgewells, and are now an active partner in pursuing qualified personnel to fill the hundreds of positions generated by the upcoming U.S. Open Championship. We are currently reaching out to the St. Joseph’s College Community of students, alumni, faculty and staff, as well as local professional societies and colleagues at colleges offering hospitality, tourism and culinary programs. We are also working on a date for an on-campus recruitment initiative with Purple Tie, which will enable our students to discuss and apply for this unique hands-on experience."
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