Despite calls by Vancouverites and the city’s mayor to ‘dump the Trump’ name from the downtown luxury hotel tower, thousands of people have applied to get a job there.

The hotel’s management team said nearly 10,000 job applications have come in for 300 available positions. They’ll only be interviewing 1,200 hopefuls.

The B.C. Restaurant and Food Services Association says 10,000 applications does seem like a large number considering the industry is currently undergoing a bit of a labour shortage.

“It seems to me an odd number,” said Ian Tostenson, CEO of the association, but he said people might be attracted to working at the tower.

The interview process takes place over the next three days at the Orpheum Theatre in Vancouver.

“Started at 7:00 a.m. and goes to 7 p.m.,” said Philipp Posch, the general manager of Trump International Hotel and Tower Vancouver.

Posch said they are looking to fill a range of positions from cooks, to housekeepers, front desk personnel and payroll managers.

Nothing to do with campaign

Despite the Donald Trump name, Posch said none of the applications have mentioned anything to do with his campaign.

“We haven’t received applicants that were super negative or positive. People in the service industry look at it as an incredible opportunity,” he said, adding that the tower is the first luxury hotel to open in Vancouver in almost six years.

“We’ve visited close to 100 corporate businesses in Vancouver, people are embracing us with open arms. We’ve already booked a few weddings and a dozen Christmas parties,” he said.

The 69-storey tower is set to open at the end of August.