If you haven’t yet attended one of our Flash Career Fairs, we urge you to do so – it’s a great opportunity to browse job opportunities within our top economic industry of tourism and hospitality. It’s also a great way to meet movers, shakers, and other job seekers in a welcoming environment.
While you’ll have plenty of time to explore openings and meet representatives from top local companies at our career fair, we’re giving you a leg up. We recently spoke with Marica Mackenroth Brewster, the director of marketing and communications at Pelican New Orleans, or P.N.O. She gave us the inside scoop on exactly what they’re looking for in an employee and why their company, which specializes in hospitality services, is such an asset to the New Orleans community.
The biggest takeaway? “If your ideal position isn’t listed in our job openings, send us a resume anyway,” Brewster says. “We’re willing to train the right people, so we urge candidates to apply to job listings even if they do not yet meet the minimum skill set.”
Cajun Encounters Tour Co. is one of several hospitality services offered by P.N.O. (Photo via Cajun Encounters on Facebook)
Learn more about P.N.O. in our Q&A below, and see them and many others by attending the next Flash Career Fair on Wednesday, Feb. 17 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., at Kingsley House, 1600 Constance Street.
Local Hospitality Company P.N.O. Seeks New Employees
Tell us about your company, P.N.O.
Pelican New Orleans is the parent company of tourism and hospitality brands Cajun Encounters Tour Co., New Orleans Legendary Walking Tours, Audubon Limousine, New Orleans Rental Services, New Orleans Visitor Centers, and PNO Concierge. Founded in 1997, we’re proudly locally owned and operated, with offices spanning the north and south shore. We continue to grow and diversify by the day. This year, we moved to our new abbreviated company name – P.N.O.
P.N.O.’s headquarters. (Courtesy photo)
What makes P.N.O a uniquely New Orleans employer?
Career opportunities here vary quite a bit. At P.N.O., we’re continually growing, so you can find positions open in everything from guiding tour boats, to sales and marketing, and a great deal in between. At the core of each job opportunity is the premise of also serving as a type of ambassador for New Orleans. That’s the most essential part of our success – a collective passion for our culture – which helps guests and locals get the most of our city in a very real way. We work to find candidates who share this passion and recruit from local job fairs and community events.
What positions are you looking to fill at P.N.O. during the Flash Career Fair?
Right now, we’re looking for sales agents for our Visitor Centers and expert concierges for our hotel desks. We also have a ton of opportunities for drivers! From tour bus drivers, to limousine drivers, we’re continually growing our team. We offer sign-on bonuses and flexibility for full time, part time, and seasonal positions.
What opportunities does your company offer to ensure employees are successful and happy on the job?
We extend paid training for all positions, as well as multiple bonus structures for drivers and sales agents. There’s also a retirement plan, health insurance, and a truly empowering team atmosphere.
What qualities are you looking for in an employee?
Our ideal candidate would be someone passionate about providing great customer service, who has a “can-do” attitude, and seeks to learn. We’re willing to train the right people, so we urge candidates to apply to job listings even if they do not yet meet the minimum skill set.
What advice would you give someone looking to work at P.N.O.?
Don’t be shy! If your ideal position isn’t listed in our job openings, send us a resume anyway. Human Resources is great at finding an opening in another department that can grow into the similar position.
How does tourism personally affect your company?
Cajun Encounters provides swamp tours, city cemetery tours, and plantation tours to hundreds of visitors each day. New Orleans Legendary Walking Tours provides top rated French Quarter cemetery tours, ghost tours, and Garden District tours. New Orleans Rental Services makes seeing the French Quarter easier for guests by renting bikes, strollers, and scooters. New Orleans Visitor Centers and P.N.O. Concierge provide front line resources for guests on what to see and do here. And Audubon Limousine helps visitors to our city by way of group shuttles, airport transfers, and group tour packaging. All that we do is tied to tourism. We wouldn’t have it any other way.