Retaining staff has always been a challenge in the hospitality sector. Especially since turnover rates have soared during the pandemic and have not yet returned to pre-pandemic levels. As a result, the demand for rapid recruitment and strong retention strategies is increasing.
Fortunately, you can implement several proven approaches to boost retention, and one great one is an effective onboarding process. Done right, onboarding can increase retention rates by up to 50%. It can also increase engagement and help new employees settle into their roles and new work environment.
Here’s how hotels can improve onboarding:
1. Excellent organizational skills
During the onboarding process, it's important to keep things organized. You don't want your new employee to arrive eagerly on their first day and have nothing to do. Developing an onboarding guide is essential to keeping you and your new employees productive.
Your onboarding guide should include a comprehensive checklist detailing essential information and a structured 30-60-90 day plan to provide a clear roadmap for your initial tasks. Document important details such as the hotel's core values, operating procedures, and practicalities such as accessing schedules and understanding payroll schedules.
The first part of the onboarding guide is to introduce new employees to the company. This may include a welcome message from company leaders, an overview of the company's goals and vision, and introductions to various team members.
The onboarding guide should also detail the employee's job roles and responsibilities. Include a detailed job description and expectations, a training plan tailored to the role, and key performance indicators.
Don’t forget to introduce new employees to your company culture. During onboarding, talk about company events, traditions, and social activities, and encourage them to participate in company-wide initiatives or committees.
2. Help me get started
In the hospitality industry, successful onboarding is extremely important as it sets the tone for the entire experience with your organization. A smooth and welcoming onboarding process builds confidence in new hires, making them feel valued and motivated from the start. This positive adoption fosters loyalty and commitment and reduces turnover, a common problem in the hospitality sector.
The main goal of onboarding is to help new employees get started by understanding their roles and responsibilities. In addition to providing thorough training and support, make sure you get started the right way. Don’t burden them with mundane paperwork. The hospitality sector is moving at a fast pace and new employees want to jump straight into training. Before you begin, it's important to streamline the process by transferring all necessary forms and documents digitally to ensure your employees are fully immersed in their new roles.
To stay competitive, use a platform that can digitize your onboarding journey. One report found that 77% of hospitality workers who had a positive onboarding experience expressed loyalty to their current employer. This highlights the importance of creating a seamless and engaging onboarding process to increase employee satisfaction and promote long-term commitment and retention within the hospitality industry.
3. Make the most of your onboarding resources
Given the dynamic environment of the hotel industry, leveraging online onboarding resources is essential to ensure an effective and efficient onboarding process. Those looking for insight into how to create a good onboarding experience can use online resources to help navigate this in the hotel industry. Embracing digital platforms can help ensure a smooth transition for new employees into their roles, while minimizing administrative burden and paperwork.
Companies in the hospitality industry can leverage online resources to provide comprehensive training materials, interactive modules, and digital forms that new employees can access before they join the company. This accelerates onboarding timelines and allows employees to focus on absorbing essential information and immersing themselves in their new role from day one.
Online resources also serve as a valuable tool for businesses looking for guidance on creating a great onboarding experience tailored to the unique needs of the hotel industry. From best practices to industry-specific insights, these resources provide invaluable assistance in designing a powerful onboarding program that aligns with your organization's goals and values.
Whether it's understanding customer service standards, mastering operating procedures, or embracing company culture, online resources provide a wealth of knowledge to help hotels effectively navigate the complex process of onboarding.
4. Provide excellent education
Providing quality training to new hotel industry employees during the onboarding process ensures that employees understand their roles and responsibilities. Well-trained staff are able to deal effectively with customer inquiries, resolve issues quickly and maintain the high quality standards that are synonymous with the hospitality sector.
Comprehensive training builds employees' confidence and helps them feel prepared to excel in their positions. This confidence boosts employee morale, contributes to job satisfaction and retention, and reduces turnover, which is critical to the hotel industry.
Excellent training during onboarding helps promote a positive company culture and teamwork. Employees with the necessary skills and knowledge can collaborate more effectively with their colleagues, resulting in smoother operations and improved customer satisfaction.
Overall, investing in excellent training during onboarding is the foundation for success in the hotel industry. This ensures that new employees are prepared to provide exceptional service, contributes to employee satisfaction and retention, and ultimately improves the reputation and success of your business.
5. Integrate them into your team
Integrating new employees into your team during onboarding is essential to establishing a sense of belonging and maximizing their potential contributions. Promote collaboration and teamwork as new employees get to know their colleagues, understand their role within the team, and learn how to communicate and collaborate on projects. Integration helps build trust and camaraderie among team members and creates a supportive work environment where everyone feels valued and respected.
Integrating new hires into your team also improves productivity and efficiency. When employees feel connected to their colleagues and understand how their role fits into broader team goals, they are more likely to collaborate effectively, share ideas, and contribute to shared goals. This synergy boosts morale and motivation, leading to improved engagement and performance.
Additionally, integrating new employees into your team from the beginning helps reduce feelings of isolation and uncertainty. By providing opportunities for social interaction, mentorship, and support, companies can help new employees feel welcome and supported as they explore their new roles.