10 Ways To Deal With Hotel Staff Shortages

The hospitality industry is one of the fastest growing industries in the world. It is also one of the most labor intensive industries, which makes it susceptible to staff shortages.  A staff shortage can negatively impact a hotel in a number of ways. It can lead to decreased productivity, lower quality of service, and even financial losses.

There are a number of reasons why staff shortages occur in the hospitality industry. The most common reason is the high turnover rate. Hospitality jobs are often low-paying and stressful, which leads to a lot of employee turnover. Other reasons for staff shortages include natural disasters, economic downturns, and seasonal fluctuations.

Despite the challenges, there are a number of ways to deal with staff shortages in the hospitality industry. By being proactive and implementing creative solutions, hotels can overcome the challenges posed by staff shortages.

Reasons behind the current hotel staffing shortage

There are a number of reasons behind the current hotel staffing shortage. Firstly, the outbreak of Covid-19 led to a sudden decrease in travel, with many people cancelling their plans altogether. This had a knock-on effect on the hospitality industry, as hotels saw a marked decrease in occupancy levels. As a result, many hotels had to cut back on their staff numbers, leading to a shortage of workers. To ensure work stability, a lot of workers that were let go chose to retrain in other industries. This has resulted in a skills gap in the hospitality industry, which is now starting to be felt as occupancy levels start to increase.

Secondly, many staff have decided to leave the industry due to health and safety concerns. With the pandemic still ongoing, many workers are worried about contracting the virus while working in close proximity to guests. This has led to a decline in the number of people wanting to work in the hospitality industry, exacerbating the staffing shortage.

Finally, the hospitality industry has more recently been characterised by low pay and unstable work hours. Before the pandemic, travel remained steady and hours could easily be guaranteed, making it an attractive industry to work in. However, in recent years pay levels have stagnated while the industry has become increasingly precarious, with many employees only working on a part-time or casual basis. This has led to many people leaving the hospitality industry in search of more stable employment.

The combination of these factors has resulted in a perfect storm for the hospitality industry, leading to a severe staffing shortage. While the situation may improve in the future, for now hoteliers will have to find creative ways to deal with this pressing issue.

How to deal with staff shortages in the Hospitality Industry:

1. Invest in employee retention

First in foremost, one of the most important ways to deal with staff shortages in the hospitality industry is to invest in employee retention. This involves taking steps to keep your existing employees happy and engaged in their work. It can be costly and time-consuming to recruit and train new employees, so it makes sense to focus on keeping the workers you already have. There are a number of ways to do this, but some of the most effective include:

• Offering competitive salaries
• Providing opportunities for career development
• Creating a positive work environment
• Investing in employee training and development
• Offering employee benefits and perks
• Encouraging open communication and feedback
• Recognising and rewarding employee achievements

Investing in employee retention is often worth the effort, as it can make your hotel a more desirable place to work. This will help you to attract new employees, as well as retain the ones you already have. By investing in employee retention, you can reduce staff turnover and create a more stable workforce. This can save your hotel time and money in the long run, as you won’t have to constantly recruit and train new employees.

2. Create a system of cross-training employees

One way to deal with staff shortages in the hospitality industry is to create a system of cross-training employees. This involves training employees to be able to carry out a range of different tasks, rather than just one specific role. For example, you could cross-train your front of house staff to also help out in the kitchen, or your housekeeping staff to help out with reception duties. This can be beneficial for a number of reasons. Firstly, it helps to make your workforce more flexible and adaptable, as they will be able to pitch in and help out in a variety of different areas. Secondly, it can lead to increased employee satisfaction, as workers will feel like they are constantly learning new skills and developing their careers. This will help to make your hotel run more smoothly, even during periods of high demand. Finally, it can help to reduce staff turnover, as employees will feel more invested in their job and less likely to leave for another role.

Of course, creating a system of cross-training employees takes time and effort. You will need to design training programs that are specific to your needs and make sure that employees have the opportunity to put their new skills into practice. A good place to start is by asking your team members what tasks they would be interested in learning. You can then create training programs that focus on these specific areas. It is also important to remember that cross-training is a long-term strategy, so you should not expect employees to be able to master new skills overnight. Be patient and give employees the time and support they need to develop their skills. If you are successful, it can be a great way to deal with staff shortages in the hospitality industry.

3. Leverage technology to help lighten the load

One way to ease the pressure of a staffing shortage is to invest in technology – more specifically, an All-in-One Property Management System (PMS). A PMS can automate tasks like check-in/check-out, reservations and room assignment, payments, and guest communications. Not only will this take some pressure off of your staff, but it will also free them up to provide a better level of customer service.

With a PMS in place, your team can focus on delivering great guest experiences instead of being bogged down by paperwork. Not to mention, a good PMS will also help you keep track of your inventory and maintenance needs – two other areas that can quickly become overwhelming during a staff shortage.

