New statistics released this past week were just plain scary. If there was ever a need for an emergency summit of our industry’s leaders, now would be the time. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, a record 892,000 accommodation and food-services workers quit their jobs in August. According to an article in INSIDER, the magnitude of that number is partly explained by the fact that accommodation and food services is a big sector that generally employs a lot of people—but the sector’s quit rate also led all others in the economy. In fact, the industry’s quit rate of 6.8 percent far outpaced the record national average of 2.9 percent. Yikes!
One article I recently read told the story of one restaurant co-owner and general manager’s experience working in his restaurant—the long hours, absence from family, etc. In yet another article posted on Green Lodging News this past week, burnout and stress are addressed. “The increase in burnout symptoms is especially high among managers (+54 percent), hospitality (+48 percent), health care (+32 percent) and finance (30 percent) industry workers,” the article said.
Behind every quit there is a story, and the issue can get complex but isn’t this just one big fat chicken that has come home to roost? To a large degree our industry has been underpaying its employees and not advancing men, women, and minorities equally for a long time.
The pandemic has been a game changer when it comes to searching for a job. Previously low-paid workers are finding better opportunities, going back to school, or even retiring. We all know the pandemic has changed the way hotels do business. How have you shifted your business to attract new talent and keep your best employees working for you? I would love to share your best practices with my readers.
The Best of the Best Have Common Practices
Years ago I managed a project that looked at the 100 best managed companies in the world. They had many things in common but one important one was how they treated their employees—in compensation, vacation time, daycare assistance, health care benefits, incentives, creating a fun, team-based environment, profit sharing, etc. I cannot back it up with data, but I suspect hotels that have strong corporate social responsibility/sustainability programs in place have less of a problem losing employees. Working for a greater good is important to people and hotel owners who invest in energy efficiency, water efficiency, etc. run more profitable businesses.
In another article posted on Green Lodging News this past week—the results of a recent report from the American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA) and Kalibri Labs—Orlando hotels are projected to lose $2.27 billion in business travel revenue in 2021, down 81.5 percent compared to 2019 levels. Also, Florida hotels stand to lose more than $5.3 billion, while hotels across the nation are projected to end 2021 down more than $59 billion in business travel revenue compared to 2019, after losing nearly $49 billion in 2020. Those numbers don’t make it easy to pay employees fair wages. I get it. It is, again, a very complex subject—intertwined with COVID-19 concerns, the willingness/unwillingness of folks to get vaccinated, etc.
Our industry is going to learn a lot of important lessons from this pandemic we are going through. Those who adapt will thrive. Those who embrace sustainability will thrive more. Those who continue “business as usual”—well, your guess is as good as mine.
Who is Your Sustainability Champion?
Green Lodging News is always looking to profile sustainability champions in our Personnel Profile section. If you would like to nominate someone for this section of Green Lodging News, contact me at (813) 510-3868, or by e-mail at greenlodgingnews@gmail.com.
Looking for Guest Columnists
Every two weeks Green Lodging News posts a new guest column on its website. (Click here for examples.) The guest column also appears in the weekly e-newsletter. Green Lodging News is currently in need of industry experts to contribute occasional guest columns. Experts may include consultants, architects, designers, suppliers and those who own or operate green lodging establishments. Columns may be articles that take a stance on a particular subject or be strictly educational in nature. Columnists benefit by having their photo included along with a one paragraph description of their company. Interested in writing a column? Contact Glenn Hasek, publisher and editor, at (813) 510-3868, or by e-mail at greenlodgingnews@gmail.com.
Get in the Green Suppliers Spotlight!
Green Lodging News, lodging’s leading environmental news source, publishes Green Suppliers Spotlight, an e-blast to 22,999 subscribers that features the lodging industry’s leading green products and services. The e-blast features multiple vendors—unlike the current Green Supplier Spotlight that allows one supplier to “own” the Green Lodging News subscriber list for one e-blast. (Click here for a Green Suppliers Spotlight sample.)
