Echo Entertainment and Crown Resorts are duking it out over a casino license in Brisbane. Both companies have presented compelling cases for their new world-class venues, and it really is anyone’s game. However, regardless of which operator is granted the license, the local economy will be the big winner over all.
According to a new report in the Brisbane Times, the new casino in the city will create thousands of new jobs for locals. Regardless of whether Echo Entertainment or Crown Resorts earns the new license, there will be plenty of valuable new job opportunities in the city. Boosting employment rates in the city is crucial.
Over the course of the past year alone, unemployment among youth have jumped from 9% to 15%, and there is a huge need to create jobs for these individuals. The great thing about Echo Entertainment and Crown Resorts being the finalists in the running for Brisbane’s new casino resort license is that both operators plan to provide great career training programs.
Echo Entertainment stated that it will join up with TAFE Queensland to train 8000 employees in Queensland while Crown Resorts will operate a hospitality college in Brisbane. "Students will be trained across food and beverage courses, hotel and entertainment, gaming, security and management programs," says Geoff Hogg, Managing Director of Echo Entertainment.
"If successful with our Brisbane consortium bid, Destination Consortium Brisbane will build our own hotel and hospitality school, because now we are talking about an extra 8000 jobs”. The new casino resort will benefit the economy by bringing in more tourism, and it will benefit residents’ personal finances in the process.
There certainly is a shortage of job opportunities in Brisbane, and it will be great to see unemployment rates on the decline.