Doing More with Less: Increasing Workforce Productivity

The hospitality industry is facing a challenging labor market, with a shortage of skilled workers and rising labor costs. In this context, hotels are under pressure to do more with less, delivering on brand standards and guest expectations with lean operational teams.

To achieve this, hotels need to focus on increasing workforce productivity, building a flexible, multi-skilled workforce, and harnessing technology.

Cross-Train Employees

One approach to boosting productivity is to cross-train employees, allowing them to perform a range of different tasks and roles. This not only increases their versatility but also enables hotels to adjust staffing levels based on demand. By building a multi-skilled workforce, hotels can reduce the number of staff needed to operate at full capacity, saving on labor costs while still delivering high-quality service.

Leverage Technology

Another way to increase productivity is to leverage technology. For example, automated workflows and processes can help to reduce the time and effort required to complete routine tasks. This allows staff to focus on more complex and value-adding activities, such as guest interactions and problem-solving.

Technology can also assist in staff scheduling, tracking productivity, and streamlining communication between teams. With the right technology in place, hotels can optimize labor utilization, minimize downtime, and ensure that staff are deployed efficiently based on new skill sets earned from cross-training.

Develop Staff

To ensure that service quality is not compromised, hotels should also focus on staff training and development. This includes investing in ongoing training and development programs to ensure that employees have the skills and knowledge needed to perform their roles effectively. Training programs can also help to improve employee engagement, which can lead to higher levels of productivity and service quality.

Delivering on brand standards and guest expectations with a lean operational team is possible by increasing workforce productivity. This can be achieved by building a flexible, multi-skilled workforce, harnessing technology, and investing in staff training and development. By taking these steps, hotels can optimize labor utilization, reduce costs, and maintain high levels of service quality, even with a lean team.