Staycations Boost Hospitality Industry This Summer

For many, travel plans which were delayed or canceled in 2020 were finally executed over the past couple of months. However, not all Americans have the chance or feel comfortable enough with travel to journey far from home for their vacation plans. Rather than spend the summer at home, the idea of taking a “staycation” provides a chance for people to enjoy the relaxation of a typical vacation in their town or city.

What is a Staycation? 

A typical vacation involves journeying outside your hometown, state, or even country. For many, it provides an escape from everyday life and the responsibilities that come with that. However, for those who don’t have the chance to travel far from home, a staycation provides many of the same benefits. Staycations refer to time spent relaxing and enjoying time off work, but just doing so in your own home or in an establishment in your own town or city. Many people opt for a hotel rather than staying home for the added comfort of cleaning services and on-site restaurants and/or activities.

Benefits of a Staycation vs. a Vacation

When thinking about why Americans would choose to stay local rather than travel, the biggest reason is likely the cost savings. Staying near to home means little to no travel expenses. Even domestic flights can cost hundreds (or thousands) of dollars, so staying near home is a much more economical option. Additionally, prices in popular vacation destinations are much higher than average this year as the industry works to recover from the effects of the pandemic and a boom in demand for travel now that restrictions have lifted some. In fact, hotels this summer are averaging 36% higher than last year. Rental cars are in short supply as well, so prices on those have also shot up. Not to mention, with gas prices over $3 in most states – traveling long distances by car is often out of the price range for normal vacation-goers.

Money isn’t the only benefit of a staycation. COVID-19 has left many feeling uncomfortable with travel. Staycations provide an opportunity to enjoy the relaxation of a traditional holiday without as much interaction with other people.

Lastly, staying close to home is ideal for those who may need the added flexibility and security of easily and quickly returning home if necessary. This is especially true for those with underlying health conditions who need to stay close to their medical providers or for those with small children who want to run home for necessities as needed.

Effects of the Staycation Boom on the Hospitality Industry

With more folks opting for vacations close to home over traveling afar, you might think that the hospitality industry would be negatively affected. Thankfully, that isn’t the case. In fact, staycationers seek many of the same amenities and opportunities they’d want on a weeklong holiday away. Staycations provide the chance to relax, so hotels are seeing a high demand for spa treatments, laundry services, and anything else that makes guests feel as though they have little responsibilities or worries. Staycationers enjoy not having to cook or worry about dishes as well, so restaurants both on-site at hotels and off-site are seeing lots of crowds also.  

How is the Industry Responding to the Busy Summer?

The hospitality spent most of 2020 struggling to stay open and keep staff on payroll. Many in the industry sought out other career options and have since left the industry completely. Because of this, business owners are working in overdrive recruiting and training new talent to handle the crowds of both traditional vacationers and locals just looking for some “time away” closer to home.

Many hotels and restaurants now offer incentives to apply that were previously rarely offered before the pandemic. These incentives include 401K benefits, paid time off, and sign-on bonuses. Applicants are often also seeing increased wages versus the pre-pandemic rates. There are more jobs available right now than interested applicants. So, the industry is working to ensure the vacancies they have are desirable. They seek to recruit those who might be looking for an entry-level position or a career change or those who may have left the industry during the pandemic but seek to return.

Most In-Demand Jobs Moving Into Fall

While hotels and restaurants seem to currently be hiring for all roles, certain ones are more in demand. Hotels are building back up their housekeeping teams, so entry-level cleaning positions and housekeeping manager roles are widely available. Also, customer-facing roles such as front desk agent and general management positions are in high demand. These are the folks who interact with guests daily and handle questions, concerns, and complaints. So, hotels need a fully staffed team to ensure guest satisfaction every time.

Seeking out a role in hospitality is easier now than ever. With the increased number of opportunities, the better compensation structures and incentives, and the ease of applying – there is no excuse for those looking to get into the industry not to take the initiative now. We keep an updated list of current openings, which include everything from courtesy officer roles to porters and night attendant positions. Our portal is easy to navigate and makes finding your perfect next role quick and simple. What are you waiting for?