Adapting Your Hospitality Team in a Changing Industry
The hospitality industry is evolving quickly, and staying competitive means keeping up with both guest expectations and workforce demands. As technology advances and employee priorities shift, it’s more important than ever for hotels and other businesses to pay attention to hospitality staffing trends—from flexible scheduling and same-day pay to mobile-friendly applications and retention strategies. While overall employment in the hospitality and leisure sector is at an all-time high, some industries are still struggling to recover to their pre-pandemic levels.
To succeed in today's fast-changing hospitality landscape, hospitality leaders must rethink how they hire, train, and retain great employees. Guest expectations are evolving, technology is transforming daily operations, and today's workforce values flexibility, purpose, and growth. Let's explore what that looks like in action, and how you can stay ahead.
Tech-Savvy Guest Experience
Today’s guests want more than a clean room—they expect a seamless, tech-friendly stay. Mobile check-in/check-out, keyless room entry, smart thermostats, and digital concierges are becoming standard in many hotels and resorts. Guests are also more inclined to leave reviews (both good and bad) based on how convenient and personalized their stay felt.
This shift means your hospitality team must be comfortable with digital tools. From using tablets to log maintenance requests to understanding mobile POS systems in restaurants, technology shouldn’t feel like a burden—it should be viewed as an enhancement to the guest experience. Staff training should incorporate tech fluency just as much as soft skills.
Personalized Service Is the New Standard
Hospitality is moving toward hyper-personalized service, where data plays a key role in shaping a guest’s experience. That might mean offering a room on a preferred floor, customizing pillow types, or remembering a returning guest’s favorite drink. In fact, guests are even willing to pay more, 65% say they'd pay up to 25% extra for personalized experiences.
This kind of service requires human touchpoints—employees who are observant, empathetic, and proactive. Soft skills like communication, problem solving, and emotional intelligence are now must-haves, not nice-to-haves.
Evolving Worker Expectations
Perhaps the biggest shift in hospitality staffing trends is what workers themselves want and expect from employers. Today's employees aren't just looking for a job; they're looking for balance, respect, and opportunity.
Here's what matters most to today's workforce
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Flexible Scheduling:
Workers want the ability to pick up shifts that match their availability or manage their schedule through an app. Offering flexible, on-demand staffing options can significantly reduce no-shows and last-minute callouts.
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Predictability and Work-Life Balance
Last-minute shift changes, split shifts, and inconsistent hours are top reasons workers burn out and leave. Clear scheduling practices-along with consideration for personal time-go a long way in boosting retention.
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Fair Pay and Reliable Compensation:
Same-day or weekly pay is increasingly common. When workers know they'll get paid accurately and on time, it builds trust and keeps them coming back.
Hotels can also improve retention by leveraging new tools and technologies to grow and retain their workforces and meet the rising expectations of their customer base.
Embrace Flexibility at Every Level
Flexibility is no longer optional, it's essential. HR Managers can start by offering more adaptable scheduling options for your team. Allowing employees to request time off easily or choose from part-time/weekend roles can make a huge difference in morale and retention. Hospitality work is often demanding, so meeting your team where they are helps reduce burnout and creates a more loyal, motivated staff.
Flexibility can also extend to how you build your workforce. Partnering with a staffing agency during peak periods and or adjusting shift coverage based on real-time volume, are both ways to respond to changing demands without overburdening your team.
Focus on Skills Over Resumes
Degrees and years of experience aren't the only indicators of a great hire, especially in hospitality. Some of your best team member might be returning to the workforce, switching industries, or starting their firt job.
What truly matters? Soft skills like reliability and punctuality, teamwork and communication, adaptability in fast-paced environments, and a genuine desire to provide great service. By prioritizing these qualities in your hiring process, you'll attract more candidates and likely retain them longer.
Invest in Growth and Retention
Today's workers want more than a paycheck, they want purpose. When employees feel supported and see a future with your company, they're far more likely to stay. Simple but powerful ways to invest in retention include
- Clear career pathways and internal promotions.
- On-the-job training and skill-building programs.
- Employee recognition and appreciation initiatives.
- A positive, inclusive workplace culture.
These efforts don't just boost morale-they reduce turnover, saving time and money in the long run.
Staff Smarter: How Labor Finders Help You Stay Ahead
At Labor Finders, we understand the daily challenges hospitality businesses face, from unpredictable staffing needs to time-consuming hiring and onboarding. That's why we're here to simplify the process and connect you with the people you need. Here's how we help
- Recruiting and screening
- Hiring and onboarding
- Payroll and tax administration
- Worker's comp administration
Whether you need someone for a day, a week, or long term, we'll send you our W-2 employees, and we'll manage all of the details that go along with it. You pay a flat hourly rate, and we'll take care of the rest.
Build a Workforce That's Ready for What's Next
The hospitality industry will always change - but with the right strategies, your team can change with it. By staying aware of hospitality staffing trends, investing in your people, and using staffing agencies - you can build a team that's not only ready for today but for whatever comes next. Click here to connect with your local branch to help ease your summer hospitality staffing stress.
