CARLSBAD -- A new seasonal student work program at a Carlsbad resort will allow more than a dozen college-age students from Thailand and Ecuador to spend their summer in North County, learning first-hand about the hospitality industry.

To augment its permanent staff this summer, Grand Pacific Palisades Resort & Hotel recently implemented a program that allows foreign exchange students to work at the hotel for several months.

With San Diego County's unemployment rate at a low 4.2 percent, finding employees for seasonal, entry-level positions can be difficult, said Michael Flickinger, general manager of the resort. This is especially true for local hotels, which require more entry-level workers this time of year as they gear up for their peak summer months.

Flickinger said in the past, the resort has used local temporary agencies to fill its seasonal staffing needs, but found it was not economically feasible.

The resort's new seasonal student work program is coordinated through the Aspect International Work & Travel Program, which is designated by the U.S. Department of State to sponsor foreign students to come to the U.S. and work legally for up to four months.

Flickinger said Aspect's Work & Travel Program has also sponsored several students to work at Legoland California this summer.

The first group of students, all of whom are from Thailand, began working at Grand Pacific Palisades in mid-March and will work there through the end of May. The 10 students, who range in age from 18 to 25, work five eight-hour shifts as room attendants each week.

"They are temporary, full time employees," said Flickinger.

One of the students, Amy Chaivarangkul, 21, said this is her first job ever and that said she chose the program because she was "looking for something to do in summer."

Although she found the work to be "really hard" at first, Chaivarangkul said, "Now I'm really happy."

For their first five shifts, each student was paired with an experienced housekeeping employee. After their first 40 hours on the job, the students work on their own, but each has a supervisor on the floor they have been assigned to.

"They have constant support," said Flickinger.

The students earn $8 an hour, which in most cases allows them to take some money home even after paying for their accommodations, said Flickinger. The students do not stay at the resort; housing is provided through Aspect, usually at local hotels that offer discounted rates to the students.

Flickinger said that not only does the exchange program benefit the resort, but it also helps the students strengthen their English skills and gives them hands-on experience in the hospitality industry.

"They're getting an understanding of how hotels operate," said Flickinger, who said several of the students are studying hospitality at universities in Thailand.

Flickinger said he is happy with how the program has turned out.

"So far it's been a great success," he said. "They love being here and we love having them. It's been a win-win for both."

A second group of students from Ecuador will arrive next month. Some of those students will join the Thai students at the Grand Pacific Palisades and a few will work at its sister property, the Carlsbad Seapointe Resort.

Flickinger said he has already verbally committed to Aspect to continue the program this fall given the resorts' year round need for housekeeping employees, as well as the success of the program so far.

"It's just worked out perfectly," he said.