87 thoughts on “Hawaii Hotels: Extreme Staff Shortage And Now Expired Contracts”
BC
This is just an example of the rich getting richer. Services have definitely gone down but prices continue to rise. I can only assume that the increased rates don’t go towards employee pay. Why should hotel guests be required to call for room cleaning, toiletries, or tea/coffee? Also, the depleted housekeeping crew shouldn’t have to bounce all over the hotel based on who calls for service. The hotel laid everyone off, it’s on them to rehire staff.
Aloha. It comes to mind the government is flying illegal aliens or undocumented workers aimlessly all over the country. It would be relatively simple to coordinate these relocation flights with the hotels staffing needs, Including in Hawaii. Since they are held in groups they can be background screened. Unions can set up large training classes at the locations. Hotels would register their needs. Their flight would arrive with trained workers. They came wanting a better life & get immediate jobs putting them into the workforce. It will reduce taxes needed to support them. Generate taxes for SS, income & more, provide healthcare. They join society & the workforce. A win-win situation. It could all accomplished in a month organized correctly.
Spot-on, the Big Hotel Groups, CEO’s of both Marriott and Hyatt were very much behind using the new uneducated workforce of those entering Illegally, and staying away from the clamor for $15/Hr., just look at the SEIU in Las Vegas, a Voting Block dependent on jobs, how much control can you have?
Uninvited immigrants need to be sent home. You want high wages – that does not come with illegal immigrants. They drive wages down.
Don’t get me wrong – I don’t care if we accept 3 million or more legal immigrants a year – as long as they come legally. Now, Congress has to change the law. But, if you have not come here legally, go home. Come back legally.
Bringing more illegal workers to Hawaii will only keep down the wages of American Citizens.
This is probably one of the most idiotic posts I’ve read here. What you’re proposing would increase illegal immigration- “Hey! I can enter the USA illegally, and they will fly me to Hawaii, train me into a well-paying job, pay me enough to live comfortably, and on my days off, I can enjoy the beach, surf, enjoy the scenery. What a country!”
Meanwhile, the unemployment rate in Hawaii skyrockets.
I hope you were being cynical, but if you weren’t, you need to rethink this entire proposal.
Idiotic? What are the hotels supposed to do? Did you get the part about a severe shortage of hotel workers, cleaners, etc.? No one living on the islands wants these jobs! Hotels have to do something if they are to survive, and they can’t simply raise salaries if it makes the numbers not work anymore.
Governor Ige created the problem with Lockdowns and taking Federal PPP that compensated workers far beyond their regular Pay. Add-in his State Un-Employment is now $500,000,000.00 in the Red. He absolutely killed the Retail climate, Sak’s leaving International Marketplace a prime example, Dining, etc.. Regardless of Politics, one only has to look at California, New York and Illinois as well as Hawaii, he followed those Governor’s took the $, now the workers don’t want to go back thinking they deserve more, on top of that, this has fostered to some extent this isolation feeling that Hawaii has developed as to too much Tourism, which along with the Military is probably upwards of 85% of the Economy!
I prefer at least every other day. Trash gets full, I need new towels, my husband needs more coffee pods, etc. Part of a hotel stay is to make a different experience than at home.
We’ve been timeshare owners for 25+ years in Kauai and as you know, we get a “mid-week tidy” and a full week cleaning if we stay over a week. It’s fine ! We can always get fresh towels if necessary and how much effort does it really take to dump your own trash and make your bed ? Don’t you do that at home ? Yes, it’s vacation, but please, friends, let’s help keep the hotels and timeshares in business.
Hi Kitty, I know many people who own timeshares, I don’t and prefer it that way. With the amount of investment one should expect a bit more than what you receive I would think. I actually Talk to the housekeepers and have heard that they are overwhelmed because of the Shortages and are Exhausted, Frustrated at the workload. That’s cleaning 1 time per week and at checkout. Significant price increases should equate to great Contracts I hope! Be Reasonable.