Green Suppliers Spotlight is published weekly on Thursdays to general managers, owners, management companies, directors of sustainability, directors of engineering, facilities managers and many others who are either in purchasing positions or who influence purchasing decisions. Suppliers of green products and services throughout North America and beyond are invited to participate in the e-blast. (Minimum two suppliers per e-blast.) Green Suppliers Spotlight was created to give vendors an opportunity to reach a high number of industry purchasers at a very low cost—as low as $200 per e-mail. (Click here for rate sheet.)
Those advertising in Green Suppliers Spotlight can include up to 100 words, one image, contact information and multiple links to their website in their ad. At the end of each month, a report will be sent to each supplier with information on delivered e-mails, opens and click-throughs.
Planning Advertising for 2021?
Green Lodging News is accepting reservations for advertising spots for 2021. Many excellent spots are available on our website and in the weekly e-mail newsletter. Many Green Supplier Spotlight dates are also available. Interested in receiving a 2021 media kit? Be sure to contact me as soon as possible at (813) 510-3868, or by e-mail at greenlodgingnews@gmail.com. Media kits can also be accessed by clicking here. Thank you to all those companies that consistently support Green Lodging News.
Newsletter & Green Supplier Spotlight Circulation
The circulation of our weekly e-newsletter and Green Supplier Spotlight currently stands at 22,999. Thank you to our new subscribers for signing up. Be sure to encourage your colleagues to do the same. There are “subscribe” links on the Green Lodging News home page. You may also e-mail greenlodgingnews@gmail.com to be added to our list.
Green Lodging News & Social Media
Green Lodging News now has 1,751 Twitter followers. Thank you to all of those who follow our tweets. In addition to following us on Twitter, be sure to bookmark the Green Lodging News Blog in your browser. More importantly, participate with your comments. Green Lodging News is also on Facebook. Be sure to “Like” us there. Green Lodging News now has 975 Facebook likes.
As always, I can be reached at greenlodgingnews@gmail.com.New statistics released this past week were just plain scary. If there was ever a need for an emergency summit of our industry’s leaders, now would be the time. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, a record 892,000 accommodation and food-services workers quit their jobs in August. According to an article in INSIDER, the magnitude of that number is partly explained by the fact that accommodation and food services is a big sector that generally employs a lot of people—but the sector’s quit rate also led all others in the economy. In fact, the industry’s quit rate of 6.8 percent far outpaced the record national average of 2.9 percent. Yikes!
One article I recently read told the story of one restaurant co-owner and general manager’s experience working in his restaurant—the long hours, absence from family, etc. In yet another article posted on Green Lodging News this past week, burnout and stress are addressed. “The increase in burnout symptoms is especially high among managers (+54 percent), hospitality (+48 percent), health care (+32 percent) and finance (30 percent) industry workers,” the article said.
Behind every quit there is a story, and the issue can get complex but isn’t this just one big fat chicken that has come home to roost? To a large degree our industry has been underpaying its employees and not advancing men, women, and minorities equally for a long time.
The pandemic has been a game changer when it comes to searching for a job. Previously low-paid workers are finding better opportunities, going back to school, or even retiring. We all know the pandemic has changed the way hotels do business. How have you shifted your business to attract new talent and keep your best employees working for you? I would love to share your best practices with my readers.
The Best of the Best Have Common Practices
Years ago I managed a project that looked at the 100 best managed companies in the world. They had many things in common but one important one was how they treated their employees—in compensation, vacation time, daycare assistance, health care benefits, incentives, creating a fun, team-based environment, profit sharing, etc. I cannot back it up with data, but I suspect hotels that have strong corporate social responsibility/sustainability programs in place have less of a problem losing employees. Working for a greater good is important to people and hotel owners who invest in energy efficiency, water efficiency, etc. run more profitable businesses.
