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The Asbury Hotel’s David Bowd will provide jobs for 60 of the 110 applicants that completed his Salt School hospitality training program at the Boys and Girls Club on Monroe Avenue.

The free 10-week program was created as part of a workforce development program established in partnership with waterfront redeveloper iStar to train area residents in the hospitality industry.

“The Guest Experience is our top priority and it will ensure our guests return time and time again,” Bowd said.

While there was total of over 300 applicants, 150 were chosen. On Saturday, 110 people will graduate at the Asbury Park Yacht Club at 1000 Ocean Avenue on the city’s boardwalk.

In the end, 90 percent of the 60 new hires are from Asbury Park, Bowd said.

The jobs range from Housekeeping and Front Desk posts to Bar, Events, Movie Theatre Ushers and Line Chefs. Most positions will be full time in season but many are also year round positions.

“I have been completely overwhelmed by the support from the community, the enthusiasm of the classes and the willingness of the many industry experts that helped make Salt School possible,” Bowd said. “I believe that with this program and the ongoing on job training, The Asbury Hotel will not only be a leader in the New Jersey market, but will provide a very high level of service and experience comparable to leading international hotels.”

Below find a news release from Asbury Park’s Director of Communications Director Hannah Walker on the program:

After ten weeks of in-depth exploration of the hospitality industry, 110 students from the first Salt School will graduate from the program on Saturday, April 23. The graduation will be held at the Asbury Park Yacht club at 1000 Ocean Ave, starting at 10 am.

The free hospitality training program was created and led by renowned hotel innovator David Bowd of Salt Hotels in conjunction with the opening of The Asbury Hotel, the 110 unit hotel owned by waterfront redeveloper iStar, due to open next month.

Motivated by his own humble beginnings in the industry, Bowd called upon leading executives from Apple, Morgans Hotel Group, and Standard Hotels, among others, to offer students an introduction to the hotel management industry. With 110 graduating from the class, about 60 will continue on at The Asbury Hotel as employees. Bowd estimates that about 90% are Asbury Park and Neptune residents.

“My motto has always been to hire the attitude and train the skill,” Bowd said. “This program was the type of training that you’d go through if you were already employed for a job in the hospitality industry.”

The Salt School included guest teachers from among Bowd’s hotel industry colleagues and friends, over twenty of whom he approached “cap in hand,” to participate. Not a single one refused the chance to teach a Salt School session. Topics included hospitality and the guest experience, sales and marketing, food and beverage service and trends, revenue management, finance and legal, social media, design, industry marketing and hospitality trends, rooms operations, and human resources.

Over 300 applicants expressed interest in the program. The only requirement for an application was to explain why you wanted to be a part of the program; no prior work experience or education required. Of these applicants, Bowd estimates over 80% were Asbury Park residents. 150 students were accepted into the program, which began in February.

“The Salt School students blew me away with their enthusiasm, their eagerness to learn. From the very first day, the seats filled up in the front rows first, no one hanging to the back. We are very excited to have graduates on board as employees when the hotel opens next month.”

Hiring for the Asbury Hotel is ongoing, and will likely expand as the summer season progresses into July and August. Those interested in jobs at the Asbury can email joinus@theasburyhotel.com.

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