Marriott to Hire 3K Refugees by 2026
Marriott International plans to hire more than 1,500 refugees throughout the U.S. by 2025 and 1,500 refugees across Europe by 2026, the hotel company announced this week.
In order to meet these goals, some Marriott hotels are offering “recently resettled refugee employees with resources and tailored support,” including on-site translators, prayer rooms and public transportation assistance, the company said in a statement. Marriott also launched a career website to showcases U.S. openings and opportunities for refugees to aid in its hiring goals.
Marriott will also continue working with International Rescue Committee by “supporting IRC’s Hospitality Link program” in the U.S., and support “increased training for IRC economic empowerment staff,” the company said in a statement. Marriott began working with IRC in 2016.
“Our focus on creating job opportunities has already led to over 970 refugees hired across dozens of our hotels in the European region,” Marriott president and CEO Anthony Capuano said in an official statement.
The hiring commitment follows a recent report from American Hotel & Lodging Association, highlighting an increased number of hotels experiencing staffing shortages—at 82 percent in June, 26 percent of which said staffing shortages were “severe.” Additionally, according to the report, hotels are attempting to fill almost nine positions per property, which is up from seven positions compared to AHLA’s January staffing survey.
“We need Congress to help address workforce shortages with bipartisan solutions, including those that create opportunities for more immigrants to enter the American economy,” AHLA president and CEO Chip Rogers said in the June 2023 staffing report.
Several hotel executives across the industry also cited visa delays and a need for immigration reform as top hurdles the hotel industry is facing in solving labor issues, during the 2023 NYU International Hospitality Industry Investment Conference in New York.
Angelique Platas www.businesstravelnews.com