Recently, Fortune and Forbes published their “Most Admired Companies” and “100 Best Companies to Work For” issues, respectively. I have to say, it was nice to see how well represented our industry was in both publications.
Not surprisingly, companies such as Marriott International, Hilton Worldwide and Hyatt were on both lists. Four Seasons Hotels & Resorts was featured in Fortune and Wyndham in Forbes. Fortune lauded Hyatt for spending an average of $50,000 updating employee cafeterias to make them feel like restaurants. Every hotel now has a lounge where colleagues have access to computers, TVs and video games. Hotels regularly host Night Owl Breakfasts, when managers serve meals to nightshift workers, share information and gather feedback.
Hilton Worldwide debuted on the Fortune list this year. The publication referenced the global brand surging ahead of the industry by ramping up paid leave to two weeks for dads and adoptive parents—and giving moms 10 weeks off following childbirth.
Four Seasons Hotels & Resorts—a regular on Fortune’s list has implemented a policy whereas all jobs at the department-head level and below are posted for a minimum of five days, and all interested applicants have to be interviewed before an offer can be made to an outside candidate.
When I speak with CEOs on this subject, I am told salary is no longer always the primary recruitment tool. Realizing this, I’d imagine, companies will accelerate their efforts towards implementing initiatives such as these to remain competitive in both recruitment and retention of their employees. Perhaps in 2017, we’ll see a few more hotel companies included on these lists.
On another note entirely, in its May 2016 issue, Forbes named Brian Chesky as one of its “Global Game Changers,” stating “Airbnb is the first smash hit of the share economy; it has provided beds for more than 60 million since 2008. The company offers accommodations in 34,000 cities in 190 countries, including Cuba.” Although a well-documented disrupter to the lodging industry, it’s tough to argue that Airbnb, along with its founder, are indeed game-changers and, in the foreseeable future, you will begin hearing the Chesky name along with the likes of Zuckerberg, Bezos and Gates.
Finally, I would be remiss if I did not recognize the passing of Bill Sipple of HVS Capital Corp. I had known Bill for more than 20 years and considered him not only a colleague, but a friend as well. He will surely be missed by many throughout the industry.