We recommend trialing Preno as your All-in-One Property Management System. Preno offers a free trial so that you can explore all of its features risk-free, and our team is always on hand to help with any questions you may have.

4. Be open to new hires with no experience

In today’s hospitality industry, it can be difficult to find candidates with the necessary experience for open positions. In order to attract new talent, you may need to consider candidates with little to no experience in the hospitality industry. While they may require more training, these employees can be a valuable asset to your team.

One of the benefits of hiring employees with no experience is that they are often more willing to learn new things. They are also often more flexible, which can be helpful when staffing needs change unexpectedly. You’re also able to mould them into the type of employee that you want. This allows you to avoid having to deal with bad habits that may have been developed from working at other establishments. Additionally, these employees tend to be less expensive to hire and train than those with experience.

5. Provide opportunities for advancement

When staff members feel like they are in a dead-end job with no opportunity for advancement, they are more likely to leave. Make sure you are providing opportunities for your staff to grow within the company. This could include offering training and development programs or promoting from within whenever possible. Another benefit of this, is you’ll look more attractive to potential employees when they know there is room for growth within your company.

To know what you should offer, you should first ask your team what would make them stay. This can be done through an anonymous survey or simply by asking during one-on-one meetings. By doing this, you’ll have a better idea of what incentives will work to keep your team happy and motivated.

6. Streamline the hiring process

A lengthy and complicated hiring process can be one of the biggest deterrents for potential employees. If your application process is too long or complicated, you’re likely losing out on great candidates.

To streamline your process, start by taking a close look at each step and determine if it’s really necessary. Then, simplify the steps as much as possible. For example, if you’re requiring potential candidates to submit a writing sample, consider removing that step from the process.

You should also make sure your job descriptions are clear and concise. Be upfront about the requirements and qualifications necessary for the position. This will help to weed out any candidates who are not a good fit.

Finally, keep in mind that first impressions matter. The way you treat candidates during the application process will give them a good indication of what it’s like to work at your company. If the process is frustrating and unorganised, they’re likely to assume that’s how your business runs as a whole.

7. Build a positive company culture

Your company culture plays a big role in attracting and retaining employees. If your company culture is positive and supportive, employees are more likely to be happy and stay with the company. On the other hand, if your company culture is negative, employees will be more likely to look for a job elsewhere.

There are a few things you can do to build a positive company culture, such as:

• Encourage open communication
• Make sure employees feel like they are part of a team
• Encourage employees to share their ideas
• Make sure employees feel appreciated

By building a positive company culture, you will make your business more attractive to potential employees and more likely to retain existing employees.

8. Implement flexible scheduling

One way to help alleviate the pressure of a staffing shortage is to implement flexible scheduling. This could mean allowing employees to choose their own hours, offering more part-time or full-time positions, or being open to different shifts. For example, if you know an employee has young children, you could offer them the option to work from home a few days a week. Or if you have an employee who is also attending school, you could offer them a schedule that works around their class times. By being flexible with your scheduling, you’ll make it easier for employees to work around their other commitments and make it more likely that they’ll stay with your company.

9. Unbundle your services

Housekeeping, traditionally, has always been part of the package when you book a hotel room. Now, hotels are choosing to unbundle this package, and offer housekeeping services à la carte. This means that guests can choose whether or not they want daily room cleans, and can opt out if they don’t want to pay for the service. Or, it is only done on request (by hanging a sign on their door handle) rather than automatically each day. By offering an incentive, you can encourage guests to help ease the pressure on your staff, and free them up to be used elsewhere in the hotel.

A good way you can encourage guests to opt out of daily cleaning is by offering an incentive. This could be a discount on their stay, or a voucher to use at the hotel’s restaurant or spa. Another way is to outline the sustainability aspect – how by not having their room cleaned every day, they are helping the environment. This is a win-win for both the hotel (which saves on labour costs) and the guests (who feel good about being eco-friendly).

10. Utilise staffing agencies

When you’re short-staffed, it can be tempting to just hire anyone who walks through the door. However, this can lead to even more problems down the road. If you’re not careful, you could end up with employees who are unqualified or a bad fit for your company.

One way to avoid this is to utilise staffing agencies. These agencies can help you find qualified candidates who are a good match for your company. They can also handle the screening and hiring process for you, can save you a lot of time and headaches.

The hospitality industry is facing a staff shortage crisis. In order to deal with this problem, hospitality businesses need to be creative and innovative. They need to think outside the box and come up with new ways to attract and retain employees. Some of the ways that they can do this include offering employee incentives, providing flexible work schedules, and investing in employee training and development. By taking these steps, businesses can ensure that they have the staff they need to succeed.