Perfecting Profits: What Hotels Can Do About Rising Labor Costs

 

 

Rising labor costs are one of the largest challenges facing hotels right now. To find out more about what hotels can do to combat those costs, host Tyler Kern spoke to Del Ross, Chief Revenue Office at Hotel Effectiveness.

In this episode of Perfecting Profits, a Hotel Effectiveness podcast, Ross discusses what is causing labor costs to rise, what steps hotels can take to lower labor costs and how Hotel Effectiveness Solutions can help hotels lower their labor costs.

For Ross, he noticed a difference on the bottom line immediately after joining the Hotel Effectiveness solutions team.

“I’ve got to say after all this time in the industry, I’ve never had a bigger immediate impact on hotel profitability than I have since I’ve joined this company,” Ross said.

Ross also notes that the internet has created some pros and cons for hotels over the last 10-15 years.

“As the internet has been a benefit and a boon to travelers and all consumers, it’s actually created a lot of complexity and cost to hotels,” Ross said. “…So It’s gotten more and more expensive to fill a hotel over time even as the universe of travelers has not changed and not really grown.”

Most importantly, Ross believes that hotels need to change their mindset regarding labor costs.

“If you look at labor as an investment rather than an expense then you are going to have to determine what you expect to get out of that labor,” he said. “And the return on labor in the hospitality industry is productivity.”

For the latest news, videos, and podcasts in the Hospitality Industry, be sure to subscribe to our industry publication.

Follow us on social media for the latest updates in B2B!

Twitter – @HospitalityMKSL
Facebook – facebook.com/marketscale
LinkedIn – linkedin.com/company/marketscale

Follow us on social media for the latest updates in B2B!

Image

Latest

The Tech-Enabled Hospital of the Future: Implications for Care Delivery
The Tech-Enabled Hospital of the Future: Implications for Care Delivery
March 12, 2026

Gone are the days when a hospital was simply a place where patients received care. Today’s hospitals are rapidly evolving into highly connected ecosystems powered by advanced technology, networked devices, and real-time data. The modern hospital is no longer confined to physical walls—it’s a dynamic digital environment where data flows seamlessly, AI supports clinical decisions,…

Read More
career
Stop Chasing Titles, Build a Career That Matters: A CAO’s Advice on Long-Term Success
March 11, 2026

Career advice in finance and accounting often centers around promotions, titles, and compensation. But in an era where professionals frequently change jobs every few years—the average American worker now stays in a role for less than four years—industries are facing growing talent shortages and reevaluating what long-term career success looks like. The question many…

Read More
Career success
A CEO’s Blueprint for Career Success: Leading with Love to Drive Performance and Culture
March 10, 2026

Leadership right now feels heavier than it did just a few years ago. Teams are stretched, expectations are high, and many employees are quietly disengaged. In fact, Gallup’s 2025 U.S. data shows that only about 31% of employees are actively engaged at work, leaving the majority feeling disconnected or indifferent. For CEOs and senior…

Read More
employer-sponsored apprenticeships
The Degree That Pays You Back: How Employer-Sponsored Apprenticeships Are Rewriting Higher Ed
March 9, 2026

Higher education is under pressure. Over the past few years, public confidence in the value of a four-year degree has declined significantly, with fewer Americans expressing a strong belief that traditional higher education delivers a worthwhile return on investment. At the same time, employers consistently report that graduates lack job-ready skills—particularly the “durable skills”…

Read More