Deloitte’s 2016 Travel and Hospitality Industry Outlook cites recruiting and retaining the right people as one of the four biggest challenges facing the tourism and hospitality industry. The report identifies the industry’s increasingly specialized jobs, as well as options for better pay outside of the industry, as key factors contributing to this problem. It also calls out an existing perception that the tourism and hospitality industry does not offer “abundant long-term career prospects” causing high turnover rates.

In the midst of corporate consolidation, industry fragmentation and new competition for talent, hotels and restaurants are challenged to overcome outdated perceptions and antiquated practices in order to attract and retain employees who can effectively deliver on the guest service promise.