3 Ways the Labor Shortage Will Push Innovation
In this article, Cloudbeds' Co-Founder Richard Castle expresses concern over the current labor shortage plaguing the global hospitality industry and the potential impact this could have on the quality of guest experiences. The author argues that innovation is needed to address this issue, suggesting several areas where modernization could help offset labor shortages and maintain high-quality guest experiences.
I’ve had a lot of incredible travel experiences. But the ones I loved the most would never have happened if not for the meaningful connections I made with hospitality professionals who guided me during my stay. Whether that was the owner of a posada in Brazil or a ryokan in Japan, their passion and talents elevated my trip from average to extraordinary.
I’m not the first to worry that global hospitality staff shortages put remarkable guest experiences like mine at risk. In the US alone, the numbers are worrying. 82% of hotels don’t have enough staff and 26% cited severe shortages according to the AHLA. Leisure and Hospitality is still short 400k employees, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics presented by the Cleveland Research Company. Our industry is indeed recovering, but that doesn’t mask the fact that there’s a permanent shift in where workers want to spend their time. When higher wages can be earned in other flexible, customer-service-based roles, that are less seasonal with shorter hours, many people are turning away from hospitality for good.
The Hotel Yearbook Technology 2023
The 2024 edition of "The Hotel Yearbook (HYB) Technology," curated by EHL's Ian Millar, offers a comprehensive outlook on the emerging technology trends and innovations poised to shape the global hotel industry. It amalgamates insights from a multitude of industry thought leaders, spotlighting key foresight in several tech-oriented fields. This includes anticipated evolutions in the future tech stack, which will drive operational efficiencies, the 'human stack' that explores the intersection of human resources and technology, and the application of Generative AI in creating novel customer experiences. Overall, this HYB edition serves as an essential guide for understanding how technology and innovation will redefine the industry landscape.