Attracting and Retaining Top Talent in Hospitality

To attract and retain employees, many hotels and restaurants are increasing wages and expanding benefits. A 2024 survey by the American Hotel & Lodging Association revealed that 86% of hotels have raised wages, and 52% are offering more flexible hours. These changes are crucial in making hospitality roles more appealing and competitive, reflecting best practices in workforce management for hospitality.

Foster a culture of open communication where employees feel comfortable voicing concerns and providing feedback.

Investing in leadership development is vital for creating a motivated and loyal workforce. Understanding the 5 essentials of hospitality leadership — such as communication, empathy, adaptability, vision, and integrity — can guide managers in fostering a culture of continuous improvement and professional development. This not only helps in retaining top talent but also in building a strong leadership pipeline.

Create clear career progression paths with opportunities for training, mentorship, and skill development to help employees advance within the company.

Implement regular recognition programs to acknowledge and celebrate employee contributions and achievements, thereby boosting morale. These programs don’t need to be large or expensive; the key is that recognition should be meaningful and timely.

The adoption of technology and automation is revolutionizing the hospitality industry. By streamlining administrative tasks, staff can focus more on enhancing the guest experience. For a deeper dive into how AI is transforming service and operations, explore how AI is being used in hospitality.

This shift not only improves operational efficiency but also increases job satisfaction by allowing employees to engage in more meaningful and rewarding work. Supporting employees with ongoing training to stay current and understand the benefits of technology and automation is critical.

Employees are increasingly seeking employers who align with their values. To attract and retain well-matched team members, it’s crucial to demonstrate your organization’s values through your actions. It is important to evaluate your mission, vision, and values to ensure they represent your organization today and in the future. Employees desire authenticity. Having your mission, vision, and values on a bulletin board is one thing, but putting it into practice in a meaningful and authentic manner is entirely different.

Develop a strong company culture that emphasizes employee well-being, career growth opportunities, and a positive work environment to attract potential candidates. It is important to showcase your company culture and be proud of where you work not just for attracting and recruiting new employees but also for your current employees as well.

Utilize a variety of platforms to reach a broader pool of candidates, including online job boards, social media, employee referrals, and partnerships with hospitality training programs.

To attract external talent, the hospitality industry is crafting compelling marketing campaigns that highlight the unique and rewarding aspects of working in hospitality. By showcasing the opportunities for growth, creativity, and customer interaction, these campaigns aim to draw in individuals who may not have previously considered a career in hospitality.

Attracting employees is just the first step, keeping them engaged and motivated is equally important. Hospitality companies need to focus on retaining talent, as frequent turnover disrupts operations and adds to hiring expenses. A strong retention plan helps reduce these disruptions by maintaining a stable workforce.

Working in the hospitality industry provides us with the opportunity to not only wow our guests and customers but also create a great place to work and stay for our employees as well. By enhancing total compensation, prioritizing well-being, investing in leadership development, leveraging technology, and crafting effective marketing campaigns, businesses can attract and retain top talent. These strategies are essential for building a resilient and thriving workforce that can meet the challenges of the future and spread joy through hospitality.

Looking to build a high-performing hospitality team? High Hotels helps hospitality operators attract, retain, and empower top-tier talent through better property design, operations, and workplace strategy.

1. What is hospitality workforce management?
It refers to the strategies and tools used to recruit, train, manage, and retain hospitality employees — from hourly workers to executives — while ensuring service quality and operational efficiency.

2. Why is employee well-being important in hospitality?
Because of long hours and emotional labor, supporting mental health, work-life balance, and career development directly improves retention and guest satisfaction.

3. How can technology improve workforce management in hospitality?
Automation reduces administrative load, allowing staff to focus on guest interaction. It also enhances scheduling, communication, and training systems.

4. What are the 5 essentials of hospitality leadership?
Emotional intelligence, strong communication, adaptability, vision, and the ability to build high-performing teams are often cited as the core leadership competencies in hospitality.