Hard Rock International is moving ahead and has announced in-person events for potential Bristol casino jobs and vendors, despite the COVID-19 pandemic.
The women in leadership, community vendor fair, and career information session events take place later this week. They’re free and open to everyone.
Hard Rock partnered with the Bristol Chamber of Commerce for Friday’s and Saturday’s events.
All of the sessions take place at Bristol Mall in the former Belk location on the lower level. The mall is located at 500 Gate City Highway in Bristol. As part of the event, officials will implement coronavirus safety measures for the events.
If a voter referendum is successful in Bristol on Election Day on Nov. 3, the city’s 18,000 residents will green-light the $400 million Hard Rock Bristol Hotel and Casino. Then, the Bristol Mall would be retrofitted to accommodate the casino, hotel and entertainment complex.
Information about Bristol casino jobs
As part of its “SAFE + SOUND program,” Hard Rock officials will be following social distancing protocols for this week’s information sessions. As a result, a thermal scan and face masks are required. Additionally, the venue will be restricted to 50% capacity with 125 people maximum in attendance per event.
Hard Rock officials will also stream the events live, and recordings will be available beginning after Saturday’s final session.
The events include:
Young Professionals and Women in Leadership
- Date and time: Friday, Oct. 16 (noon-2 p.m.)
- Details: This session is for young professionals to highlight Hard Rock’s ability to help build and support careers.
Vendor Fair and Exhibition
- Date and time: Saturday, Oct. 17 (9-11 a.m.)
- Details: This is an event to help local businesses learn about the services and products (construction, transportation, food and beverage, etc.) that Hard Rock Bristol will need.
Career Info Session
- Date and time: Saturday, Oct. 17 (1-3 p.m.)
- Details: Learn about all of the job and training opportunities in food and beverage, hotel management, gaming operations, guest services and more.
Space is limited, so pre-registration is required. Interested parties can get additional information and RSVP at HardRockHotelCasinoBristol.com.
During the sessions, Hard Rock officials will likely cite its employees’ career satisfaction. For example, Forbes Magazine recognized Hard Rock as one of America’s Best Employers for women for three straight years and for its diversity efforts in 2020.
A vote for Hard Rock Bristol?
The fate of Hard Rock Bristol rests in the ballots of voters.
If the ballot initiative is successful, construction would soon begin. As a result, the casino would then likely open in 2023.
Although the project has received some opposition, notably from four area churches, the Bristol newspaper endorsed the project in a recent editorial.
Proponents, including the Bristol Herald Courier’s editorial board, boast about the project’s ability to create jobs.
Initially, Hard Rock expects to hire 2,000 employees with an average salary of $46,500. However, the total could swell to 5,200 within seven years of Hard Rock Bristol’s opening.
Jim McGlothlin and Clyde Stacy, two local business leaders/investors, are running point on the project locally. As part of their pitch, they’ve played up the project’s potential tax revenues of $20 million annually for Bristol. Additionally, they’ve highlighted the expected boost in regional tourism to the city, which has a rich country music history.