Observers of the customer contact center industry have observed that the Pacific Northwest is one of the remaining robust regions in the sector in the U.S. Oregon did its part in 2004, landing several major new projects and expansions.
      Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines is building a 200,000-sq.-ft. (18,600-sq.-m.) national customer service center in Springfield. The company promises 300 jobs during the first year, 300 more during the second and a total of 1,000 by the end of four years. Average wages will be $11 per hour.
      Qwest Communications is ex-panding its consumer customer care center in Portland, creating 150 jobs.
      Wachovia Corp. opened a 77,500-sq.-ft. (7,200-sq.-m.) operation in Salem last fall after sifting through more than 100 potential sites. The center is the bank's 14th, with all but two located on the Eastern Seaboard. The company expects to employ 500. For Wachovia, the site choice was a matter of desiring a location outside of the Eastern Time Zone to offer more flexibility with a "follow the sun strategy," says spokesman Kevin Bezner.
      "Our customer base is expanding and we serve customers in every region of the U.S.," Bezner says.