Gazette, The (Colorado Springs) - Cheap Tickets hires 125 to fill in for permanent staff

Cheap Tickets Inc. has hired 125 temporary employees so far this year for its Colorado Springs call center and at least some of the workers may find out their jobs are permanent.

The workers have been hired to fill in for permanent staffers being trained on a new computer system. Cheap Tickets now employs 350 locally, up from its usual level of 250-275 people.

The company may keep some or all of the new employees, depending on booking levels and turnover among permanent staff, said Cheap Tickets spokeswoman Dawn Lyon.

The temporary workers were provided by the local branch of Manpower Inc., the Milwaukee-based staffing services giant.

Even though the temporary workers’ contracts are scheduled to expire May 31, Manpower is still hiring for positions at Cheap Tickets.

Honolulu-based Cheap Tickets, acquired in October by Cendant Corp., operates three other call centers to handle reservations, sales and answer consumer questions.

Cheap Tickets cuts deals for consumers with airlines, car rental companies, hotels and cruise lines. It buys tickets and hotel rooms in bulk and passes on the cheaper prices.

Customers purchase tickets primarily through a toll-free number (1- 800-652-4327) and on the Internet at www.cheaptickets.com.

If you’d like to apply through Manpower for a temporary position at Cheap Tickets, call 633-7300 .

- Wayne Heilman; The Gazette