This year, Santas across the UK need not face the dole queue on Boxing Day.
In a bid to keep Father Christmas in full time employment throughout the year, Travelodge has today launched a UK first, 'Save a Santa' recruitment drive. The campaign will target redundant Father Christmases across the UK to fill its 100 hotel manager vacancies.
Starting in January 2008, the hotel chain will be opening one new hotel every eight working days and the search is on now, to find the best Hotel Managers to run them.
Travelodge believes the typical Santa Claus has all of the right skills to run one of its multimillion pound hotels. The festive favourite is renowned for his excellent communication skills, strong leadership qualities and being a good motivator. In addition he has an excellent track record of delivering on time, can easily work under pressure and believes in delivering the highest level of customer service.
Ruth Saunders, Travelodge Resourcing Manager said; "Travelodge believe in a diverse workforce so anyone from anywhere can apply to work with us. However, we dont compromise on top class skills and offer an excellent training and career advancement programme. It is obvious that Father Christmas has many of the skills we are looking for and hope our 'Save a Santa' recruitment campaign is a real success".
Santas will undergo a comprehensive 12-week training programme before they are handed the keys to their hotels. They will be allowed to wear a red shirt as part of their uniform and they can keep their beard. They will also be given time off at Christmas to perform their extra curricular duties.
The recruitment campaign will target Santas working in shopping malls, department stores, grottos and Christmas markets across the UK. Santas can also call the recruitment Hotline on 01844 358650 for further information.
Travelodge will open 40 new hotels in 2008 and locations that Santa Claus could find himself working at include: Wakefield, Blackpool, London Euston, Carlisle, Bracknell, Merthyr Tydfil, London Southwark, Uxbridge, Glasgow Braehead, Spalding, Hereford, Middlesbrough, Borehamwood, Birmingham Jewellery Quarter, Chelmsford, Heathrow and Tower of London.
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For further information please contact:
Shula Gillam, PR Executive on 01844 358703
Notes to Editor
Santa Job Profile
Excellent Customer Service
He makes everyone smile and always delivers the right presents, to the right people at the right time. Can handle difficult parents and children
Cost control
Santa has a strict budget and needs to make sure he doesn't overspend on presents, in-house production costs, labour and of course the Christmas party for Mrs Claus and the elves
Line Management and Leadership
Santa has to mange and motivate his team of elves and helpers to ensure they are ready to deliver all of the presents on Christmas eve
Time Management
Santa has to work to very strict deadlines with 822.6 visits per second, he has to manage his time meticulously
Respect
Santa is a role model for millions of children across the UK and is a figure that everyone looks up to
Caring
Santa has a caring nature, always offers good advice and knows the difference between what is right and wrong
Highly Motivated
Santa always delivers and manages to spread joy within his work environment due to his happy persona.
About Travelodge
The first budget hotel brand to launch in the UK in 1985, Travelodge now operates 330 hotels (over 20,000 rooms) - nine in Ireland, three in Spain and the rest in the UK. Travelodge plans to grow its estate to 70,000 rooms (approximately 1000 hotels) by 2020 and aims to be the biggest operator in London by the 2012 Olympics with over 7,000 rooms in the capital.
Six and a half million people stayed with Travelodge last year and 83% of reservations are currently made online at travelodge.co.uk, where room rates start at £19 a night. The chain employs 5,000 staff and is owned by Dubai International Capital, who acquired the organisation from Permira in 2006. In April 2007, Travelodge announced the first stage of a new online retail strategy when it became the first UK hotel company to launch a Travel Insurance product.