Mass hiring begins at biggest tourism employer in Naples. Where to apply

Editor's note: This is the latest in a series on one of the most significant endeavors in local history that's drawing plenty of questions from you ahead of its September debut. With a projected $5 billion impact over the next three decades by its 530,000-square-foot compound, Great Wolf Lodge South Florida is slated to draw by itself the same number of visitors in a year that all of Collier County in its entirety attracts in nearly three months time.

Let the mass hiring begin.

This marks the week when Great Wolf Lodge plans to begin filling the bulk of its 600 positions at its new Naples resort targeted to open off I-75 and Collier Boulevard as the biggest indoor water park in the Southeast United States, matching Atlanta.

That many workers would make it the largest tourism operator to open in a Naples location. The venue would serve as Southwest Florida's third biggest tourism employer behind behind the Captiva South Seas Island Resort's 980 and Marriott International's 833, who are scattered around the region, according to Florida Gulf Coast University.

The question readers have repeatedly been asking In the Know is whether the enterprise could find enough workers. And now there's some clues: Even before an announcement to come later today on an upcoming job fair that we're telling you about first, Great Wolf has more than 2,300 interviews lined up this week.

Naples General Manager Jason Bays said that's just the beginning of what's to come, with many more applicants expected as part of the hiring event that launches Wednesday and runs through Aug. 14. Here's what to know on that, plus the latest on the Kohl's opening in Bonita Springs and the continued push by Moss Marine for a Fort Myers Beach entertainment complex.

In a competitive market with an older population, how is hiring going?

"Based on the number of interviews we have scheduled, there is tremendous interest in our open positions," said Bays, who's hiring a 50/50 split between full- and part-time jobs. "We continue to hear from applicants about how excited they are to potentially be a part of the resort opening. The opportunities for development and advancement are endless, and Great Wolf is a fun place to work."

How many positions have filled so far at Great Wolf in Naples, Florida?

"There has been significant interest from the South Florida community in our supervisor roles," Bays said. "So far, we have filled about 50 positions primarily consisting of directors, managers and supervisors. It’s a large resort that requires a lot of strong leadership, and we’re fortunate to have had such great applicants. We also have many applications streaming in for front of house and back of house positions, with over 2,300 interviews already scheduled."

Where is a lot of the focus for Great Wolf Lodge South Florida job fair?

"The departments we’re currently hiring for include housekeeping, aquatics and food and beverage," Bays said. "Each department will require about 100 full and part time pack members so there are still plenty of available opportunities."

What is the pay range for those positions at Great Wolf Lodge in SWFL?

"Great Wolf Lodge takes great pride in offering competitive wages in every market we serve," Bays said. The resort's starting pay is $16 hourly, higher than at locations in the Atlanta and Baltimore areas, according to recent checks In the Know made. Wages can extend to $32 per hour, based on the role, and aquatic positions start at $19, with training provided by the chain.

What kinds of restaurants will employees serve at Great Wolf Lodge?

"We're going to have five different dining concepts here on property," Bays said. "We're going to have traditional water park fare, like burgers and pizza. But we'll also have some fine dining options. We'll have our Fireside restaurant, which is going to be a great place for upscale dining. And those are open every day, just like our resort, and for anyone, both guests of the hotel and the general public at large."

How many hours for lifeguards? What about after school or summer gigs?

"Our lifeguards work anywhere from 20 hours per week to 40 hours per week, depending on their full or part-time status," Bays said. "The lifeguard position offers flexible scheduling, so we have many hires who work with us for the summer, as an after-school job or weekend job. That said, we also have many lifeguards who choose to work with us full-time and are offered full-time employee benefits."

What are the benefits to working at Great Wolf Lodge in SW Florida?

"The culture at Great Wolf Lodge is all about bringing joy to families so many of our benefits cater to the wants and needs of our families," Bays said. "We offer a friends and family rate on hotel rooms, and complimentary day passes to the waterpark, so pack members can spend off-time playing with their loved ones. Pack members also receive discounted purchases on retail and food and beverage items to fuel up after riding the slides or stock up on our famous Wolf Ears."

What about promoting workers to higher positions at Great Wolf Lodge?

"Beyond bringing joy to families, we’re also committed to pack member growth," Bays said. "We have several programs dedicated to furthering pack member education, career development and leadership."

Who's an example of someone moving up the Great Wolf Lodge chain?

"We have a great one here in Jason," Great Wolf CEO John "Murph" Murphy said of Bays, who began his career as a water park lifeguard in high school. "He's a rising star of Great Wolf. I think he started in 2018 (in) Poconos as our assistant general manager, and he's had two previous GM stops ― one in Sandusky, and one in LaGrange, Georgia, where he came from. Jason's going to do great work, not only here, but for our Pack and for this community."

How many workers relocating so far from other Great Wolf Lodge sites?

"We love helping our pack members relocate when we can to explore a new city or be closer to friends and family," Bays said. "We saw over 20 pack members transfer to our resort in Naples, and they can’t wait to take their existing knowledge of the brand to sunny South Florida."

How do you apply at the Great Wolf Lodge in Southwest Florida?

To schedule an interview, Great Wolf is encouraging potential applicants to text gwlnaples to 25000. Candidates can learn more about what's available at the greatwolf.com/jobs site. The hiring event will take place from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. in unit 805 at 3845 Beck Blvd. near the Waffle House and Shell gas station off Collier and Tollgate boulevards.

Where can you find a Great Wolf Lodge in North America?

Wisconsin Dells; Sandusky, Ohio; Traverse City, Michigan; Kansas City, Kansas; Williamsburg, Virginia.; Pocono Mountains, Pennsylvania; Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada; Mason, Ohio; Grapevine, Texas; Grand Mound, Washington, Fitchburg, Massachusetts, Concord, North Carolina; Garden Grove and Manteca, California, Colorado Springs; Bloomington, Minnesota; LaGrange, Georgia, Gurnee, Illinois; Scottsdale, Arizona; and Perryville, Maryland. Besides Naples, the company has two other resorts under construction including Webster, Texas debuting in August and a resort in Mashantucket, Connecticut. set to open mid-2025.

Development:Reader questions: A new Coconut Point shopping center; Bonita's Lake Park Diner; Galleria

What's happening with the new Kohl's at Bonita Beach Road and U.S. 41?

Kohl's is also hiring for a baker's dozen worth of store jobs ahead of a planned autumn opening in Bonita Springs. Those interested can apply at the careers.kohls.com/stores site.

In the Know:Following Great Wolf Lodge construction, more restaurants, lodging headed to its doorstep

What's the latest on Moss Marina project on Fort Myers Beach, Florida?

Although he's had pushback from the town of Fort Myers Beach, Moss Marina property owner Ben Freeland said he is not giving up and hopes to submit updated plans to the staff soon.

"Our team has spent the summer at the drawing board reimagining the site," said Freeland, who also has hired a consulting firm that has had success receiving support for island projects. "We have expanded our team to include The Neighborhood Company, a local company with a track record of rebuilding Fort Myers Beach the right way."

With a proposed complex that included 400 hotel rooms in three buildings on the bay, there has been reluctance by the town to change its land use plan that would pave the path for the 4.5-acre effort.

Based at the Naples Daily News, Columnist Phil Fernandez ([email protected]) grew up in Southwest Florida and has led Pulitzer Prize-winning efforts. He writes In the Know, one of USA TODAY Network's most read local news columns in the state. Support democracy. Subscribe to a newspaper.