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Visibility to hospitality needs across the United States
● 20+ cities re-opening in different stages
● Food service, hotels, events, venues
Hospitality Sentiment Study, Florida Atlantic University, May 2021
1. Learn trends of the current hospitality labor environment
2. Examine 3 approaches and examples from other hospitality businesses
3. Apply ideas to address your staffing needs
Learning Objectives
Everybody in the world is hiring at the same time.“
I know a lot of the different restaurants are even having to shut down a couple days a week right now, because they're not able to field a full kitchen staff.
“
— New York TimesApril 2021
— KTV Oregon June 2021
30% hospitality professionals may never come back*Top reasons
● Health concerns
● Caregiving concerns
● Income elsewhere
● Burnout
Now those who work in the business have an even more tarnished image from the pandemic’s impacts.
The industry needs more than just a PR campaign. It needs a full overhaul in its staffing levels, pay rates and employee treatment.
- Peter Ricci, Ed.D., director of FAU’s hospitality and tourism management program
“
Hospitality Sentiment Study, Florida Atlantic University, May 2021
3 approaches
Reduce Labor Costs & Need
Recruiting Retention
Go where there’s potential
Teachers Cashiers, Hotel staff Students
Go where there’s potential
Teachers Cashiers, Hotel staff Students
Continual, standardized training is key
Targeted incentivesPerformance based Non-monetary Gamification
● Grows over time
● Tied to the team
● Tied to promote accountability
● Free food / goods
● Benefits (e.g. Pet insurance)
● Training (e.g. ESL)
● Schedule flexibility
● Choice in other aspects
● Presenting different options
● Contests
● Reward tiers
ExamplesChoice in Uniform Rethinking Schedules Gamification
Allow employees choose their “pop of red” 4-day workweek
Benefits that let people cash in for Netflix, commuter
benefits, training, dining, tc.
Targeted incentivesPerformance based Non-monetary Gamification
● Grows over time
● Tied to the team
● Tied to promote accountability
● Free food / goods
● Benefits (e.g. Pet insurance)
● Training (e.g. ESL)
● Schedule flexibility
● Choice in other aspects
● Presenting different options
● Contests
● Reward tiers
Listen to your employees and candidates!
Feeling valued goes a long way
Recognition Promotions Appreciation
Staying nimble is the game
All Full-time All On-call50/50
Eco CatersPuff N’ Stuff
Target fixed labor costs to be as low as possible (~30%)
Staying nimble is the game
● Use smaller events to train those with less experience
● Make less formal events DIY / Grab-in-go● Add healthy margins to upsell items
Find ways to charge more to pay more
Recap
Reduce Labor Costs & Need
Recruiting Retention
Go where there’s potential Use incentives to drive the right behavior
Stay nimble to lower overall costs
