The Future of Hospitality and Aspirations for Our Profession

Hospitality, and our profession as a whole, faces a projected shortfall of more than 14 million jobs by 2030. Negative perceptions of our industry, widening skills gaps and the continuing challenge of attracting and retaining talented people are just some of the issues employers across the world now face.

So how do we respond? More importantly, how do we ensure that our profession not only survives, but thrives?

Creating a Profession People Aspire to Join

As leaders, we must develop a wide range of solutions that inspire people to choose hospitality as a career and, just as importantly, encourage them to remain within it.

Employers have a responsibility to support, develop and value their people. If they fail to do so, we risk losing some of our very best talent to other industries that offer better opportunities, greater flexibility and stronger career development.

Recruitment alone will never solve the problem. Retention must become just as important.

Bringing our Profession together.

Collectively, if we work together to modernise our profession, we have the opportunity to create a modern network of shared ideals, much like the way Les Clefs d’Or is united by common values, standards and purpose.

It is for us to define who we are, what we represent, how we are perceived and, ultimately, how our people are treated.  There will always be stories of poor employers and disappointing employees. Every profession has them. But they should never define us.

Our industry has reached a crossroads. Will employers continue to improve working environments that encourage talented people to join our profession?

Will employees continue to raise standards, embrace learning and pursue continual improvement?     The answer lies with all of us.

Building a Better Future

Our profession can become one of the most rewarding careers in the world.

By placing greater emphasis on wellbeing, genuine duty of care, professional development, healthier working practices, fair remuneration and meaningful career opportunities, we can build an industry that people are proud to join and reluctant to leave.

We are all connected by the history of our profession, but we should never become prisoners of it.

Instead, let us take the very best of our traditions and build an even better future for the next generation.