A New UCF Poll Reveals Truth About Hospitality Hiring

A New UCF Poll Reveals Truth About Hospitality Hiring: ‘We Continue To Search Every Day.’

 As per a poll conducted by the Rosen College of Hospitality Management at UCF, staffing remains a major issue for the hospitality sector, especially Central Florida’s resorts, and adjacent theme park attractions.

With hospitality and tourism being a significant economic engine for Orlando and its surrounding areas, businesses should reconsider how they operate if they want to find it easier to acquire and retain talented employees, according to UCF professor Dr. Robertico Croes.

Jay Leonard is attempting to do this. He is the general manager of the Wyndham Lake Buena Vista Resort, and he is looking for fresh employees.

“We still search every day,” Leonard says.

He’s had success building his staff from a tiny group of roughly seven employees that kept the resort functioning during the COVID-19 epidemic when he found himself handling practically every duty at the resort at some time.

Guests may have spotted the boss, for example, preparing Mickey waffles at the breakfast bar. That is what Leonard believes teamwork entails.

“I learned a lot about my colleagues and myself,” Leonard, who began his career in housekeeping, recalls.

The most difficult challenge, though, is finding people to fill unfilled positions right now. Leonard has noted that individuals emphasize the need for flexible schedules that allow them to balance their personal life and family time.

This is also consistent with Croes’ poll. According to his poll, potential employees throughout the country want higher pay and professional advantages such as promotions.

Croes claims that more than half of those who quit hospitality employment across the country are not returning. Many people in the hotel business who are still working are contemplating leaving.

According to Leonard, most resort and hotel employment now pay above the minimum wage. It’s at least $15 an hour, and he believes the compensation puts him on par with his hospitality competitors at other resorts.

He claims he is attempting to be flexible, promotes individuals, and express their beliefs in the hopes that this strategy would lead to a larger team for him soon.