I asked job seekers what they thought about working in hospitality

We need to hire more people to help us provide the sort of hospitality we want for our guests.

But how do people view a career in hospitality?

I went to a career fair this week and asked a bunch of people looking for work.

Listen to what I learned:

(Listen on Spotify or Apple Podcasts)

Here are the top 5 things that stood out to me:

#1 Many thought working in hotels was a good career option 

• “It sounds like a fun environment”

• “I’d love to work in a beautiful hotel”

This surprised me, given the number of unfilled jobs we have...

#2 People from the US were less likely to have a favorable view of working in hospitality

Those I spoke with from countries across Europe and Asia had a much better view of working in and around hotels.

#3 The range of career options within hospitality was seen as very limited

Most I spoke with seeking technical or leadership roles had no idea they could use their skills in hospitality.

This couldn't be further from the truth of course...

#4 Those looking for executive roles often hadn't considered hospitality because they were unaware of the opportunity it holds

One former Zoom leader wanted his next job to be in tech since he saw more opportunities to create value.

Again, we know this misses how much opportunity there is…

#5 Those looking for entry-level jobs wanted:

• "Pay that's competitive with my other options"

• "Some of the amazing food they serve!"

• "Help with commuting expenses"

• "To be respected"

• "Transparency in how the business is run"

Overall, it was cool to see so many people open to a career in hospitality - but eye-opening to hear how few understood the opportunities that exist.

We need to do a much better job communicating the advantages of working in every area of hotel businesses.

In the weeks ahead, I will be asking many more people - both inside and outside of hospitality - how we can attract more talented people to join our industry.

Let me know here if you're interested in this research.