Hispanics contribute to the success of Chena Hot Springs Resort
The resort is a leader in the Fairbanks tourism sector and has received an award for international excellence from the Governor of Alaska in 2017. Barbara Cardozo and Alfredo Mendez share their work experiences and goals of the resort.
Barbara is a 25-year-old Venezuelan who arrived in Alaska 9 months ago with a work contract from Chena Hot Springs Resort. She sells vacation packages to tourists from all over the world, especially the Hispanic community. “Tourists come from Mexico, Colombia, Costa Rica... although our largest number of visitors are Asians and Americans. My greatest satisfaction is having collaborated to make their vacation successful,” she said. Barbara was 18 years old when she emigrated, along with her family, to Orlando as political asylees. “I didn’t speak English and I learned on my own. I was a cleaning worker, a festival organizer at Disney, I worked as a receptionist and at a call center at the Wyndham hotel, as well as for computer companies and law offices.” Barbara is now a mother, and her daughter is two years old. A friend told her about her experience working at Chena Hot Springs and that’s how her adventure in Alaska began. “I fell in love with Chena and found love here. I married Joe and our wedding was in the Ice Museum. At the resort we are family. Working in Chena allows me to save money because they provide us with free accommodations and food. I work six days a week and this is a flexible company where you can access a job that aligns with your expectations.” She says that there are 240,000 tourists who visit the resort per year. “During the summer months, we offer ATV and side-by-side vehicle rides as well as ATV pulled by dog rides. In winter, the most requested are snowmobile rides to go to the top of the mountain and contemplate the Northern Lights and the sunset. Also, dog sledding and ice fishing adventures.” “The activities that tourists want are the Ice Museum (with sculptures by renowned sculptor Steve Brice and our famous Appletini, served in a glass made of ice while they enjoy it at a bar, also made of ice); the tour to the greenhouse and the Geothermal Power Plant (we grow our vegetables here); the Dog Kennel Tour (where the dogs live); Lastly, the unrivaled hot springs, in addition to offering an indoor pool, and jacuzzi outside and inside the building,” she noted. The plan for 2024 is to complete the construction of rooms inside the train belonging to the company and the implementation of electric vehicles for tours, such as snowmobiles and ATVs, in an effort to reduce pollution and offer fun to guests without polluting the environment. Alfredo Mendez is a 62-year-old chemical engineer, graduated in Mexico, where he was born. He has been a resident of the United States since childhood. “I have been working at the resort for four years and I love it, it is a heavenly place. I started at the bottom, cleaning the dormitories and for two years, based on hard work and the vision of achieving excellence, I am now a housekeeping manager. “I am in charge of 14 people,” he said. Alfredo enjoys his work in the tourism sector in winter and during the summer he works in the fishing industry in some Alaskan islands. 
Alfredo Mendez y Barbara Cardozo.
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