Many restaurants, hotels and tourist attractions are going short-staffed this season, and the lack of qualified employees is reverberating in other sectors.
tourism
Posted inBusiness, Maine, News
Labor shortage forces Maine Huts and Trails to close 2 of its 4 lodges for the season
The nonprofit says it doesn’t have enough workers to run the entire operation and complete the maintenance and improvements it needs on its trails and backwoods retreats.
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Posted inBusiness, Maine, News
Heavy traffic is in this weekend’s forecast as summer season kicks off
Officials expect a record number of vehicles on the Maine Turnpike over the Memorial Day weekend, making the state’s tourism industry cautiously optimistic about the coming season.
Posted inBusiness, Maine, News
Maine expects another record year for cruise ships
The state’s 12 cruise ship ports are expected to see 658,000 cruise passengers and crew this year.
Posted inBusiness, Maine
Slowing growth of tourism has Maine looking farther afield for new customers
While the number of visits increased just 1% last year, tourists who made the trip spent $6.2 billion, a 3% increase from 2017.
Posted inBusiness, Maine
Maine businesses may benefit from additional visas for temporary foreign workers
Federal immigration authorities are expected to release an additional 30,000 visas for the workers, which could help fill seasonal labor gaps afflicting Maine’s summer tourism businesses.
Posted inMaine
Lawmakers seek to make motorists from away pay more for Maine’s highways
The Maine Legislature is eyeing a summertime gas tax hike to help close a longstanding funding gap for infrastructure needs.
Posted inBusiness, Maine, News
Seasonal businesses could again get subsidies for hiring teen workers
Last year’s pilot program paid out $12,743 in grants to 16 businesses to partially cover wages, according to Maine Department of Labor records.
Posted inBusiness, Maine
Maine hospitality industry turns to retirees to stem labor shortage
Two York County towns tap older workers for hospitality jobs and get unexpected results.
Posted inBusiness
Maine state parks nearing 3 million visitors a year
Visits to the state’s 48 parks grew by 11 percent in 2018, with Sebabo Lake, Lily Bay and Bradbury Mountain leading the way.