Tourism is back in the U.S. - but hotel workers are not

The pandemic warranted a new limited and self service approach for hotels, resulting in increased worker animosity as these policies have endured

Hotels and resorts adapted to more efficient staffing practices during the pandemic, and now, three years later, pandemic-induced measures such as self-service kiosks and reduced housekeeping have become standard practices for many businesses grappling with increasing labor costs and persistent job vacancies.

Key takeaways

While employment levels in various industries have rebounded since 2020, the accommodation industry continues to employ approximately 238,000 fewer workers than it did before the health crisis. This staffing gap is expected to endure;

Nowhere is the impact more pronounced than in Las Vegas, where one out of every four people is employed in the leisure and hospitality sector. With more than 17,000 job vacancies in the city's accommodation industry, the unemployment rate has reached 6.1%, the highest among major metropolitan areas in the country, despite job growth in other sectors;

Las Vegas showcases cutting-edge technology in its hospitality industry. Prominent hotels offer guests a seamless check-in experience with minimal human interaction through self-check-in and mobile entry. Drink-dispensing machines are now the norm at resorts like the MGM Grand, and robots named Elvis and Priscilla are handling room deliveries at Marriott's Renaissance.

Get the full story at The Seattle Times