Wvw Sinks Pottsville In Water Polo

2 Drivers Charged In Car-bus Crash

By BRIAN MALINA; Times Leader Staff Writer
 Thursday, September 26, 1996 &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Page: 9B 





HAZLE TWP. -- Before the end of the year the Hazleton area will have 100
more jobs that pay $6.50 an hour. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Representatives of CAN DO Inc., Hilton Reservations Worldwide and other
community and state leaders announced the new jobs Wednesday morning in front
of the Forbes Office Complex. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The jobs will be created by Hilton's decision to open a satellite
reservation office in the Forbes Office Complex, on Maplewood Drive, Humboldt
Industrial Park. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Hilton's main facility is located in Dallas, Texas. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Employees at the office will handle "800" number phone reservations for
Hilton Hotels Corp., which owns the Hilton name in the United States, and
Hilton International Corp., which owns the Hilton name outside the United
States. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Kim King, who will be the northeast regional manager at the site, said the
starting rate for the positions will be $6.50. She said future hires might
include supervisory positions, which would pay more. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 King said Hilton Reservations Worldwide will begin to hire employees next
month. The facility is scheduled to begin operating before the end of the
year, she said. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Sheila McFarland, Hilton Reservations Worldwide senior vice president, said
the regional office could employee as many as 150 people during the next two
years. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Thomas B. Hagen, secretary of the Department of Community and Economic
Development called Hilton's decision to locate in Humboldt Industrial Park "a
significant milestone in our quest to bring quality jobs and a better life to
families in the Hazleton area." &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 McFarland said Hilton wanted to open a satellite office in the northeastern
section of the country because of the large number of Hilton Hotels on the
east coast. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "It was a very tough competition between New Jersey, Pennsylvania and
Maryland" for the office," McFarland said. "All were very anxious." &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 She said Hilton decided on the Hazleton area of Pennsylvania because of the
low cost of living and the strong work ethic of the residents. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 TIMES LEADER/PETE G. WILCOX &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 CAN DO INC. President Kevin O'Donnell announces that Hilton Reservations
Worldwide will open a regional office at the Humboldt Industrial Park in Hazle
Township. Pictured from the left are Leo Kucewicz, a representative for state
Sen. Raphael Musto, D-Pittston; Thomas B. Hagen, secretary of community and
economic development; Sheila McFarland, Hilton Reservations Worldwide senior
vice president; and state Rep. Tom Stish, R-Hazleton. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

100 Jobs Due By Year End The Hazleton Area Won Out Because Of Low Cost Of Living And Good Work Ethic, Says A Spokeswoman For Hilton