'Hotels are Hiring' Ad Campaign to Fill More Than 100,000 Open Jobs

WASHINGTON – July 15, 2021 – To help fill thousands of open hotel jobs and communicate the benefits of a career in the hotel industry, today the American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA) and its charitable giving arm, the American Hotel & Lodging Foundation (AHLA Foundation) announced a new advertising campaign across five major hotel markets.

The new advertisement will run until early August on digital platforms, radio and in print in select markets.

With leisure travel resuming, the hotel industry needs to fill thousands of open positions to meet an uptick in consumer travel demand. To entice more workers to join the industry, hotels are offering employees more competitive pay, flexible scheduling, and additional benefits, including paid time off, health care benefits, retirement savings and more. With open positions in housekeeping, management, food and beverage, guest services and more, hotels also provide transferable skills that allow for career opportunities around the globe.

“On the heels of the worst economic crisis on record for our industry, hotels are now facing a rapidly emerging issue of staffing shortages, particularly in vacation destinations. Hotels are in the midst of a hiring spree as we welcome the return of leisure travelers, and this campaign will help raise national awareness about open positions and the benefits of a career in hospitality,” said Chip Rogers, president and CEO of AHLA. “Hotels, especially those in urban markets, have a long road to regaining what we lost during the pandemic. Ensuring we can fill positions to meet a rise in guest demand is a critical step as we work toward a full recovery.

“Hotels are committed to attracting, retaining, and educating individuals for lifelong careers in a growing and vibrant field. People are the heart of hospitality, and the AHLA Foundation is proud to build on its legacy of opening doors of opportunity for those looking to pursue hospitality careers,” said Rosanna Maietta, president and CEO of the AHLA Foundation. “With thousands of open hotel positions nationwide—from management to guest services—the AHLA Foundation offers programs to help prospective and existing hotel employees gain new skills and reach their dreams while creating lifelong, fulfilling careers.”

The hotel industry offers 200 different career paths with transferrable skills that allow workers to move across positions throughout the global hotel industry. Through the AHLA Foundation, the hotel and lodging industry supports employees at all stages of their careers by providing professional development workshops, apprenticeships, and academic scholarships. With 80 percent of entry-level workers eligible for a promotion in less than one year and 50 percent of hotel general managers starting in an entry-level position, the hotel industry creates plentiful opportunities for upward mobility.

To help associates advance in their careers, the AHLA Foundation awards nearly $100,000 in professional development scholarships each year and offers two registered apprenticeship programs, which combine on-the-job learning with related education to help associates advance and earn a fast-track to a raise and promotion. The AHLA Foundation also awards $1 million in academic scholarships each year and works with over 70 affiliated schools.

The HotelsareHiring.com portal will provide resources for job seekers to help them learn about a career in the industry and apply for open jobs.

For more information and a full list of open positions visit hotelsarehiring.com, powered by Hcareers, or check out hotel job listings on Indeed.com.

About AHLA

The American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA) is the sole national association representing all segments of the U.S. lodging industry. Headquartered in Washington, D.C., AHLA focuses on strategic advocacy, communications support and workforce development programs to move the industry forward. In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, hospitality was the first industry impacted and it will be among the last to recover. That is why AHLA is committed to promoting safe travel while also creating a standardized safety experience nationwide through the Safe Stay initiative. With an enhanced set of health and safety protocols designed to provide a safe and clean environment for all hotel guests and employees, hotels across America are ready to welcome back travelers when they are ready to travel. Learn more at www.ahla.com.

About The AHLA Foundation

The AHLA Foundation, the charitable giving arm of the American Hotel & Lodging Association, is dedicated to helping people build careers, improve their lives, and strengthen the lodging industry. We are committed to elevating, educating, and empowering individuals and the public on the industry’s story of opportunity and advancement. Since its founding in 1953, the Foundation has distributed over $29 million in support of the industry and is committed to ensuring a strong and viable workforce for the entire lodging industry. The Foundation is funded solely by contributions from generous individuals and companies who want to give back to the hotel industry and ensure a successful future. Learn more at www.ahlafoundation.org.