In a bid to gain employment, just over 1,000 people turned up at the Melia Braco Village in Trelawny on Sunday and Monday to answer the call for talent in various positions at the 225- room resort scheduled to open at the start of the 2015/2016 winter tourist season in December.

A seemingly pleased Dimitris Kosvogiannis, the general manager at the hotel, told the Jamaica Observer at the end of the two-day job fair on Monday, that some 440 of the job seekers will be employed at the property.

“I must say, my faith in the local workforce has once again being reinforced as we have seen so many talented people. We are delighted to have identified superstars who will deliver the six star service we expect to give our guests once we open our doors in December,” he told the Business Observer.

“I want to take the opportunity once again to underscore the importance of promoting local labour and institutions like HEART/Trust/NTA who are committed to the advancement of Jamaican workers.”

During the fair, the job seekers were assisted by Melia’s representatives from its corporate offices in Miami, executive members of Melia Braco Village and representatives of HEART/ Trust/ NTA.

Meanwhile, Kosvogiannis argued that a “definite short term policy and strategy” must be implemented to limit the term and scope of expatriates personnel, particularly in the hospitality sector, which he described as the “brightest of our industries.”

The 84-acre Melia Braco Village which is currently undergoing a US$23.5 million expansion is owned by the National Insurance Fund, which has forged an agreement with Melia to operate the property under a15- year lease arrangement.