Grupo Cipriani has kicked off a six-month training program for 126 young residents of Uruguay's Maldonado department who will work the casino floor of the Cipriani Ocean Resort, Club Residences & Casino in Punta del Este
The property aims at opening December 15 at the former Hotel San Rafael site.
The group was selected through mathematical, psychometric and manual dexterity testing, resulting in a cohort of 85 men and 41 women between the ages of 18 and 26. The program runs in two stages: four months at Cipriani's Locanda hotel in La Barra, followed by two months of hands-on practice at the new casino in San Rafael, for a total of 480 to 520 hours of instruction based on professional standards developed in Nevada.
To support daily attendance, the group reached a transport agreement with operator Codesa to provide transfers between Locanda and Plaza San Fernando in Maldonado.
Pedro Nora, Director of Sales and Marketing of Cipriani Resort and Casino, said: "We are not simply launching a training program; we are taking another step forward in a project that represents the largest investment in the Cipriani family's business history and one of the most significant private investments Punta del Este has seen in recent decades."
Marcelo Silva, General Manager of the casino, said the curriculum was benchmarked against leading global operations: "Our goal is for graduates of this program not only to be prepared to work at Cipriani Punta del Este, but also to receive training that can open doors for them at any major international operation.”
Silva also addressed the broader philosophy behind the project: "We have a resort that strives for excellence, with world-class facilities, but the most important element will always be the people. This is a people business serving people, and our most valuable asset will always be our staff. That is why we must invest in developing our team."
The wider resort development is expected to generate 1,200 direct jobs in total.
The Cipriani Ocean Resort is being developed on the site of the former Hotel San Rafael, a landmark property in Punta del Este that operated for decades before its closure
