6 effective strategies for hiring and retaining staff in your hotel

Recruiting and retaining hotel staff can become a challenge for the HR team, managers and owners in the industry.

In this article, we are going to teach you some effective strategies to overcome these obstacles and improve the recruitment and retention of talent in your team. In addition, you will learn how to create attractive applications to attract the ideal candidate.

Main obstacles for the hotel industry when recruiting the ideal candidate the ideal candidate

These are some of the main obstacles that you should take into account and that we will explain later on how to solve them:

• Highly competitive sector

There are numerous hotels and companies looking to hire qualified and experienced staff, which makes the supply greater than the demand. In addition, jobs in the hotel industry are often seen as temporary or low-paying jobs, which can deter and demotivate candidates.

• Very high staff turnover rate

Hotel personnel do not usually work for a long period of time in this type of position. This has a negative impact on the quality of service offered to customers, since the lack of job stability and the lack of opportunities for professional development and growth of employees are an impediment to offering a personalized and satisfactory experience to guests.

• Lack of qualified personnel

In the hospitality industry, the lack of qualified staff is a challenge that has affected many hotels around the world. Proper training and experience are critical to providing excellent customer service, which in turn translates into improved hotel reputation and customer loyalty and satisfaction.

In addition, the lack of adequate hotel staff can lead to work overload and stress for employees, which can affect their performance and mental health.

6 strategies for attracting and retaining your hotel staff

To attract and retain potential collaborators, it is essential not only to capture the attention of candidates through effective strategies, but also to offer them different conditions for them to decide to bet on your company.

Here are 6 strategies to help you achieve this:

1. Offers attractive working conditions:

Working conditions are a key factor in a person's decision to accept or reject a job. Offering competitive salaries, social benefits, flexible hours, health insurance and a positive work environment are some of the elements that can make a difference, but most companies already have these in place, so you'll need to go above and beyond.

It is clear that in the hospitality industry, most roles such as housekeeping, reception or catering staff are not eligible for teleworking. However, they can be offered other alternatives to make their working day more flexible and meet their expectations. Some of them can be: offering flexible shifts and rotations between different positions or locations and giving them additional benefits, such as time off, days off and having their birthday off.

In addition to all that, there are other advantages that will make your employees decide to work for you. For example: discounts on hotel services, such as accommodation and restaurants, as well as the possibility of receiving training programs in technical or leadership skills, so that they can improve their skills.

2. Create a personal brand and generate engagement

It is very important to create an attractive brand image that highlights the values and culture of your hotel. To do this, you can use your social platforms as well as your website to share content that highlights your company's values. For example, you can create a section on your website dedicated to employees, where they can share their experiences and testimonials about working at your company. You can also post photos and videos on social networks showing the work environment and the activities that take place in the hotel.

In this way, you will transmit in a very visual and attractive way the benefits and values that characterize your company. Who wouldn't like to work in an environment that motivates and generates happiness?

84% would consider leaving their current job for another job at a company with an excellent corporate reputation (Glassdoor).

3. Convey your company's values

In line with the above, fostering company culture and transmitting corporate values is key to attracting and retaining people who fit your company's culture and values. An employee is less likely to leave the company if his or her values connect with yours. So it is very important that you convey them transparently from the start.

One way to show consistency with the organization's values is through Corporate Social Responsibility initiatives. Candidates tend to value these actions and are more attracted to a company that cares about its environment and community.

Encourages team building team building activities that are committed to the environment. For example, cleaning beaches or parks. This activity, among others, can be an excellent way to highlight the company's commitment to the planet and, at the same time, encourage teamwork and improve the relationship between employees.

In addition, the company can implement recycling garbage cans in its facilities and organize an activity to raise awareness among employees about the importance of recycling. This can include workshops on how to separate and sort waste, as well as the creation of recycling teams to compete against each other. Hotel staff can then incorporate this into their working day and help make the organization more sustainable.

4. Maintain constant feedback with collaborators:

Open and effective communication is essential for hotel staff satisfaction and retention. Fostering a work environment where people can express their opinions, concerns and suggestions, and receive constant feedback , will improve their performance and increase the feeling of belonging within the organization. You can organize weekly or monthly meetings, as you consider, to talk to your collaborators and learn about their evolution, processes and needs.

5. Train your team to perform their work optimally:

To train your team effectively, you can implement online or in-person training programs. These can cover a variety of topics, from specific technical skills to interpersonal skills, such as customer service and conflict resolution.

In addition, you can also provide opportunities for long-term growth and development, such as sponsoring courses and certifications relevant to your employees' jobs. For example, if you have a reception team, you can support them in obtaining a certification in customer service or reservation management.

According to Talentboard, 93% of employees would recommend their workplace to others if they had received an onboarding satisfactory onboarding.

On the other hand, coaching can also be an effective tool for improving the emotional well-being of employees. You may consider hiring a coach to work with your team or provide training to managers so they can become effective and motivating leaders.

6. Implement human resource management software to automate your routine tasks:

Technology is ideal for saving time in application management and improving the employee experience from the very beginning. 

Make sure you have an applicant tracking system (ATS) that allows you to filter and manage applications in a simple way. These types of tools are very useful for organizing and prioritizing resumes according to specific criteria, which helps you focus on the most suitable candidates for each position.

Implementing a workforcemanagement software, such as niikiis, will help you automate routine processes and improve efficiency in personnel management to focus on what really matters: people.

4 Tips for creating attractive candidacies

1. Details the job position:

When creating a job offer for your hotel, it is important that you provide all the details of the position, including job descriptions and responsibilities. In addition, specify the requirements of the vacancy, such as the necessary work experience, required skills, educational background and any necessary certifications.

2. Highlight the benefits:

Be sure to include in the job offer the benefits that employees could obtain by working in your hotel, such as salary, flexible schedules, promotion opportunities, social benefits, continuous training, etc.

3. Offers a simple application experience:

Facilitates the offer registration process so that candidates can apply easily. Offer a user-friendly platform, such as LinkedIn, a simple application form and a clear and transparent selection process. And don't forget to give feedback to the candidate, whether they are selected or don't continue with the process.

4. Be creative with the presentation of the job offer:

A boring and generic job offer will not catch the attention of candidates. Try to be creative with the presentation by using a visually appealing template, graphics, and persuasive wording that will entice the candidate to apply to the company.

In conclusion, attracting and retaining talent in the hospitality industry is a major challenge, but it is possible to achieve it if effective strategies are implemented and attractive working conditions are offered.

Remember that employees are the engine of any company, and keeping a motivated and committed team is key to guarantee success in the sector. If you apply these strategies and offer an attractive and satisfying work environment, you will increase your chances of attracting and retaining the best candidates for your hotel.