• Contact Us

IHIF: Doing more with less

Increasing workforce productivity

This week, IHIF saw more than 2,500 members of the hospitality investment community gather in Berlin for its 25th annual conference.

Under the theme ‘Fortune Favours the Bold’, a series of high-profile speakers delivered sessions on asset optimisation, ESG, owner-operator alignment, profitability and more. Among them, our Managing Director, Susan Bland, facilitated a discussion on optimising workforce productivity and getting the most out of your teams.

Susan led the panel, including Marius Donhauser, hotelkit, Ulrich Pillau, Apaleo, Eric Omgba, Alboran Hotels and Rupert Simoner, HR Group, on analysing brand standards and guest expectations with lean operational teams.

Looking at ways to boost productivity and augment service quality by building a flexible, multi-skilled workforce and harnessing technology, Susan explained that employees are harder to find, and must be nurtured with effective training.

Technology was a hot topic, including the ongoing debate around human interaction and automation in hospitality. The panel discussed the need to look to other successful industries like airlines and retail for inspiration on most efficient use of technology to streamline workload. The point was made that things you can’t measure are hard to improve.

Uli Pillau shared the stark figure of 800,000 staff being lost from the hospitality industry in Germany over the last two years. He credits easily usable technology with the potential to rapidly improve staff retention claiming that “in order to find new staff, you have to use better technology in your hotels to motivate them.”

Marius Donhauser added that hotels should work a lot more closely with tech companies to collaboratively work out what the predominant needs are in hospitality.

Rupert Simoner suggested first approaching the aspects of hospitality that do not affect the customer experience, such as meeting the staff that clean the rooms. While the human element isn’t necessary here, the rooms being clean is of course still a big part of the experience, therefore as long as standards remain, could this be digitalised, e.g. using robot vacuums?

Eric Omgba went on to share examples of streamlining the housekeeping at Alboran Hotels, suggesting that the most effective way of identifying areas to streamline, is by talking to your staff. He explained that housekeepers came up with the idea to have beds that lifted automatically to aid the process of changing sheets. This in turn increased productivity by 15%, as well as making staff feel listened to and appreciated, contributing to staff retention.

Susan was joined at IHIF by our CEO, David Hart and CFO, Andrew Robb for a jampacked couple of days of networking, interviews and education.

News & Updates

Business Updates

RBH rolls out Too Good To Go scheme across entire portfolio

22 May 2023

In a bid to tackle food waste, RBH launches partnership with the world’s largest surplus food platform, Too Good To Go

Read more

RBH Portfolio

RBH boosts luxury portfolio with 200th hotel

10 May 2023

RBH marks its 200th hotel management partnership with the opening of another upscale luxury property – The Municipal Hotel Liverpool

Read more

RBH Insights

RBH Hospitality Management celebrates 20 years with Crowne Plaza London Docklands

5 May 2023

Celebrating the 20-year anniversary of Crowne Plaza London Docklands under RBH’s management since opening in May 2003

Read more

Giving Something Back

RBH wins Springboard’s Health & Wellbeing Award

21 April 2023

RBH picked up Springboard's award for Employee Health & Wellbeing in recognition of its commitment to its people

Read more

RBH Portfolio

RBH boosts South-West footprint with new opening

6 April 2023

The brand new, RBH-managed Mercure Paignton opens its doors as part of significant regeneration project.

Read more

Looking for a job in hospitality?

Explore our jobs

London

RBH, The Mille, 1000 Great West
Road, Brentford, TW8 9DW

+44 (0) 208 232 9014

Glasgow

RBH, 40 Brand Street,
Glasgow, G51 1DG

+44 (0) 141 419 4567
  • Website policy
  • Privacy policy
  • Sustainability policy
  • Cookie policy
  • Employment statements
  • Supplier Code of Conduct
  • Sitemap

Copyright © 2023 RBH Hospitality

  • Who we are
  • What we do
  • Our people
  • Our hotels
  • Giving Something Back
  • RBH careers
  • News & updates
  • Contact us

WANT TO WORK IN HOSPITALITY?

Careers

Explore jobs About us

Develop your career in the hospitality industry. Join the RBH family.

London
+44 (0) 208 232 9014
Glasgow
+44 (0) 141 419 4567