The holiday season is upon us, and it’s going to be a busy one. As a hotel manager, you’re preparing to host hundreds — or even thousands — of travelers. Whether they’re vacationing with family and friends or in town to see them, they need to make your hotel their temporary residence.
Now is the time to start grooming your staff for the craziness of the coming weeks. Here’s a few ways to help them prepare for the upcoming travel boom.
Manage Expectations
Many of your employees have likely been on the team long enough to have experienced at least one holiday season, but this will be a first for newer hires. Get everyone on the same page by holding a staff meeting to discuss the increase in customer volume and what you’ll need from them. This is also a great time to talk about any special events, services, and other offerings available to customers during this time of year.
Create Vacation Policies
You want your team to enjoy the holiday season, but you also need all hands on deck. Therefore, creating vacation policies that outline certain blackout dates and/or the number of days employees can take off during a certain time period is important. Share these rules as soon as possible, so people can plan accordingly.
Set Schedules in Advance
The holiday season is hectic for everyone, so minimize the chaos by creating employee schedules earlier than usual. Knowing when they’ll be working — including holidays — will allow people to plan accordingly with their loved ones. For example, if an employee knows now they’ll be working during the afternoon on New Year’s Day, they can plan a celebration with their loved ones during the morning hours.
Hire Temporary Staffers
If you think the influx of holiday business will stretch your staff too thin, consider bringing on temporary staffers. These professionals can assist with the extra workload, so customers continue to receive outstanding service and your employees don’t have to work crazy hours. Keep temporary workers on staff as long as you need them, with no obligation to continue their employment when business slows down.
If you need to bulk up your staff for the holiday season, Malone Workforce Solutions is here to help. Get in touch today to find out how we can be of assistance!