With hiring events in full swing and great opportunities available for the 2022 season, another national publication has named Dollywood Parks & Resorts as one of America’s Best Employers. Forbes has placed Dollywood on its list of America’s Best Midsize Employers for the second year in a row. The recognition comes on the heels of Dollywood’s recent inclusion on the Top Workplaces 2022 list.
With a caring culture and ample benefits, as well as additional company growth and unparalleled opportunities on the horizon, Dollywood employees, also known as hosts, understand firsthand why the company has received so much positive attention as an employer.
“I can’t describe how honored we are for the awards we have earned recently. Being recognized regionally is amazing, but to be named to multiple national lists truly is humbling for us,” said Tim Berry, Vice President of Human Resources and a 37-year employee himself. “We really are a large family and—for many of our hosts—that is what sets us apart. We are constantly working to improve as an employer by finding new benefits and opportunities that make our working family stronger.”
“This season we are introducing a new program which provides free lunch to employees during every working shift,” Berry continued. “Last year, we announced an initiative to help our hosts find childcare through our partners at WeeCare and help subsidize a portion of those costs. Herschend Entertainment, our operating partners, announced a new program entitled GROW U. on Tuesday, which will pay tuition across 100 diploma, degree and certificate programs as part of the Guild Education Learning Marketplace. Our success starts with our hosts, so we work hard to make them feel cared for and appreciated every day. We know if they feel that way they will pass that same feeling on to our guests.”
Dollywood was represented well among the 500 companies on Forbes’ list of the best midsize employers. The list includes companies across 25 industry sectors, with only 12 companies on the list in the “Travel & Leisure” category, of which Dollywood was included. Among those companies, Dollywood ranked number 141 on the list and was the only theme park on the midsize list.
Among the companies in the Travel & Leisure sector on the list are World Travel Holdings (93), Drury Hotels (106), Potawatomi Hotel & Casino (213) and Choice Hotels (344). Among the Top 50 companies across all industry sectors on the list are Vera Bradley (1), FICO (2), Penguin Random House (4), Caltech (7), Briggs & Stratton (11), Atmos Energy (18), DocuSign (23), Johnsonville (25), Build-A-Bear Workshop (28), L.L. Bean (35), ESPN (40) and Scholastic (41).
According to Statista, the firm that administers the best employers survey on behalf of Forbes, an independent survey was taken by nearly 60,000 Americans who work for companies with more than 1,000 workers. In total 1,000 employers were recognized across the 25 sectors. The 1,000 companies are divided into 500 large (more than 5,000 U.S. employees) and 500 midsize (1,000 to 5,000 employees) employers. The evaluation was based on direct and indirect recommendations from respondents in an anonymous survey who were asked to rate their willingness to recommend their own employer to friends and family. Their evaluations also included other employers in their respective industries that stood out either positively or negatively.
Pointing to Dollywood host job satisfaction, the Pigeon Forge park has long been voted as the friendliest theme park in the world. Dollywood is also the only park to win the Golden Ticket Award for Best Guest Experience, which factors friendliness of employees into its criteria. The prestigious Golden Ticket Awards are given annually by industry publication Amusement Today. This recognition is the gold standard for theme parks worldwide.
Positions are available at each of The Dollywood Company’s properties and are posted at Dollywoodjobs.com. An upcoming hiring event is slated for Sevier County High School on Saturday, February 26, happening from 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. Most event attendees are hired on the spot with a position for the 2022 season at either Dollywood, Dollywood’s Splash Country or Dollywood’s DreamMore Resort and Spa.
Positions are available for the entire length of the 2022 operating season, as well as shorter peak season openings, which are perfect for applicants looking for a fun summer position or for those looking to earn a little extra money during the Christmas holidays. Applicants must be 14 years of age or older.
