Sitel Building Goes Up on the Auction Block

Rebecca Sanders, Director of Global Communications at the Sitel Group, said the new concept is branded and called Sitel at Home, a registered trademark. The work-from-home business model was designed in response to the pandemic.

“All of our associates that had the ability to work from home have done so successfully. Our associates will continue to work from home for the foreseeable future,” Sanders said.

The Sitel Group operates call centers across the globe, delivering what is commonly called in the industry as a CX, or Customer Experience, strategy. Companies like credit card companies outsource their call center requirements to Sitel, and Sitel hires, trains, and leads the workers to perform call center duties for that client. Recruiting, training and retention of associates — or human resources — are major components of the company’s core product.

Sitel has been in San Angelo for decades. San Angelo Chamber of Commerce President Walt Koenig said he was aware of the closing of the office building and relived when he learned those Sitel employees remained employed in San Angelo working from home. The building has been vacant since the end of 2020.

“No employee pay or benefits were impacted due to the transition to a work at home model,” said Sanders.

The building at 2702 W 306 Loop sells without reserve during an auction set for March 30 at 11 a.m. The auction takes place on site. The building sits on 2.83 acres and has a parking lot designed for 342 vehicles. Parties interested in touring the building may do so on March 19 from 11-2 p.m. The sale is managed by Cindy Dees at the Tulsa, Oklahoma offices of Williams and Williams Worldwide Real Estate Auction.

The building, built in 1980, is appraised at $2,637,200 and generates $64,510.66 in annual property tax revenue, according to the Tom Green County Appraisal District. It is owned by the Sitel Corporation with a Nashville address. The business property that was inside, such as desks and chairs, was appraised at $487,470 and generated $11,924.40 in annual property taxes. Since the building is now empty, that revenue will likely be removed from the tax rolls.

The Sitel story appears to be a positive one for San Angelo’s economy and for the business services sector. However, Covid-19 may have impacted the hospitality industry hard. Three San Angelo hotel properties are also on the auction block.

Other Commercial Real Estate Auctions

The Red Lion Inn, a 6-story hotel located at 441 Rio Concho Dr., will be sold via online auction starting April 19. The minimum bid for the 148-room hotel is $1.2 million. The listing agent said the hotel is underperforming its potential revenue by 60 percent.

The Fairfield Inn and Suites, at 73-room hotel at 1459 Knickerbocker Rd, goes on auction April 5 with a reserve price of $1.1 million. Next door, the Staybridge Suites, at 1355 Knickerbocker Rd, goes on the auction block with a reserve of $1.5 million on April 5. The 80-room hotel sits on 2.05 acres and was built in 2003.