The winter holidays are a critical period for the hospitality industry. With 46% of people expected to travel, and nearly half of them likely to stay at hotels or rental properties, the pressure is on to deliver exceptional guest experiences. To meet this demand, hospitality businesses need to rapidly scale their workforce. But finding and keeping reliable help can be challenging, especially with the sector facing a 73.8% annual turnover rate – significantly higher than the national average of 13%.

This is where a Vendor Management System (VMS) becomes essential. It's the key to efficiently sourcing, onboarding, and managing a flexible workforce that can handle the holiday rush.

Seasonal Staffing Challenges in Hospitality

• Burnout & Morale: The client-facing nature of hospitality work makes employees highly susceptible to burnout, especially during peak seasons like the holidays. Increased customer traffic creates a more demanding and stressful work environment. Seasonal staff may also lack a sense of long-term commitment, making them more prone to disengagement.
  
  
• Shift Scheduling: Managing schedules for a large, variable workforce becomes increasingly difficult during the holidays. Employers need to account for employees’ shift preferences, vacations, illnesses, and emergencies. Temporary seasonal staff, many of whom are part-time, may have a greater need for flexible hours or specific shift times, further complicating scheduling.
  
  
• Faster Onboarding & Training: Onboarding for seasonal staff can be rushed. This means workers may not receive comprehensive training, which can impact service quality and increase the likelihood of errors. Poorly-trained temp workers may feel unsupported in their roles, leading to dissatisfaction and potential turnover.
  
  

How a VMS Optimizes Your Seasonal Workforce

A VMS offers strategic advantages for hospitality businesses looking to optimize their temporary workforce:

• Rapidly Scale Your Talent Pipeline: A VMS allows you to quickly source, onboard, and manage a flexible workforce, ensuring you have the right people at the right time.  Tap into diverse talent channels, including part-time workers, direct-sourced candidates, and contractors.  This ensures you're not limited to a single source for your staffing needs.
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• Combat Burnout and Boost Morale: Empower workers to choose shifts that fit their schedules, reducing burnout and improving work-life balance. This can be a major factor in attracting and retaining top talent, especially during demanding periods.
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• Optimize Shift Scheduling: A VMS provides automated scheduling tools and real-time visibility to ensure optimal coverage and minimize scheduling conflicts.
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• Streamlined Onboarding and Training: Reduce time spent on manual onboarding tasks with a VMS. This allows managers to focus on providing new hires with the necessary training and support they need to be successful.

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Network: Hospitality’s Key to Seasonal Staffing Success

A recent case study with a global food services leader is a testament to how Network’s platform can reshape workforce management for seasonal staff in the hospitality sector. This industry giant, with over 500,000 worldwide employees, faced challenges in retaining and managing temporary staff across its diverse operations. By adopting Network’s workforce management technology, the company streamlined recruiting and onboarding processes, leveraged AI-powered shift allocation, and implemented real-time feedback tools - all of which led to increased employee satisfaction and a more resilient seasonal workforce. 

These capabilities allowed managers to anticipate workforce needs and address staff concerns proactively, ultimately creating an environment where seasonal workers felt valued and were more likely to return for future peak periods. Through Network’s data-driven insights and optimized shift scheduling, the company not only reduced labor costs by 18%, but also improved engagement and retention among seasonal employees, seeing a 25% increase in their internal talent pool utilization. 

Best Practices for Managing Your Seasonal Workforce with a VMS

• Offer Competitive Compensation and Incentives: A VMS can help you manage and track compensation and incentive programs, ensuring fair pay and rewarding top performers.
  
  
• Create a Positive Work Environment: Use the communication features within your VMS to foster a welcoming and inclusive culture where seasonal staff feel valued.
  
  
• Leverage Data-Driven Insights: Use the analytics provided by your VMS to monitor workforce performance and identify areas for improvement.
  
  

Managing a seasonal workforce effectively during the holidays is crucial for maintaining high service standards and enhancing guest satisfaction. A VMS provides the tools and technology to quickly scale your workforce, optimize scheduling, and improve the employee experience, ensuring your hospitality business can thrive during the busiest season.

As the holiday season approaches, consider how a VMS can elevate your seasonal staffing strategy. Contact our sales team to explore Network’s capabilities today!

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