Dollywood Parks & Resorts hosts receive a variety of unique benefits, including access to the Dollywood Family Healthcare Center, along with complimentary Dollywood and Dollywood’s Splash Country admission for family and friends. Hosts are provided free meals for every working shift and also take part in Dollywood’s Park Perks program, which provides free or reduced admission to a large number of regional attractions, theaters and experiences. Dollywood also pays a portion of childcare costs for hosts whose children are cared for at a WeeCare-affiliated provider. A comprehensive benefits package, including medical, dental and vision, is available for qualified full-time employees.
Additionally, through Dollywood’s operating partner Herschend Enterprises’ GROW U. program, all hosts are eligible for 100 fully-funded diploma, degree and certificate programs across 30 learning partners within Guild Education’s Learning Marketplace. Herschend’s GROW U. utilizes Guild’s Marketplace to offer classes in high-demand fields such as business administration, culinary, finance, technology and marketing. The company will also provide partial funding for 150 additional programs in fields including hospitality, engineering, human resources and art design.
In addition to the long list of employee benefits, there are numerous development opportunities available to help employees grow leadership skills, including an apprenticeship program in conjunction with Walters State Community College.
For more information about working at Dollywood Parks & Resorts, please visit dollywoodjobs.com.
Officials with Dollywood Parks & Resorts announced today that the company will cover 100% of tuition, fees and books for any employee who chooses to pursue further education.
The significant investment in employee education will be made possible by Herschend’s GROW U., a new program piloted by Herschend Enterprises, Dolly Parton’s operating partner in Dollywood. The program makes it exponentially easier for employees, known at Dollywood as hosts, to pursue their personal and professional dreams through education. The program officially launches February 24 for all seasonal, part-time and full-time employees at Dollywood Parks & Resorts. Hosts can enroll in the program on their first day of employment. Eugene Naughton, President of The Dollywood Company, said,
“Our goal at Dollywood Parks and Resorts is to provide the best possible experience for both our guests and our hosts. We know when our hosts are happy and feel cared for that they are going to pass that along to our guests. The creation of the program allows another avenue for us to care for our hosts.
“One of The Dollywood Foundation’s key tenets is to ‘learn more,’” Naughton continued. “This program is created with that very tenet in mind. We want our hosts to develop themselves through advanced learning to fulfill the foundation’s other tenets: care more, dream more and be more. When our hosts strive to grow themselves, it makes our business and our community a truly better place. We care about our hosts’ development and we want their future to grow because of love—not loans.”
Herschend’s GROW U. offers eligible seasonal, part-time and full-time hosts more than 100 fully-funded (100% free) diploma, degree and certificate programs across 30 learning partners, including programs in high-demand fields, such as business administration and leadership, culinary, finance, technology and marketing. The company will also provide partial funding, up to $5,250 per year, for 150 additional programs in fields including hospitality, engineering, human resources and art design.
“Herschend’s GROW U. is not only a significant and transformational investment in our employee’s growth, but also our love culture in action,” said Andrew Wexler, CEO of Herschend Enterprises. “Herschend is rooted in love – it’s evident at every Herschend property, every day – in the way we treat and support each other, how we Create Memories Worth Repeating for guests, and most importantly, how we care for our employees.”
Guild Education, the nation’s leading education and upskilling platform, powers the program. Guild was selected because of their strong reputation for connecting employers and high-value learning providers to create opportunities for America’s workforce. Dollywood Parks & Resorts hosts will have access to Guild’s proprietary Learning Marketplace to select from more than 30 learning providers and utilize resources like professional coaches to support their educational journey.
For anyone looking to take advantage of the opportunity, as well as the other unparalleled benefits Herschend and The Dollywood Company provides, positions are available at each of the company’s properties and are posted at Dollywoodjobs.com. Upcoming hiring events are slated for Seymour Heights Christian Church (Saturday, February 19) and Sevier County High School (Saturday, February 26). Both hiring events take place from 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. Most event attendees are hired on the spot, with a position for the 2022 season at either Dollywood, Dollywood’s Splash Country or Dollywood’s DreamMore Resort and Spa.
