Black Desert Resort in Ivins, Utah, is partnering with Utah Tech University’s Hotel and Resort Management program to provide job opportunities for graduates in Southern Utah’s hospitality sector. The collaboration will facilitate direct placements for Utah Tech graduates at the resort, scheduled to open this fall.
With Black Desert Resort currently hiring for various roles in the rooms division, including housekeeping, front-of-house, back-of-house, and management, Saeed Vayghan, assistant professor of hotel and resort management at Utah Tech, expressed readiness to meet the demand. “Our current curriculum has a very strong foundation of business courses. Our students will gain a very strong foundation for management and business,” he said. Patrick Manning, managing partner of Black Desert, highlighted the community impact of the partnership, stating, “It’s about enriching our community with skilled professionals ready to elevate the guest experience.” The partnership is expected to enroll about 30 students in the program for the fall semester.
Currently, Black Desert Resort only features a 19-hole golf course and 36-hole putting green, open since May 2023. The golf course serves as the home turf and practice facility for Utah Tech’s golf teams. Once completed, Black Desert Resort will include more than 3,000 hotel rooms, a music venue, trails through lava fields, and an aquatic park.
