Hospitality
Hotel Managers Can Maximize Operational Technologies Effectiveness with Diverse Training Approaches
Staff resistance to new hotel tech often stems from inadequate training, requiring managers to tailor approaches to different teams and skill levels
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Key takeaways
Staff resistance to hotel tech is frequently caused by inadequate or poorly targeted training programs.
Managers should tailor training methods to different teams, roles, and individual skill levels rather than using a uniform approach.
Diverse training strategies improve technology adoption rates and enhance operational effectiveness across hotel departments.
As the hospitality industry continues to embrace digital transformations, hotels are increasingly deploying new operational technologies designed to enhance efficiency and guest satisfaction. However, the transition is not always seamless. Staff, particularly in critical roles such as housekeeping, often struggle to adapt to these innovations, which aren’t always intuitive. This challenge highlights a crucial gap in training methods and the support provided to employees, raising significant questions about the effectiveness of technology integration in enhancing operational efficiency.
What strategies can hospitality leaders employ to improve technology adoption among their staff?
On an engaging Experts Talk episode, Stephanie Leger, the Chief Excellence Officer at First Rate Hospitality, shares her thoughts on the crucial role of effective training in the adoption of new technologies in the hospitality industry. She emphasizes the importance of tailored training programs that accommodate diverse learning styles to maximize technology utilization and effectiveness.
She emphasizes the importance of tailored training programs that accommodate diverse learning styles to maximize technology utilization and effectiveness.
— Stephanie Leger, Chief Excellence Officer at First Rate Hospitality
In her detailed examination, Stephanie Leger highlights several key points:
- Avoidance of Technology: Employees, such as room attendants, often take extra steps to avoid using new technological tools, which can undermine productivity enhancements.
- Insufficient Training: The standard practice of offering minimal training (e.g., two days) is not sufficient for staff to feel comfortable and proficient with new technologies.
- Diverse Learning Needs: Staff in the hospitality industry have varied learning preferences—some are hands-on learners, while others may prefer reading or watching instructional videos.
- Operational Challenges: Despite the intention to enhance guest experiences through technology, inadequate staff training can lead to underutilization of these investments, effectively wasting resources.
- Strategic Recommendations: Leger suggests tailored training programs that accommodate different learning styles and more robust support systems to ensure technology is used to its full potential.
About the author
For the last twenty years served in the hotel industry globally, including Ritz-Carlton, Mandarin Oriental, Forbes Travel Guide Inspector, AAA, and many others associated with the luxury hotel industry. Other areas of expertise include Spa, Food & Beverage, Recreation, and Casino Operations. • Provided countless reviews of operational evaluations. • Trained service standards worldwide to the top hotels in the world. • Implemented strategic planning in various hotels to thrive in their market. • Assisted hotels during crises such as natural disasters, ZIKA, and the recession of 2008. My passion for creating employee performance development and engagement has led to learning multiple cultural backgrounds.