Dollywood Parks & Resorts hosts receive a variety of unique benefits, including access to the Dollywood Family Healthcare Center, along with complimentary Dollywood and Dollywood’s Splash Country admission for family and friends. Hosts are provided free meals for every working shift and also take part in Dollywood’s Park Perks program, which provides free or reduced admission to a large number of regional attractions, theaters and experiences. A comprehensive benefits package, including medical, dental and vision, is available for qualified full-time employees.
Dollywood also pays a portion of childcare costs for hosts whose children are cared for at a WeeCare-affiliated provider. Additionally, numerous development opportunities are available to help employees develop leadership skills, including an apprenticeship program in conjunction with Walters State Community College.
For more information about working at Dollywood Parks & Resorts, please visit dollywoodjobs.com.
Dollywood Parks & Resorts is gearing up for an exciting 2022 season by hosting a number of hiring events over the coming weeks. Competitive wages, several exciting new perks—including free lunch for all employees—and more add to the reasons why The Dollywood Company is the perfect fit for anyone seeking employment, regardless of their career aspirations, due to the varied positions available.
From part-time positions for students to full-time careers with ample chances for advancement, and everything in between, working at Dollywood may very well become a lifetime home for those looking for something that provides a fun and exciting work environment. Positions are available at each of the company’s properties, with most event attendees being hired on the spot in a position for the 2022 season at either Dollywood, Dollywood’s Splash Country or Dollywood’s DreamMore Resort and Spa.
Available positions are posted at Dollywoodjobs.com, with more being posted as the season nears. The first major hiring event of 2022 takes place Saturday, January 29, at Sevier County High School from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Additional hiring events take place at Jefferson County High School (Saturday, February 5), Seymour Heights Christian Church (Saturday, February 19) and Sevier County High School (Saturday, February 26). All hiring events take place from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Applicants are encouraged to attend the earliest hiring event possible for the largest selection of available opportunities.
Positions are available for the entire length of the 2022 operating season, as well as for shorter peak season openings, which are perfect for applicants looking for a fun summer position or for those looking to earn a little extra money during the Christmas holidays. Applicants must be 14 years of age or older.
Positions are available on several teams, including Dollywood’s award-winning culinary and merchandise teams and the park operations team, which includes ticketing, transportation, house and grounds and more. Among the openings at Dollywood’s Splash Country are house and grounds, lifeguards and culinary services positions. Dollywood’s DreamMore Resort and Spa also has a number of openings available, including food and beverage, front desk, bell/valet and housekeeping positions.
Interested applicants may view opportunities, as well as job descriptions and basic requirements for each position, at dollywoodjobs.com. Applicants can indicate their interest in a position by following the online instructions to complete the application process. Technical support will be available on-site at the hiring events to assist applicants.
Dollywood Parks & Resorts plans to host a number of hiring events throughout the season to give potential employees an opportunity to attend at the time that best suits their individual needs. Additionally, new job opportunities are posted throughout the year at dollywoodjobs.com.
Dollywood Parks & Resorts employees receive a variety of unique benefits, including access to the Dollywood Family Healthcare Center, along with complimentary Dollywood and Dollywood’s Splash Country admission for family and friends. Employees also take part in Dollywood’s Park Perks program, which provides free or reduced admission to a large number of regional attractions, theaters and experiences. A comprehensive benefits package, including medical, dental and vision is available for qualified full-time employees. Dollywood also pays a portion of childcare costs for hosts whose children are cared for at a WeeCare-affiliated provider. Numerous development opportunities are also available to help employees develop leadership skills, including an apprenticeship program in conjunction with Walters State Community College. New this season, employees can enjoy a free lunch every working day.
In 2021, Forbes named The Dollywood Company as one of the best employers in the country, according to a ranking on their website. Dollywood was represented well among the 500 companies on Forbes’ list of the best midsize employers. The list includes companies across 25 industry sectors, with only 20 companies on the list in the “Travel & Leisure” category, of which Dollywood was included. Among those companies, Dollywood ranked sixth and was the only theme park on the midsize list.
For more information about available positions, please visit dollywoodjobs.com.
