Overcoming the Talent Acquisition Challenges in Hospitality

Below, we offer actionable solutions on how to tackle these recruitment hurdles, while exploring how AI-driven platforms like our Reach and Vision can help your business stay ahead.

1. Labour Shortages: How Can You Fill Critical Roles Quickly?

Labour shortages are a widespread issue, especially during peak seasons. With many hotels and restaurants struggling to fill essential positions like housekeeping, front-line staff, and chefs, businesses are often left operating with fewer staff than needed, which can negatively impact service quality.

To overcome labour shortages, businesses need to look beyond traditional hiring practices. One effective strategy is to build partnerships with vocational schools, colleges, and universities that can serve as a pipeline for early career talent. Offering internship programmes and training for entry-level roles can help attract fresh talent while filling critical positions quickly. Additionally, flexible work arrangements, like shift-based schedules, can help attract those who may not be seeking full-time roles

For example, a luxury hotel chain partnered with local colleges to create a pipeline for students studying hospitality management. By offering paid internships with the potential for full-time roles, the hotel chain was able to fill front-line staff positions with young, eager talent during peak tourist seasons.

With our platform, Reach, you can further amplify these efforts by automating job ad placements across platforms most frequented by Gen Z candidates. Through programmatic advertising, Reach ensures your job postings are visible to qualified candidates on platforms like social media and career sites. This targeted approach helps fill staffing gaps quickly, especially during periods of high demand.

2. Attracting Quality Talent: How Can You Stand Out in a Crowded Market?

Attracting quality talent is a top concern for hospitality businesses, particularly when many candidates view other sectors as more appealing. Roles in retail, logistics, and even tech often offer more competitive pay and flexibility, making it harder for hospitality roles to compete.

To attract top talent, it’s important to communicate the unique benefits of working in hospitality. Highlight growth opportunities, career progression, and the potential for employees to work in dynamic, people-focused environments. Craft job ads that speak to Gen Z’s priorities, such as development opportunities and work-life balance. Additionally, using employee testimonials can help prospective candidates see the real-world benefits of working at your establishment.

A boutique hotel group launched a social media campaign featuring video testimonials from current employees, sharing their stories of growth and advancement within the company. This authentic content helped attract early career professionals who were drawn to the idea of a supportive workplace with clear pathways for promotion.

Engaging candidates through dynamic and personalised content is crucial, and that’s where Jamyr, our video engagement platform, comes in. With Jamyr, you can create compelling video content that showcases your company culture, highlights team experiences, and provides a more human touch to your recruitment efforts. For instance, tech companies can use Jamyr to share day-in-the-life videos or team testimonials, offering candidates a behind-the-scenes look at what it's like to work at your organisation. Video content like this can make your company more relatable and appealing, particularly to Gen Z talent, who prefer video-first interactions.

3. High Turnover Rates: How Can You Retain Talent in Hospitality?

The hospitality industry is known for its high turnover rates, which makes staff retention an ongoing challenge. Constantly hiring and training new employees is time-consuming and costly for businesses, leading to operational disruptions.

Retaining talent begins with creating a positive employee experience from day one. A structured onboarding process that makes new hires feel welcome and supported is crucial. Providing ongoing development opportunities and creating clear paths for career progression can also help reduce turnover. Implementing mentorship programmes and offering regular feedback can go a long way in making employees feel invested in their roles and committed to the business.

A global hotel brand introduced a structured onboarding process with mentorship for all new hires. They also established quarterly reviews to offer feedback and career planning, which led to a 20% reduction in turnover within the first year of implementation.

By using tools like Jamyr to personalise onboarding with engaging video content and Vision to track turnover patterns and refine development strategies, businesses can enhance retention.

4. Competitive Hiring Landscape: How Can You Win Over Candidates?

The competition for talent in hospitality is fierce. With many industries vying for the same candidates, hospitality businesses need to find ways to differentiate themselves and win over top talent.

To stand out, it’s essential to highlight what makes your company unique—whether it’s flexible scheduling, discounted meals, or career growth opportunities. Building a strong employer brand, especially through Gen Z-friendly channels like social media, is key.

Reach ensures your job ads reach the most relevant candidates at the right time through programmatic advertising, targeting the platforms they use most. Additionally, Jamyr helps enhance your brand with personalised video content that showcases your company culture and perks in 40+ languages, creating an instant stronger connection with candidates and helping you stand out in a competitive market.

5. Evolving Candidate Expectations How Can You Meet Modern Demands?

Today’s candidates, particularly Gen Z, expect more from their employers. Beyond just a paycheck, they value work-life balance, flexibility, and a positive workplace culture. Meeting these evolving expectations can be a challenge for hospitality businesses that rely on shift work and physical presence.

While it may be difficult to offer remote work, hospitality businesses can still meet candidate expectations by offering flexibility where possible—such as allowing employees to choose their shifts or accommodating requests for time off. Emphasising team culture, employee development, and wellness programmes can also help address these demands.

Additionally, tools like Vision and Brion Al can help by providing real-time insights into what candidates are looking for, allowing businesses to fine-tune their recruitment strategies to meet evolving demands and ensure better alignment with modern expectations.

How Can You Overcome Hospitality’s Recruitment Challenges?

The recruitment marketing landscape in 2025 will require adaptability, emphasising responsible AI use, skills-based hiring, enhancing quality, and driving retention. Teams prioritising innovation and diversification will be better positioned to attract, engage, and retain top talent in the new year. 

If you’ve decided it’s time for your company to transform its hiring efforts to keep up with the times, get in touch with us today.