In the heat of summer, working in any active industry (like hospitality) means more physical exertion and exhausting shifts at work. In the hotel industry, many accommodations have multiple buildings and outdoor spaces. This means a good part of daily shifts may be spent outside in the elements. Even many indoor spaces within hotels see higher temperatures during summer, including laundry facilities and fitness centers. On top of warmer external temperatures, many hotel roles are highly active, with employees constantly on the move or performing physical tasks.
These factors mean that hospitality employees are at a higher risk of exhaustion and dehydration during the summer. So, they must be proactive in cooling off and ensuring their bodies remain healthy. The following can help ensure hotel staff stay cool this summer.
Hydration is Key
Most adults know the importance of drinking adequate amounts of water to stay hydrated – especially during times of warm weather or physical activity. However, it’s easy to forget to hydrate when the busy summer travel season creates a fast-paced working environment. Prioritizing hydration doesn’t just mean drinking water. Hydration also comes from water-rich foods like many fruits and vegetables.
When it comes to coffee, new research suggests that 66% of Americans consume the beverage daily. Many of those consume more than a cup or two as well. For many hospitality employees, it’s tempting to continue to drink coffee throughout a shift to remain alert and ready to perform their role. However, overconsumption of caffeinated beverages like coffee and energy drinks has significantly negative effects on hydration levels. During summer, it’s best to limit caffeine intake where possible and focus more on consuming water and foods that will properly hydrate the body.
Smaller Meals & Snacks over Large Meals
Hydrating effectively is one piece of the puzzle. Fueling the body with healthy foods is another important one. That means nutrient-dense options over processed options when possible. Quantity needs consideration along with quality. While it’s tempting to pack a large meal to be consumed during lunch, eating a big portion (especially quickly) means a body has to work hard to digest that meal. Often, this leads to a sluggish feeling and can increase the risk of overheating as well.
Rather than big meals, focus on eating quality foods in smaller portions throughout the workday. As the body doesn’t have to work quite as hard to process those meals, it both better absorbs nutrition and leaves workers with more energy to make it through the shift.
What you Wear Matters
For most hotel employees, their employer enforces a dress code to some extent. For some hotels, that might mean a fully-provided uniform, giving employees less decision-making power when it comes time to pick out clothes for a shift. However, many hotels instead provide guidelines around appropriate attire such as color options or clothing style. Common rules include prohibiting clothes with text on it, requiring close-toed shoes for some positions, or giving employees basic guidance around clothing colors and styles.
If given the freedom to choose work attire (while complying with any guidelines), opt for fabrics that encourage air circulation and wick away moisture. This means looser styles over tight-fitting options. When it comes to fabric, cotton offers breathability but isn’t ideal for situations where sweating is inevitable as it will hold onto that moisture. While sometimes more expensive, bamboo is a great fabric option for moisture-wicking. Synthetic fabrics can be great options as well. Many nylon and polyester options offer the same circulatory and moisture-wicking capabilities at affordable price points.
Communicate Questions or Concerns with Leadership
It’s no secret that jobs in hospitality are tough. Most management personnel within hotels have spent time working in other functional roles and can empathize with staff when there are questions or concerns. Employees need to communicate with leadership about issues like uncomfortable working conditions so that those can be resolved and prevented in the future. The management team within a hotel often represents the decision-makers for the organization. They have the capacity to change how the organization operates. Simple steps like providing fans in spaces that get extra hot in summer or staggering breaks can make a huge difference in the team’s ability to stay cool and work effectively in summer (and year-round).
For those in management positions, this requires opening up channels of communication for staff to voice any questions, complaints, etc. Employee health and safety is a top priority for strong leaders, so ensuring the team has safe (and cool) working conditions daily needs to be right up there with providing a stellar guest experience.
Finding an employer that values team members as much as guests can be difficult, but leaders in the industry continue to be those that invest in their employee experience. Our locations nationwide are always welcoming enthusiastic applicants that need that employer investment but also genuinely want to contribute to a winning team. To make the job search easy, we’ve compiled a database of current openings across all locations. With opportunities across all functional areas and geographic locations, there are sure to be roles that align.
Additionally, our blog is stocked (and updated regularly) with industry news, best practices, and tips for succeeding during the hiring process and once in a new hotel role. Investing in our current and future employees is how we guarantee a strong workforce and maintain our status of being the employer hotel staff want to work for!