Hotel Owner Hotel Owner May 2017 digital | Page 39

ADVICE
the workplace and how much they were place to reward outstanding employees, stress free, the employees be happy and
appreciated. The executive team made it but these are now commonplace. you will be able to attract the best and most
a policy point to say ‘good morning’ to all Management trainee programs were also qualified staff in your community. Giving your
when they arrived and thank staff they saw in place and our team was constantly on workforce the best possible environment
working hard or doing something out of the the lookout for exceptional employees who to work in will allow them to focus on their
ordinary. The hotel became a polite hotel, were earmarked for promotion from within. target, namely guest satisfaction.
reducing stress considerably.
Lowering stress in your property is an
Consistency in the workforce program
ongoing effort made up of so many active will bring long term benefits and a positive
at other hotels on a barter system so they parts that must be taken care of. It is a culture, lower HR costs and improve the
could experience other operations while defined policy that must be adhered to. bottom line immeasurably. I believe that
having a relaxing time with their spouse. How many general managers have put restaurants and hotels that do not engage
The cost was minimal while the benefits in place bonus systems and outstanding their employees in new and innovative
huge. I sent the chef and F&B manager on employee prizes and then sit back and ways will eventually not be able to engage
trips to London to experience as many new think that they have done enough? their guests correctly and that will bring
restaurants and trends as possible and Then, when the stress levels hit a peak, about considerable negative impact, create
bring back new ideas. It pumped them up employees quarrel with each other in front unnecessary stress and labour turnover.
and kept the hotel at the forefront of the of the guests, the front line staff is gruff F&B scene locally. and problems crop up, they ask themselves
We sent employees on weekend stays
Uniforms were maintained at the highest
level so staff were proud to wear them. Exit
why this happened.
Investing in your workforce is one of the
What are you waiting for?
About the Author
interviews were taken seriously to learn best investments you can make and one of Stephen W. Ayers is a British and
why employees left and shortcomings were the main supporting columns of your entire Canadian author and former hotel
corrected. Staff members who got married operation. It must not be forgotten that manager. He has worked and
were given a cash gift and we attended many if not all of the actions to support managed properties across Europe,
funerals of immediate family members. The your employees come at no cost, just a Africa and America. Ayers is the CEO
HR manager would call sick associates and collective effort. of Stay Ahead Hospitality, a company
Treating your staff fairly is not rocket that helps independent hoteliers in
with flowers and a basket of fruit. It showed science. It takes effort and investment to Europe and North America to attain
we cared. get the ball rolling, but it will pay off greatly. high standards and increase profit.
hospitalised colleagues would be visited
Of course, we had bonus systems in
May 2017
Not only will the atmosphere at work be
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