Highly Engaged Employees, Highly Profitable Business: How to Keep Your Hotel Staff Happy

As a business owner, of course, you WANT satisfied and engaged employees on your roster. But we would argue that you NEED them. And we have the research to back these claims. 

Just check out these numbers:

If you want to ensure that your staff is engaged, happy, and productive, you need to learn how to measure employee satisfaction, provide incentives, and create a positive workplace culture. Never done it before? You’re in luck! 

Today, we’ll discuss how hotel management can improve the employee experience to benefit both the staff and the organization.

Why is Employee Engagement Important?

When the employees aren’t engaged, the organization fails. Simple as that. The employee’s passion, commitment, and motivation are the driving force behind any successful business. When engaged, employees are more likely to go above and beyond for the organization, taking ownership of their work and helping out in other areas when needed.

How the employer treats its employees is key to having a successful and productive team. According to research from Kenan-Flagler Business School, mentally and materially satisfied employees are:

  • More likely to be honest with their employers
  • More likely to stay productive for long periods of time
  • More likely to stay with their organizations for years

Furthermore, engaged employees create a positive work environment, leading to improved staff retention rates and reduced costs associated with staff turnover.

Ultimately, engagement is crucial for a thriving hotel business, and it’s vital for hotel professionals to prioritize strategies that will increase engagement among their staff.

How Satisfied Employees Benefit Hotel Operations?

A happy customer is a loyal customer. The hospitality industry heavily depends on loyalty to stay profitable. Did you know that less than 10% of customers are usually responsible for roughly 40% of profits

And everyone in the hotel industry knows the old saying: “Happy teams create happy guests which creates great hotels.”

Satisfied employees can positively impact all aspects of hotel operations. They are more likely to provide excellent service to guests, leading to increased guest satisfaction and loyalty.

Additionally, they communicate more effectively with colleagues, leading to more streamlined operations and fewer mistakes. Satisfied employees can also contribute to a more positive work culture, leading to increased staff retention rates and a more productive workforce.

Examples of Good Employee Engagement

Hotel jobs can be stressful. Making reservations, cleaning guest rooms, and spending hours trying to resolve guest issues can all take a toll on a person. However, a manager’s responsibility is not only to uphold standards of service, but also to ensure that their staff is well taken care of and engaged while they work.

Some examples of good engagement include:

  • Providing opportunities for professional development and growth
  • Encouraging open communication and feedback between staff members and departments
  • Offering competitive compensation and benefits packages
  • Creating a positive work culture that values teamwork and collaboration
  • Recognizing and rewarding hard work and achievements
  • Encouraging a healthy work-life balance

Employee Engagement vs. Employee Satisfaction

While engagement and satisfaction are often used interchangeably, they are not the same thing. Employee satisfaction refers to how happy employees are with their jobs and the conditions in which they work.

Employee engagement, on the other hand, refers to the level of commitment and enthusiasm employees have for their work and the hotel’s goals. While satisfied employees may be content with their jobs, engaged employees are actively invested in their work and the success of the hotel.

Therefore, hotel professionals must focus on strategies that increase both employee satisfaction and engagement.

How to Measure Employee Satisfaction?

Measuring employee satisfaction is crucial to maintaining a happy workforce and identifying areas for improvement. Here are some effective methods for measuring employee satisfaction:

Conducting Regular Surveys and Feedback Sessions

Conducting regular surveys and feedback sessions is a popular method for measuring employee satisfaction. These surveys can be done anonymously, allowing employees to provide honest feedback without fear of retaliation. The surveys should cover topics such as job satisfaction, environment, management, compensation, benefits, and skill development opportunities. Feedback sessions can also provide valuable insights into how to improve employee satisfaction and engagement.

Analyzing Employee Turnover Rates

Analyzing employee turnover rates can also provide insight into employee satisfaction. High turnover rates may indicate that employees are dissatisfied with their jobs or the work environment. Hotel professionals should regularly monitor their employee turnover rates and take steps to address any issues that arise.

