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Travelers heading to Cancun this high season could suffer from a drop in the expected level of service in its resorts after it was revealed that hotels are struggling to recruit enough staff. Whether in a glitzy all-inclusive resort or charming boutique hotel, for years travelers have been able to rely on top quality service from the staff in Cancun’s accommodations just as much as they’ve been able to count on the sun shining, with the warm smiles and exceptional service a major factor in what brings travelers back to the city.
However, with record numbers of travelers set to visit the region over the next few months, that could all change as hotels reach their occupancy limits with a significant staff deficit. Here’s a look at everything we know about this story, including how the recruitment drive is going, why this year could push resorts to their limits – and also why travelers shouldn’t worry too much just yet.
Hotel Staffing Struggles – What Travelers Should Know
Cancun is one of the hottest destinations on the planet right now, and it has been for some time. Building on the roaring successes that the destination achieved during the pandemic, traveler numbers to the region have soared exponentially over the past few months, with new records for passenger numbers and flights being broken every few weeks. As hotel occupancy rates exceed 80% despite the high season barely starting, resorts are expected to reach max level soon – and that could potentially lead to problems.
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Whilst high season hasn’t usually led to significant problems for hotels, this season they have struggled to fill all of their vacancies for staff members. Whether due to the knock-on effects of the Covid-19 pandemic, unsatisfactory working conditions, or a range of other reasons, the current staffing deficit facing the hotel industry in the state of Quintana Roo is 15%, with more than 450 vacancies currently needing to be taken.
Worryingly for travelers, many of the vacancies are for positions that can directly affect them. According to a source, the hotel sector is looking for workers to cover positions in the kitchen, bars, reception, security, chambermaids, reception and maintenance – each of which are essential in keeping rooms up to standard and the overall resort experience and quality that travelers heading to Cancun have come to expect.
Whilst we’re not expecting anything drastic to happen overnight, such as rooms being dirty, food burnt and appliances not working, travelers could be affected in a variety of ways. This could include longer waits to check in and out of resorts, more time spent waiting in eateries and facilities perhaps missing their usual luster. That said, the industry is working hard to fill the vacancies, and will no doubt be aware of the potential issues they would face should they fail to hit their recruitment targets.
It’s not the first piece of bad news that travelers have been handed regarding hotels in the past few weeks. Recently it was announced that the industry is facing a series of tax hikes, including lodging tax fees being raised along with environmental sanitation taxes, which could see travelers paying even more for their rooms. This is on top of spiraling costs following the surging demand for accommodation this high season.
The state of Quintana Roo is expecting to reach the milestone of 18 million arrivals by the end of the year, and that’s only the start. Cancun was revealed to be one of top trending destinations for travelers in 2023, with all signs showing that the city looks to be going on to repeat its success of this year in the new year and beyond.
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