In another article posted on Green Lodging News this past week—the results of a recent report from the American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA) and Kalibri Labs—Orlando hotels are projected to lose $2.27 billion in business travel revenue in 2021, down 81.5 percent compared to 2019 levels. Also, Florida hotels stand to lose more than $5.3 billion, while hotels across the nation are projected to end 2021 down more than $59 billion in business travel revenue compared to 2019, after losing nearly $49 billion in 2020. Those numbers don’t make it easy to pay employees fair wages. I get it. It is, again, a very complex subject—intertwined with COVID-19 concerns, the willingness/unwillingness of folks to get vaccinated, etc.
Our industry is going to learn a lot of important lessons from this pandemic we are going through. Those who adapt will thrive. Those who embrace sustainability will thrive more. Those who continue “business as usual”—well, your guess is as good as mine.
Who is Your Sustainability Champion?
Green Lodging News is always looking to profile sustainability champions in our Personnel Profile section. If you would like to nominate someone for this section of Green Lodging News, contact me at (813) 510-3868, or by e-mail at greenlodgingnews@gmail.com.
Looking for Guest Columnists
Every two weeks Green Lodging News posts a new guest column on its website. (Click here for examples.) The guest column also appears in the weekly e-newsletter. Green Lodging News is currently in need of industry experts to contribute occasional guest columns. Experts may include consultants, architects, designers, suppliers and those who own or operate green lodging establishments. Columns may be articles that take a stance on a particular subject or be strictly educational in nature. Columnists benefit by having their photo included along with a one paragraph description of their company. Interested in writing a column? Contact Glenn Hasek, publisher and editor, at (813) 510-3868, or by e-mail at greenlodgingnews@gmail.com.
Get in the Green Suppliers Spotlight!
Green Lodging News, lodging’s leading environmental news source, publishes Green Suppliers Spotlight, an e-blast to 22,999 subscribers that features the lodging industry’s leading green products and services. The e-blast features multiple vendors—unlike the current Green Supplier Spotlight that allows one supplier to “own” the Green Lodging News subscriber list for one e-blast. (Click here for a Green Suppliers Spotlight sample.)
Green Suppliers Spotlight is published weekly on Thursdays to general managers, owners, management companies, directors of sustainability, directors of engineering, facilities managers and many others who are either in purchasing positions or who influence purchasing decisions. Suppliers of green products and services throughout North America and beyond are invited to participate in the e-blast. (Minimum two suppliers per e-blast.) Green Suppliers Spotlight was created to give vendors an opportunity to reach a high number of industry purchasers at a very low cost—as low as $200 per e-mail. (Click here for rate sheet.)
Those advertising in Green Suppliers Spotlight can include up to 100 words, one image, contact information and multiple links to their website in their ad. At the end of each month, a report will be sent to each supplier with information on delivered e-mails, opens and click-throughs.
Planning Advertising for 2021?
Green Lodging News is accepting reservations for advertising spots for 2021. Many excellent spots are available on our website and in the weekly e-mail newsletter. Many Green Supplier Spotlight dates are also available. Interested in receiving a 2021 media kit? Be sure to contact me as soon as possible at (813) 510-3868, or by e-mail at greenlodgingnews@gmail.com. Media kits can also be accessed by clicking here. Thank you to all those companies that consistently support Green Lodging News.
Newsletter & Green Supplier Spotlight Circulation
The circulation of our weekly e-newsletter and Green Supplier Spotlight currently stands at 22,999. Thank you to our new subscribers for signing up. Be sure to encourage your colleagues to do the same. There are “subscribe” links on the Green Lodging News home page. You may also e-mail greenlodgingnews@gmail.com to be added to our list.
Green Lodging News & Social Media
Green Lodging News now has 1,751 Twitter followers. Thank you to all of those who follow our tweets. In addition to following us on Twitter, be sure to bookmark the Green Lodging News Blog in your browser. More importantly, participate with your comments. Green Lodging News is also on Facebook. Be sure to “Like” us there. Green Lodging News now has 975 Facebook likes.
As always, I can be reached at greenlodgingnews@gmail.com.
