According to ISHC members, 43% surveyed see better compensation (i.e. higher salaries and performance-based pay) as a key to improving our industry’s employment outlook, followed by 30% touting career advancement as critical according to the ISHC WorldView study. Benefits, Flexibility, Training, and Recruitment were also noted as key factors.

ISHC’s Aurora Dawn Reinke, Founder of Astrapto LLC, weighed in, “A spectrum of dignity and equality matters to future generations – from living wages and benefits for the lowest line staff to opportunity and ability to have a positive impact for managers and college grads.”

Many ISHC members feel a greater awareness of hospitality as a viable career path should be the focus. “Education/exposure earlier on in the hospitality industry. No one ever heard a fifth grader say ‘I want to be a hotel manager.’ The hospitality industry is virtually unknown as an opportunity for employment,” commented Ted Mandigo, ISHC, President of TR Mandigo & Company.

Cecilia Gordon, ISHC, Director, Goulston & Storrs noted “I have seen our industry truly offer real opportunities for advancement, which is increasingly unusual in the world, and I think the industry should emphasize that much more strongly.”

Several ISHC members felt the industry should evolve to attune to generational nuances. Leora Lanz, ISHC, Owner of LHL Communications indicated, “So much has to change in the recruitment process to keep millennials and gen z’s even interested in our industry. Today’s generation looks at hotels from a real estate perspective or not at all; if it does not make them money, very few are interested in the service and hospitality aspects.”

Debby Cannon, ISHC, Director of Georgia State University’s Cecil B. Day School of Hospitality advised, “Clearer career paths that are more realistic for millennial advancement expectations; Emphasizing the role of creativity in the workplace and how entrepreneurial talents are tapped even if working for a large corporation.”

About ISHC WorldView

To shed light on the critical issues affecting the hospitality industry, the International Society of Hospitality Consultants tapped into the brain trust of its 230+ members from around the globe. The ISHC WorldView provides an honest perspective on the state of the industry and how some of the key concerns can be addressed going forward. This year’s report focuses on the major issues impacting the hospitality industry today in regards to Brands, Consumers, Innovation & Technology, the Sharing Economy, Hotel Performance, Security and the Workforce. In some cases, the responses are blunt or may even reflect opposing views. Nevertheless, the diversity of viewpoints within the organization provides valuable insights as we confront the challenges impacting our industry.

About ISHC

The International Society of Hospitality Consultants is truly The Leading Source for Global Hospitality Expertise, represented by over two hundred of the industry’s most respected professionals from across six continents. Collectively, ISHC members provide expert services in over fifty functional areas and have specialized skills in virtually every segment of the hospitality industry. ISHC is dedicated to promoting the highest quality of professional consulting standards and practices for the hospitality industry. Candidates undergo a rigorous screening process, ensuring that all ISHC members have a reputation of integrity and are qualified by their experience, training, and knowledge to develop and express sound judgment on industry issues. Additional information about the organization, along with a directory of ISHC members, is available on the ISHC website at ishc.com.