By Kamalesh (KP) Patel, AAHOA Chairman (2025-2026)
The Reality Check
If you’re struggling to staff your hotel, you’re not alone. Across the country, our members face the same challenge: Open jobs, limited applicants, and a workforce that looks very different from just a few years, or even months, ago. The old ways of hiring and managing no longer apply. As owners, many of us are stepping in to cover shifts, manage front desks, or assist housekeeping to keep the doors open and the lights on.
The reality is this workforce crisis is not going away on its own. If anything, it’s getting more complicated. Expectations are higher. Demands are shifting. And our ability to operate at full capacity is on the line.
It’s Time to Adapt
The truth? We can’t afford to ignore this. As owners, we must shift how we think about workforce development. It starts with the basics: Competitive pay, better scheduling, and consistent training. But it goes beyond that. We must build a culture that values employees as more than just line items on a budget. That means offering growth opportunities, acknowledging hard work, and making our properties a place people want to work.
This is especially true for the next generation. Gen Z wants purpose, flexibility, and respect. If we don’t evolve to meet them halfway, they’ll find another industry that will.
What AAHOA Is Doing, and What You Can Do
AAHOA passionately champions immigration reform and the expansion of visa programs crucial for seasonal and essential workers. We endorse key proposed legislation, such as the SEASONAL Act (S.2705), which would empower governors to secure additional H-2B visas for temporary nonagricultural roles. Additionally, we back the Essential Workers for Economic Advancement Act (H.R.3734), which proposes the creation of an H-2C nonimmigrant visa specifically tailored to address workforce shortages in the construction and hospitality sectors.
Now is the time to be proactive. Talk to your team. Revisit your hiring practices. See where you can improve and innovate. Because the longer we wait, the harder it gets to catch up.
Our industry runs on people. Let’s ensure we care for them as they’ve cared for our businesses for decades.
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