The midweek cleaning has been gone for years, at least at our Wyndham resorts. We also did not get any housekeeping for recent hotel stays on the mainland or for a 2 week stay in Kona in January. They will supply extra towels and sheets if you want fresh ones, but no housekeeping.
Daily housekeeping is not necessary. I have never liked someone coming in with my belonging strewn about. I prefer that they bring fresh towels upon request, and deep clean between guests only. Stop the daily intrusion, but do a Better job on cleaning when guests check out.
If a guest doesn’t want service, they can so indicate. But a once-over with sanitizing bathroom surfaces, emptying trash, and vacuuming seems like basic hygiene/public health. The tiny trash cans in hotel rooms lead to food and packaging overflowing, attracting insects and other pests. This is common sense. Towels don’t always need replacing, that can save labor and water, but basic cleanliness is important to me, even as I pick up after myself and make the bed. Housekeeping is valuable and workers need to be paid living wages.
Aloha Rob & Jeff and all at BoH…
Mahalo again for all the news, though lately it seems something less than good…
Airports congested, pilot shortages and strikes, possible tourist arrival fee (tax) and now severe hotel staff shortages. It seems COVID has everlasting effects. As a solo traveler, I am not in need of daily service and staying, as I do, in timeshare units, service is once a week and that is just fine.
I’m sorry for all those suffering travelling nightmare and have a lot of sympathy for all the workers in hospitality provision. Here’s hoping it all calms down a bit soon.
All good wishes,
Michael
I have never wanted daily housekeeping. I don’t want someone coming in unless there’s a real need. The insistence from the union is just a power/money grab to keep their members employed in an otherwise diminishing demand for housekeeping. It’s also going to drive costs up when they should work with the hotel management to find a more productive way to keep their staff employed.
Hi Too M, I agree with many that Daily Housekeeping isn’t needed, however, for many reasons every other day makes sense. Typically there’s enough towels to last 2 days and the bed sheets can last. How many people wash their sheets daily or even every other? It’s understandable the tug of war negotiations but Resorts and Hotels are making a considerable amount of money. Settle the issues and improve the quality, we’ve been overpaying for it and still are!
This is just an example of the rich getting richer. Services have definitely gone down but prices continue to rise. I can only assume that the increased rates don’t go towards employee pay. Why should hotel guests be required to call for room cleaning, toiletries, or tea/coffee? Also, the depleted housekeeping crew shouldn’t have to bounce all over the hotel based on who calls for service. The hotel laid everyone off, it’s on them to rehire staff.
Paying more, getting less services has “soured” me to hotels.
Diminished Expectations and Value, regardless of $ or Points!
Yes!
Aloha. It comes to mind the government is flying illegal aliens or undocumented workers aimlessly all over the country. It would be relatively simple to coordinate these relocation flights with the hotels staffing needs, Including in Hawaii. Since they are held in groups they can be background screened. Unions can set up large training classes at the locations. Hotels would register their needs. Their flight would arrive with trained workers. They came wanting a better life & get immediate jobs putting them into the workforce. It will reduce taxes needed to support them. Generate taxes for SS, income & more, provide healthcare. They join society & the workforce. A win-win situation. It could all accomplished in a month organized correctly.
Spot-on, the Big Hotel Groups, CEO’s of both Marriott and Hyatt were very much behind using the new uneducated workforce of those entering Illegally, and staying away from the clamor for $15/Hr., just look at the SEIU in Las Vegas, a Voting Block dependent on jobs, how much control can you have?
Uninvited immigrants need to be sent home. You want high wages – that does not come with illegal immigrants. They drive wages down.
Don’t get me wrong – I don’t care if we accept 3 million or more legal immigrants a year – as long as they come legally. Now, Congress has to change the law. But, if you have not come here legally, go home. Come back legally.
Bringing more illegal workers to Hawaii will only keep down the wages of American Citizens.
This is probably one of the most idiotic posts I’ve read here. What you’re proposing would increase illegal immigration- “Hey! I can enter the USA illegally, and they will fly me to Hawaii, train me into a well-paying job, pay me enough to live comfortably, and on my days off, I can enjoy the beach, surf, enjoy the scenery. What a country!”