Monitoring Employee Productivity and Attendance

Monitoring employee productivity and attendance can also provide valuable information about employee satisfaction. A decline in productivity or increased absenteeism may indicate that employees are experiencing burnout or dissatisfaction with their jobs. Hotel professionals should regularly monitor employee productivity and attendance and address any issues that arise promptly.

Scan Online Review Sites and Social Media Platforms

Reviewing employee satisfaction scores from online review sites and social media platforms can also provide insights into employee satisfaction. Sites like Glassdoor and Indeed allow employees to rate their employers and provide feedback on their work experience. Hotel professionals should regularly monitor these sites and social media platforms to gain insight into employee satisfaction levels and take steps to address any issues that arise.

10 Ways to Keep Hotel Staff Members Satisfied

Here are some strategies that hospitality professionals can use to keep their hotel staff satisfied and engaged:

  1. Maintain a Healthy Work Environment

Creating a clean, safe, and comfortable environment for work can help improve employee satisfaction. Hotels should prioritize their staff’s physical and emotional well-being by providing a pleasant work environment.

  1. Encourage Career Development

In spite of what many organizations think, most employees actually like to learn. That’s why nearly 50% of them would gladly switch jobs if a learning opportunity were available.

  1. Conduct Regular Surveys

Successful organizations employ regular surveys for employees to voice their opinions and concerns. This helps management become aware of any issues affecting morale or job satisfaction so that they can take action accordingly.

  1. Healthy Work-Life Balance

According to a 2021 Gallup poll, nearly 75% of workers experienced burnout in the last 12 months. That’s why it’s important to promote a healthy work-life balance. Ensure staff members have access to enough breaks, vacation time, and other relaxation activities that help them stay energized and motivated.

  1. Streamline Guest Communications

Using tools like HelloShift to streamline guest communications can help reduce staff stress and improve communication between departments. With a more efficient communication system, hotel staff can focus on their core responsibilities and improve the overall guest experience.

  1. Improve Workplace Culture

Creating a positive workplace culture that values teamwork and collaboration can lead to a more engaged and motivated workforce. Hotel professionals should prioritize creating a welcoming and positive work environment that encourages collaboration and mutual respect.

  1. Provide Ongoing Support

Offering support and resources to employees can help them feel valued and supported, leading to increased job satisfaction. Hotel professionals should provide employees with resources to support their mental and physical health, as well as other needs they may have.

  1. Introduce Perks and Benefits

Providing perks and benefits like healthcare, retirement plans, and paid time off can show employees that their work is valued and improve job satisfaction. Hotel professionals should consider offering competitive benefits packages to attract and retain top talent.

  1. Track Satisfaction Trends

Tracking employee satisfaction trends over time can help identify patterns and areas for improvement. Hotel managers can monitor their employees and maintain a high satisfaction level among workers using an operations platform like HelloShift.

  1. Invest in Communication Tools

While success depends on more than a few things, oftentimes, the difference between a successful and unsuccessful organization can come down to one thing – communication. More than 85% of managers believe that a lack of communication is the main culprit behind failed products. A good communication tool like HelloShift can improve communication, reduce stress, and boost overall satisfaction.

Use Your Operations Platform to Boost Employee Experience

Investing in employee satisfaction is critical to the success of hotels. When an organization fails to keep the team engaged, the performance of the company as a whole will suffer.

Strong leadership, content employees, and satisfied guests are all equally important for company performance. By investing in communication tools like HelloShift, you’ll be able to achieve all of it.

With HelloShift, you can create a more efficient communication system, improve collaboration, and, ultimately, make life easier for your management and staff. So why not give it a try and see how it can benefit your hotel business?

HelloShift is an integrated, all-in-one platform that allows hotels to digitize everything from housekeeping, hotel guest texting, and team messaging. Everything is in one simple interface that’s easier to use than Facebook.

Digitize your hotel with Staff Collaboration, Guest Messaging, Contactless Checkin, WebChat, and Housekeeping in one app.

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