Hospitality employment in Nashville
This article was provided by North Point Hospitality, who are developing the new tri-brand Marriott hotel slated to open in Nashville this winter.
For several years, the Nashville hospitality industry has grappled with the challenges of workforce fulfillment, with plenty of jobs available but apparently not enough workers to fill them.
Additionally, job seekers have become more selective in their search for the role and company that is right for them. In last month’s blog, we briefly discussed the overall economic impact of hotels coming into the market, and how employment fits into that discussion, this month we’re taking a deeper look at the hospitality industry’s contribution to job Nashville’s job availability and what is needed to recruit in this tight job pool.
The hospitality industry is by nature a people-centric, service-oriented business. It requires people to keep it running like a well-oiled machine. Nationwide, the hospitality industry employs 15,620,400 according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The same report also shows that hospitality is one of the top 20 employment sectors in the United States. Here in Nashville, according to a US Travel Association report on the economic impact of travel, Nashville employs 65,050 in the hospitality industry. In comparison, the healthcare industry of Nashville, which represents the top employment sector, employs approximately 400,000.
As more and more positions come online in the marketplace (there are approximately 5 – 6 positions open for every job seeker), recruiters have looked to perks and online job list services to entice job seekers to the properties. Those looking to find a job or move from their current employment realize that there are many roles out there and are looking at the overall package. Hospitality executive recruiter Marvin Love, President of Marvin Love & Associates says “Job seekers want engagement so they have a clear idea about whether the role is the right one to grow a career, or is it just a stopover until the right opportunity comes available. We recently interviewed twenty-five experienced candidates that said it is not all about the compensation. They are seeking companies that want to listen to their ideas, be part of the decision process, and more importantly want to belong to something that is in their future.”
New hotels coming into the market are already beginning to set themselves apart by holding job fairs to engage, recruit, and encourage new talent. The new SpringHill Suites/Residence Inn/AC Hotel will employ 150 team members, looking for a talent pool of self-driven, enthusiastic people. This new hotel looks to recruitment as an opportunity for creating life-long relationships. The brand looks for entrepreneurial individuals who are often promoted from within and groomed to take on bigger roles as part of the overall company culture.
This dynamic property will house three different hotels under one roof – the first Marriott of its kind in the United States. Owned and operated by North Point Hospitality, much of the management team is comprised of individuals who began their career as line employees throughout the portfolio of hotels owned by the group. The SpringHill Suites/Residence Inn/AC Hotel will be offering an environment tuned to help employees grow and develop.
The new SpringHill Suites/Residence Inn/AC Hotel is a reminder that the new inventory coming into the Nashville market is not slowing anytime soon and that the need for employees is rising dramatically. The hotels offering the opportunity to grow and advance in the competitive marketplace are seen by job seekers as having an advantage over other properties. Nashville continues to be the land of opportunity for those looking for employment in the hospitality industry.