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If you thought post-pandemic hotel staffing shortages were getting better, think again. According to a May 2024 study by the American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA), more than three-quarters (76%) of hotels surveyed reported staff shortages, with 13% citing “severe” shortages. That’s an increase from the previous year, when 67% of hoteliers said they were short-staffed, with 12% calling the shortfall “serious.”

What happened? A report by Northstar’s Phocuswright notes that college enrollment has declined in recent years, and “among those aspiring to a secondary education, fewer are choosing hospitality careers,” the report said. “The reasons vary, but concerns about long hours, low wages and a lack of remote work options are prompting many potential clients to focus on other industries.” For those choosing to pursue a career in hospitality, mentoring opportunities may be available Limitations: “In the wake of the pandemic, many of the most experienced executives have moved on to other hotel companies, formed their own consulting businesses, or retired.”

The ongoing hotel talent crisis continues to create challenges for event organizers working with host hotels throughout the planning process due to a lack of responsiveness – keeping 41% of planners awake at night, according to a Development Consultants International (DCI) survey . Recent Insights Report.

When I looked at lodging data, another trend that kept popping up — business leisure — was more positive. While this is not an unfamiliar phenomenon to planners, the practice of increasing business travel time has accelerated in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, especially among millennials. A whopping 67% of bleisure trips begin with an itinerary meeting, which means event organizers need to pay close attention to the hotels they work with and the quality of the experience from the attendee’s perspective, from room service to their service levels at Received throughout your stay. The continued interest in combining business and leisure makes destination and accommodation options more important than ever.

One benefit I’ve noticed about these hospitality shifts: Technology continues to advance, allowing existing staff to focus more on human interactions. According to European software company Mews, hoteliers now rely on artificial intelligence to help complete repetitive tasks and answer common questions that would otherwise bog down busy staff, while hotel apps allow customers to manage their bookings, payments and Query yourself in and out. But Phocuswright warns that this is not a permanent solution to the ongoing talent shortage: “While technology is making hotels more efficient,” the report says, “people still have expectations for service, quality and innovation that are only With a dedicated and well-trained team in place.”

Kathy Gale is the editor-in-chief held.

Group, business travel recovery

Leisure demand is slowing, but group and business travel demand is growing to pre-pandemic levels.

“Group revenue per available room increased more than 10% year-over-year, driven by strong demand for corporate and social meetings and events.” Hilton President and CEO Chris Nassetta said of the brand’s 2024 fiscal year During the second quarter results, it was stated that the group’s ranking for the whole year has increased by 10% compared with last year, and the ranking will rise to about 10% in the next few years.

The same is true for other brands – Marriott International reported a 9% year-over-year increase in global group revenue at the end of the second quarter, according to CoStar. Hyatt CFO Joan Bottarini also attributed systemwide RevPAR growth to business and group travel.

Bleisure in business travel: a quick look

• Nearly eight in 10 bleisure travelers (79%) say they are volunteering for business trips more frequently so they can extend and enjoy some vacation time.
• U.S. business travelers take more than 405 million long-distance business trips each year, and about 60% of those trips include additional vacation time (243 million trips).
• 41% of travel managers are noticing an increase in colleagues requesting extended stays on work trips for leisure purposes.

source: travel allowance