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SALT LAKE CITY -- An innovative partnership is providing opportunities for Utahns new to the state, and it's also helping one employer find workers for jobs that are often hard to fill.
While workers put finishing details on the new Hyatt Place hotel downtown, upstairs another group gets rooms ready for the hotel's opening. The housekeeping staff is a remarkable mix -- from Iran, Bhutan, Myanmar, Eriteria and Thailand -- all survivors from wars and conflicts who can never return home.
Religious strife in Bhutan led Hem Thapaliya and his family to Nepal, where they lived for years in a crowded refugee camp.
"When I was in refugee camp it was very difficult, but here it's a very happy life. I meet every friend from the different countries. It's very happy," he said.
The 14 refugees got jobs at the Hyatt thanks to a new partnership with the Refugee Employment Center. The partnership helps solve a tricky situation for the hotel: finding workers for its housekeeping staff who are not undocumented."
When the hotel placed an ad for workers, hundreds applied, but they couldn't hire many of them due to that status. But this group has a different story.
Minda Zoloth, Hyatt Place general manager, said, "They're legal to work in the U.S. They're eager to work."
Each became a citizen when they resettled here.
Maggie Boehly, with the Utah Refugee Employment Center, said, "And they want to kind of repay America to show how thankful they are for being able to have the opportunity to come here, because it's like only 1 percent of refugees who actually get placed in another country."
"We've been able to change their lives, give them a job and a sense of security. They're able to take care of their families," Zoloth said.
Most of the refugees support family members here or back home.
Ganesh Dhungel,from Bhutan, said, "I'm very happy and I give thanks to Hyatt hotel. I'm very happy."
Mehrma Behineh, from Iran, said, "I'm happy, yes, I'm happy."
And Thapaliya said, "Yeah, it really help us, all the refugees."
To learn about the refugee resettlement program and its employment center, click here.
The hotel, owned by the Boyer Company, will help meet a growing demand for downtown rooms, particularly during larger conventions. It's not far from the Salt Palace Convention Center, EnergySolutions Arena and the Gateway.
Also, a new light rail line from downtown to the airport is under construction and is expected to open in the next couple of years.
Heidy Zerr, director of sales, said, "That is going to be really good for business. Once they start running from here to the airport we can definitely pick up on some of that airport business."
The hotel opens July 1.
E-mail: jdaley@ksl.com
