The challenges posed by staffing shortages in the hotel industry can be crippling to businesses that rely on essential personnel to keep up with operations and customer service. This is happening all across the country. In fact, according to the American Hotel & Lodging Association, more than 80 percent of hotels are currently experiencing staffing shortages.
This competitive and fast-paced industry demands a skilled and reliable workforce to ensure exceptional experiences for guests; yet attracting, managing, and keeping qualified staff to achieve those goals can pose big roadblocks. From setting priorities to enhancing employee benefits, check out these top ways to overcome staffing shortages for your hotel, especially in regards to your housekeeping and kitchen staff.
Hotel Staffing Challenges: Defined
First, it’s important to understand the many factors that contribute to staffing challenges, many of which send a domino effect throughout all your operations, from kitchens to housekeeping, impacting guest experiences and business performance.
1. High Turnover Rates
Staff turnover is a big challenge in the hotel industry, not only leading to disruptions but increasing costs as well. From demanding work hours to limited promotion opportunities, high turnover rates disrupt the guest service experience to be sure, but they also increase costs related to recruitment and training. Not being able to predict staff presence from one day to the next presents stress on your upper management as well.
2. Seasonal Variations
Like many in the hospitality industry, customer demand within hotels fluctuates greatly throughout the year. Faced with challenges due to seasonal changes, it can be difficult to be able to properly staff your various departments during peak and off-peak times. This can translate to a logistical nightmare that can prevent you from adequately meeting demand.
3. Skill Shortages
Recruiting skilled workers in anything from culinary services to housekeeping who fit your hotels’ vision and standards can result in a time-consuming, laborious screening process.
4. Employee Training
Service excellence for guests is priority #1 for hotels, which is why it’s so important to invest in training and development programs. This ensures your workforce is not only consistent and competent, but adaptable as well.
5. Employee Engagement
A constantly strained workforce wears away at team morale, which in turn results in decreased productivity. This is why employee satisfaction and engagement is so important in order to maintain your reputation in a competitive market and create a consistent, positive image.
Alleviating the Strain: Strategies to Employ For Your Business
To ensure you can navigate the murky waters of staffing shortages and come out on top, try these proven strategies to lessen the burden on your available resources while being short-staffed.
1. Develop Priorities
First, determine areas of difficulty that are negatively affecting guest satisfaction the most. Those are the areas you will want to focus on first, gradually chipping away at other concerning areas impacting staff shortages.
2. Advertise Strategically
Make sure your job postings include detailed descriptions outlining responsibilities, as well as compensation packages and unique benefits of working for your hotel.
3. Embrace Technology
You can’t ignore the burgeoning growth of technology. Future Market Insights says the market value of technology utilized in the hotel industry to improve customer service will grow four times over the next decade to reach $220 billion. For example, HR management software can streamline onboarding and scheduling, reducing the strain on admins.
4. Be Flexible With Staffing Expectations
Flexible staffing models are key in this ever-evolving industry. Train employees in multiple roles or reach out to seasonal workers during peak seasons to maintain service levels and become a versatile partner in success.
5. Boost Employee Benefits and Encourage Career Growth
One big reason turnover is so high in the hotel industry is that many employees don’t feel valued due to low pay or career advancement. Offer them generous compensation packages and career growth opportunities to ensure staff loyalty over the long haul.
6. Promote a Healthy Work-Life Balance
You can do this by recognizing and rewarding excellent performance that goes above and beyond expectations, such as through the implementation of wellness initiatives or programs that embrace a positive corporate culture that people want to be a part of.
7. Manage Expectations
Be proactive and make sure your guests know of any potential service disruptions due to staff shortages well in advance via messages on your website and social media platforms, or during check-in.
8. Take a Collaborative Management Approach
Encourage open communication and ask for feedback among staff to make all employees feel like they are an integral part of the decision-making process.
Contact Tumi Hospitality to Request Staff Today
Tumi Hospitality can help you overcome the many challenges presented by staffing shortages by providing solutions that are customized to your exact needs. To learn how we can help, call us at (512) 722-6000 or fill out our online form.