About three-quarters U.S. hoteliers surveyed in May by the
American Hotel & Lodging Association reported they continue to face
staffing shortages, a figure that declined a bit year over year but increased
from a January survey.
Seventy-six percent of the 456 hoteliers surveyed May 16-24
by AHLA indicated they were short-staffed, down from 82 percent in May 2023 but
up
from 67 percent in January. About 13 percent of respondents in the most
recent survey indicated they were “severely understaffed,” a level at
which the shortage affects the hotel’s ability to operate.
To address the shortage, according to AHLA, “86 percent
of respondents have increased wages, 52 percent have offered greater
flexibility with hours, and 33 percent have expanded benefits to cope with the
nationwide workforce shortage.” Still, 79 percent indicated they remain
unable to fill open positions, and on average respondents said they were trying
to fill seven positions per property.
“Strong summer travel demand and a nationwide workforce
shortage have combined to create more pay, perks, and upward mobility for
current and prospective hotel employees,” said AHLA interim president
and CEO Kevin Carey in a statement. “But hotels need access to more
workers to continue creating jobs.”
One week ago, however, a panel of the CEOs of some of the
largest hotel companies said
their hotels were staffed. Each CEO at New York University’s annual
International Hospitality Industry Investment Conference last week—Marriott
International’s Anthony Capuano, IHG Hotels & Resorts’ Elie Maalouf, Hilton
Worldwide’s Christopher Nassetta, Hyatt Hotels Corp.’s Mark Hoplamazian and Accor’s
Sébastien Bazin—agreed that staffing has at least returned, and in some cases
have exceeded, pre-pandemic levels.
