The Workamper Show Podcast

The Workamper Show Podcast


Roy Dougay, Debbie Wood talks about Workamping at Kelly Inns in Episode 294

September 03, 2024

Today, I am speaking with two representatives of a hotel chain with properties near Yellowstone National Park. The company is looking for help next season.


During the interview, manager Roy Dougay is joined by Workamper Debbie Wood. Kelly Inns has three locations in West Yellowstone, Mont., and one location in Cody, Wyo.


One West Yellowstone hotel has 139 rooms, another has 79 and the third has 75 rooms. Workampers are hired primarily to staff the front desk, but also hired to perform maintenance.


Work is done around-the-clock during three shifts. Two of the Yellowstone hotels are only open during the summer season, but one is open year-round.


The company is looking for 15 to 20 Workampers for 2025. The firm is open to hiring couples, solos and families, but most Workampers are couples.


The hotels are located in a relatively small town, but in an area that is a big attraction for tourists visiting Yellowstone from around the world.


As a general rule, Workampers put in between 20 and 32 hours a week, although full-time hours are available, if desired, by working at multiple locations.


Workampers are paid for all hours worked, and receive a free RV site with full-hookups. Sometimes, Workampers have to stay at an RV park in the community, but the small town is only a mile long, so the commute is relatively easy.


A flat-rate bonus is paid at the end of the season to Workampers who complete their commitment.


Communications skills are very important because Workampers often assist people from around the world. Yet, language usually isn’t a problem thanks to apps like Google Translate. Debbie noted that about 40 percent of guests come from other countries.


To apply for a job, Workampers should send Roy an email along with their resume and a current picture of themselves as well as their RV. Then he will have a phone conversation to discuss the job and talk about living in the West Yellowstone community.


It’s a relatively small town with a few hotels and gas stations. The closest big cities are Bozeman, Mont., and Idaho Falls, Idaho, both of which are about 90 minutes away.


However, the area is well known for its fly fishing and outdoor activities, as well as it’s ATV and snowmobile trails. The best part about this Workamping job is that the hotels are a few blocks from the west entrance to Yellowstone National Park.


For more information about Kelly Inns, visit kellyinns.com. However, Roy is only hiring for the properties in West Yellowstone, Mont., and Cody, Wyo. People can apply for jobs through Workamper.com, where the company advertises current openings.


Today’s episode is brought to you by Workamper News. Since 1987, they’ve been helping businesses of all types find and recruit Workampers. Workampers serve in a variety of positions around the country to help further the mission of great businesses.


When you become an employer member at Workamper.com, you’ll have access to resources and support to help you develop and implement your Workamper recruiting strategy.


In today’s market, it is more challenging than ever to keep a flow of applicants coming in. Workamper News recommends advertising your current and future Workamper job openings frequently throughout the year, as well as scheduling some time to regularly search the Workamper Resume Database because new Workampers are joining daily.


Workampers like to plan many months ahead, so NOW is the time to take action to begin developing your Workamper team. Learn more and download a quick-start guide for employers at www.workamper.com/employer.


That’s all for this week’s show. Next week, I will be speaking with another employer about an opportunity to spend the summer of 2025 on a big lake in Vermont. I’ll have more details on the next episode of The Workamper Show. Thank you for listening, and if you like these interviews, please consider leaving a review wherever you download the episodes.