Not all H-1Bs replace existing U.S. workers, let's be precise on that as well.
As to the "willing to work the job" part, I would hope that is true, but we're talking about South Florida in the "Season" here. We are talking about the period from December to April when snowbirds from the northeast come to Florida for the winter. Increasingly since the transformation of South Beach in the 1990s, the area has also become a playground for the European "rich."
So? Offer enough and people will overlook the temporary nature and be more than willing to fill the position. The H-2B exists to keep salaries down. No other reason.
I don't think it's simply a question of not paying enough.
According to the Foreign Labor Certification Online Wage Library for H-2B workers, here are the top skill (Level 4) wages for hospitality jobs in the Palm Beach area:
Whether I like it or not, I do believe that the qualifications for working a high-end worldwide luxury resorts are higher than those for your neighborhood Holiday Inn. We're not just talking about maids and cooks.
For the 70 seasonal positions, we're probably talking about concierges, butlers, bartenders, waiters and waitresses. These people need to be: 1) attractive (sad to say), 2) speak multiple European languages, and 3) have impeccable service skills.
As I said in an earlier post, I don't think you will find many on-the-couch locals with these qualifications: 1) they would already be working in a hospitality job in the area, or 2) they don't yet have 5-star experience.
That said, if you've ever taken a cruise, you would know how many people from other countries are out there trying to break into the hospitality industry. Cruises may be the harshest way to break into the field, but it is entry-level for people from 3rd-world countries who don't have degrees in Hospitality Management. Some whom I spoke to just want to learn the business and then go back home to open their own family restaurant or work in local hotel.
If there are South Floridians vying for these H-2B positions, they shouldn't be entry-level unemployed hoping to bag a job at the top of the field.
-PJ