Before the coronavirus pandemic hit the United States, visitor spending in Genesee County had reached just over $ 500 million. Of those expenses in 2019, $ 45 million went to housing alone. This comes from a report produced by Tourism Economics for the Michigan Tourism Office.
Although the 2020 numbers have not yet been released, it can be expected that they will be significantly lower than in previous years. That’s because as the number of COVID-19 cases increased, travel decreased. So much so that as of December 2020, 63 percent of Michigan hotels said they had fewer than half of their typical full-time employees.
Many hotels on site had to cut staff and reduce working hours. But now that spring hits and social distancing policies have eased somewhat, they face the opposite challenge. They need to increase their workforce before the convention and sporting event season begins. Several events – including the Michigan Association for Economic Developers Council’s Best Practices Conference in May and the Firestix Tournament in July – are already planned, and we expect more bookings to be made in the coming weeks and months.
In order for these hotels to take full advantage of the anticipated recovery, they will need to recruit a range of new employees for positions ranging from front desk clerks to shuttle service drivers. This is where the Flint & Genesee Chamber of Commerce comes in. For the first time ever, we’re hosting a virtual hospitality job fair where job seekers from the area can meet with 10 hotels in the area to fill vacancies in Genesee County.
The event, which will take place on April 8 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., is a great opportunity not only for our local hoteliers, but also for the respondents present. For many, these entry-level positions can serve as a stepping stone to a fulfilling career path in the hospitality industry. While customer experience is preferred, the main thing these employers seek is willingness to learn. In this particular industry, mutual training and a willingness to take on different roles can lead to career growth.
For example, after starting a front desk clerk in the mid-2000s, Courtney Neely has held multiple positions across multiple properties for the past 12 years. Neely, who now serves the dual sales manager at the Residence Inn by Marriott-Flint / Grand Blanc and the Courtyard by Marriott Flint Grand Blanc, said, “You will never meet a general manager fresh out of college – everyone starts at it the reception or a similar location. ”
If you are interested in entering the hotel industry, I recommend that you register for the upcoming job fair at flintandgenesee.org/jobfair. You will also have the option to sign up for optional resume writing and interview refresher courses in the days leading up to the event.
Kristina Johnston is the COO of the Flint & Genesee Chamber of Commerce.