Meanwhile, the unemployment rate in Hawaii skyrockets.
I hope you were being cynical, but if you weren’t, you need to rethink this entire proposal.
Idiotic? What are the hotels supposed to do? Did you get the part about a severe shortage of hotel workers, cleaners, etc.? No one living on the islands wants these jobs! Hotels have to do something if they are to survive, and they can’t simply raise salaries if it makes the numbers not work anymore.
Governor Ige created the problem with Lockdowns and taking Federal PPP that compensated workers far beyond their regular Pay. Add-in his State Un-Employment is now $500,000,000.00 in the Red. He absolutely killed the Retail climate, Sak’s leaving International Marketplace a prime example, Dining, etc.. Regardless of Politics, one only has to look at California, New York and Illinois as well as Hawaii, he followed those Governor’s took the $, now the workers don’t want to go back thinking they deserve more, on top of that, this has fostered to some extent this isolation feeling that Hawaii has developed as to too much Tourism, which along with the Military is probably upwards of 85% of the Economy!
I prefer at least every other day. Trash gets full, I need new towels, my husband needs more coffee pods, etc. Part of a hotel stay is to make a different experience than at home.
We’ve been timeshare owners for 25+ years in Kauai and as you know, we get a “mid-week tidy” and a full week cleaning if we stay over a week. It’s fine ! We can always get fresh towels if necessary and how much effort does it really take to dump your own trash and make your bed ? Don’t you do that at home ? Yes, it’s vacation, but please, friends, let’s help keep the hotels and timeshares in business.
Hi Kitty, I know many people who own timeshares, I don’t and prefer it that way. With the amount of investment one should expect a bit more than what you receive I would think. I actually Talk to the housekeepers and have heard that they are overwhelmed because of the Shortages and are Exhausted, Frustrated at the workload. That’s cleaning 1 time per week and at checkout. Significant price increases should equate to great Contracts I hope! Be Reasonable.
The midweek cleaning has been gone for years, at least at our Wyndham resorts. We also did not get any housekeeping for recent hotel stays on the mainland or for a 2 week stay in Kona in January. They will supply extra towels and sheets if you want fresh ones, but no housekeeping.
Daily housekeeping is not necessary. I have never liked someone coming in with my belonging strewn about. I prefer that they bring fresh towels upon request, and deep clean between guests only. Stop the daily intrusion, but do a Better job on cleaning when guests check out.
If a guest doesn’t want service, they can so indicate. But a once-over with sanitizing bathroom surfaces, emptying trash, and vacuuming seems like basic hygiene/public health. The tiny trash cans in hotel rooms lead to food and packaging overflowing, attracting insects and other pests. This is common sense. Towels don’t always need replacing, that can save labor and water, but basic cleanliness is important to me, even as I pick up after myself and make the bed. Housekeeping is valuable and workers need to be paid living wages.
Aloha Rob & Jeff and all at BoH…
Mahalo again for all the news, though lately it seems something less than good…
Airports congested, pilot shortages and strikes, possible tourist arrival fee (tax) and now severe hotel staff shortages. It seems COVID has everlasting effects. As a solo traveler, I am not in need of daily service and staying, as I do, in timeshare units, service is once a week and that is just fine.
I’m sorry for all those suffering travelling nightmare and have a lot of sympathy for all the workers in hospitality provision. Here’s hoping it all calms down a bit soon.
All good wishes,
Michael
I have never wanted daily housekeeping. I don’t want someone coming in unless there’s a real need. The insistence from the union is just a power/money grab to keep their members employed in an otherwise diminishing demand for housekeeping. It’s also going to drive costs up when they should work with the hotel management to find a more productive way to keep their staff employed.
Hi Too M, I agree with many that Daily Housekeeping isn’t needed, however, for many reasons every other day makes sense. Typically there’s enough towels to last 2 days and the bed sheets can last. How many people wash their sheets daily or even every other? It’s understandable the tug of war negotiations but Resorts and Hotels are making a considerable amount of money. Settle the issues and improve the quality, we’ve been overpaying for it and still are!