Hospitality has always been synonymous with creating unforgettable experiences, but technology is rapidly transforming the industry and creating opportunities for our team members to gain valuable expertise. From mobile check-ins to AI-powered recommendations, these advancements not only enhance operations but also provide hotel employees with valuable tech skills, such as data organization and analytics, that can open doors to broader career advancements.
To attract today’s tech-savvy jobseekers—especially Millennials and Gen Z—hospitality employers should emphasize innovation and the chance to work with cutting-edge systems. Highlighting the digital tools your team uses, such as learning management systems (LMS), reservation platforms or scheduling software, can transform roles from traditional service jobs into career-building opportunities.
Key strategies to update your recruiting approach:
- Promote tech skills in job ads: Shift from traditional phrasing like “Front Desk Clerk Needed for Busy Hotel” to more forward-thinking headlines such as “Join Our Hotel Team and Become a Specialist in Guest-Centric Tech Solutions.” Emphasize the tools new hires will use, such as reservation systems or event planning platforms and how these skills will enhance their career potential.
- Expand recruitment channels: Use social media, tech-focused job boards, and university career platforms to reach new candidates and share videos or employee testimonials that showcase how technology is used in your daily operations.
- Integrate technology in recruitment: Leverage applicant tracking systems, video interview platforms and AI-powered resume screening to streamline hiring while demonstrating a modern workplace.
- Offer tech-focused training: Implement internal workshops, mentorship programs or certification incentives from tech providers and highlight these learning opportunities in recruitment materials to showcase your investment in employee growth.
- Highlight success stories: Share real examples of employees who advanced their careers by mastering technology at your organization, such as a reservations agent who transitioned into a data analyst role using their CRM expertise.
- Sell your tech in interviews: Hands-on experiences as a part of the interview process could include letting front desk candidates explore your property management system in training mode or showcasing how scheduling software optimizes workforce planning.
Attracting tech-savvy talent to the hospitality industry isn’t just a recruitment challenge—it’s an opportunity to reshape the way our industry is perceived. By showcasing the cutting-edge tools and growth opportunities within your organization, you can attract innovative, motivated talent who see hospitality as a progressive industry with unlimited potential. HM
Patrick Yearout, FMP, CHT is the Director of Innovation, Recruiting, and Training for Ivar's & Kidd Valley Restaurants. He is a past president and active member of the Council of Hotel and Restaurant Trainers (chart.org).
This article was originally published in the May edition of Hotel Management magazine. Subscribe here.