5 Signs Your Hotel Needs a Staffing Partner

How to Know It’s Time to Call in Reinforcements

In the hospitality industry, guest satisfaction is everything. But behind every 5-star review is a team of staff who showed up, stepped up, and delivered. When your workforce starts to crack under pressure, it doesn’t take long for guests—and your bottom line—to notice.

According to the American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA), nearly 70% of hotels report staffing shortages as their top challenge in 2024, especially in housekeeping and food service roles. If your hotel is struggling to recruit, retain, or keep up with demand, you’re not alone—and you don’t have to solve it alone.

Here are five clear signs that it’s time to bring in a hospitality staffing partner.

1. You’re Constantly Filling Last-Minute Gaps

If you’re spending mornings calling down your employee list trying to cover shifts, or juggling room flips during sell-out weekends, you’re in reactive mode—not strategic planning.

A staffing partner like Standout Staffing provides on-demand coverage and trained professionals who are ready to step in. This helps reduce burnout, stabilize your schedule, and eliminate the chaos of last-minute call-outs.

🧾 According to a 2023 Deloitte hospitality survey, 61% of hotels say inconsistent staffing has a “significant” impact on operations and guest satisfaction.

2. Your Core Team Is Burned Out

Staffing shortages don’t just hurt your operation—they hurt your people. Overworking your core team leads to increased absenteeism, low morale, and high turnover.

When you bring in supplemental staff, you give your team the backup they need. Not only does this protect your current workforce, but it also reduces costly turnover.

📊 Per the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average annual turnover rate in hospitality sits above 70%, often driven by overwork and scheduling strain.

3. Your Standards Are Slipping

Have you noticed guest complaints creeping up? Room inspections failing? Or inconsistencies in cleanliness and service quality?

Those aren’t just signs of operational stress—they’re red flags that your team can’t keep up. A staffing partner ensures you’re never forced to choose between speed and quality.

✨ According to ReviewTrackers, cleanliness is the most commonly mentioned factor in hotel guest reviews, mentioned in nearly 39% of all negative feedback.

4. Hiring Is Taking Too Long (or Going Nowhere)

If your open positions sit unfilled for weeks—or worse, months—it’s costing you. Every day without the right staff leads to missed revenue, poor service, and internal strain.

Staffing agencies dramatically reduce time-to-hire and help you avoid the high cost of bad hires, which can exceed $5,000 per employee when you account for training, lost productivity, and re-hiring.

🕒 A recent report from the Cornell Center for Hospitality Research found that hotels take an average of 36 days to fill key hourly roles—compared to just 5–10 days with a staffing partner.

5. You’re Losing Revenue Opportunities

When you can’t staff an extra floor, take on a banquet, or book a last-minute group, you’re not just short-staffed—you’re missing out on real revenue.

A staffing partner lets you scale up quickly for busy seasons, large events, or unexpected surges in occupancy—without putting strain on your permanent team.

💸 STR reports that U.S. hotel demand is expected to rise 3.3% in 2025, with peak occupancy periods creating sharp pressure on available labor.

Don’t Wait Until It’s Critical

At Standout Staffing, we’ve helped hundreds of properties across the U.S. meet demand, maintain service standards, and protect their core teams. Whether you need last-minute coverage, seasonal support, or a long-term workforce solution—we’re ready.

📩 Let’s talk. Contact us to schedule a complimentary staffing consultation today.