NEWS 25 - WEHT: Evansville, Henderson, Owensboro-River House Looks To Hire From Executive Inn

River House Looks To Hire From Executive Inn

story by Jennifer Cahill

EVANSVILLE - On Monday, 75 Evansville workers will be out of a job when the Executive Inn downtown closes its doors.

But NEWS 25 learns many may not be out of a job for long. On the same day the Executive Inn closes, another hotel will begin accepting applications. And management is specifically asking Executive Inn employees to apply.

The newly remodeled River House hotel is coming back to life at a perfect time. Just months ago, its future was uncertain.

Now refurbished, it will open to guests December 1st.

"We'll need maids, valets, servers. Just a long list of hotel workers," says River House representative, Kim Esarey.

It's ideal timing for those employees losing their jobs at the Executive Inn come Monday.

NEWS 25 learns River House management will give Exec employees the first chance to fill out applications Monday.

"We'd like everybody that's already been in the hotel business because we feel that, not that they'll be better employees, but they'll just have a little more experience. So we want them to come first so we can talk to them," Esarey says.

The sizes of the two hotels are extremely different. The Executive Inn has about 500 rooms, while the River House only has 90.

But of the 75 positions at the Executive Inn, Esarey says the River House will probably be able to absorb half of those.

Beginning the hiring process is just one of the projects left to complete before the hotel can open December 1st. Esarey is in the process of bringing in new furniture for the rooms and suites-- and finishing the recarpeting and repainting of several others.

But she says interest in the hotel is beginning to show.

"Oh, we've already had phone calls for bookings and a couple of banquets."

Executive Inn employees can apply in person Monday at the River House.

The River House has a new phone number since shutting down this summer. The new number is (812) 425-6700.