Hotel Staffing Shortage Continues into Vacation Season

Hotels are no closer to solving their staffing problem as they enter the summer vacation season. Earlier this week, CEOs of five of the world’s major hotel brands gathered at the annual New York University (NYU) International Hospitality Industry Investment Conference at the New York Marriott Marquis in New York City to discuss staffing and other issues.

The hotel CEOs suggested immigration reform to allow more workers into the country to work as hotel housekeepers and other staff, The Points Guy reports. However, the CEOs and panelists at the conference admitted this solution is unlikely to materialize soon due to hesitation from Congress.

The overall U.S. hospitality labor workforce is still down about 1.3 million jobs from pre-pandemic levels. Hotels are setting higher rates to keep up with inflation as well as recover the money they lost during the pandemic shutdown. However, guests paying higher rates will have an expectation of increased services.

Opt-in housekeeping instead of automatic daily cleanings will continue into the waning days of the pandemic and beyond. Although most companies have indicated over the last year that daily housekeeping service won’t disappear at luxury hotels, an opt-in approach gives guest the choice of whether they want someone in their room daily. The CEOs noted some of their luxury travelers don’t want daily housekeeping.

Although many hotels may be turning down guests this summer saying they are full, the CEOs revealed that the hotels may have just sold out the rooms they have enough staff to manage. Many hotels will leave a floor or two of guest rooms empty because they don’t have enough housekeeping staff to clean them.

Hotels will continue to focus on sustainability, with more chains eliminating the single-use plastics used for small shampoo bottles and replacing them with wall-mounted soap and shampoo dispensers. Hotels will also continue to encourage the practice of reusing towels instead of replacing them daily.