SPECIAL REPORT
THEY WANT TO BE
THE BOSS
FROM THE FIRST DAY . THE INDUSTRY MUST ADAPT TO EMPOWER THEM .
RÉMI WALBAUM , CHIEF INNOVATION OFFICER , EHL
Group in Los Angeles , which operates 13 hotels and resorts worldwide .
In this booming economy , hotels suffer from an awareness problem among prospective applicants . A 2018 survey and report on Gen Z by the American Hotel & Lodging Educational Foundation found that 90 % of respondents were unaware of job opportunities at hotels in their area . It also found that hospitality doesn ’ t even rank in the top 10 of Gen Z career choices : Health care , arts and professional and business services are the top three .
The good news is that despite image and awareness issues , 51 % indicated some interest in working in hotels and lodging .
‘ The potential to
SOAR ’
David Stillman is a consultant on generational differences in workstyles and advises companies on how best to connect with millennials and Gen Z , the latest generation born between 1996 and 2012 . Stillman teams with his son Jonah , a 2017 high school graduate who with colleagues conducted a survey on U . S . Gen Z attitudes . The company has a roster of blue chip clients including Microsoft and Deloitte and hospitality firms Carnival and Virgin Hotels .
HOTELS : What ’ s the difference between millennials and Gen Z ? David Stillman : Millennials grew up during economic prosperity . You could start a business in a garage and be an overnight success . Gen Z saw companies trying to stay afloat , leaders being called into question . Harry Potter versus The Hunger Games .
H : They were shaped by different parenting styles ?
DS : Boomer parents told their millennial kids , “ You can be anything you want to be .” Gen Z ’ s Gen X parents said , “ It ’ s a tough world out there ; get ready for it .” H : What is their workstyle ? DS : Top of the list is money and benefits . They are way more competitive than millennials . Millennials say , ‘ We can all rise together ,” but Gen Z says , “ I want your job .” Millennials challenged tenure , asking , why do I have to stay in this job three years if I ’ m qualified to move up after a year and a half ? Gen Z wants speed , but they ’ re taking it to another level . They want multiple careers within one place of employment .
H : What kind of training will they seek ?
DS : Until recently , there was one path forward : high school , college , a job , maybe grad school . We have a generation that says , “ Why do I need college ? I have a degree in philosophy , but I ’ m going to be in customer service .” There are a lot of forces working against higher education . There is plenty of room for trade schools .
H : How does all this this translate to hospitality ?
DS : Hospitality has the potential to soar with Gen Z . Gen Z wants to try different roles . “ Why can ’ t I work front office Monday and Tuesday , and staff the pool the rest of the week ? Never mind how fast I ’ m moving . I ’ m getting so many bullets on my resume .” Hotels can offer this opportunity .
H : How else can hotels attract Gen Z ?
DS : Gen Z doesn ’ t think of worklife balance ; they see work-life blend , 24 / 7 . Hotels can offer flexible hours so an employee might choose to work from 6 a . m . to noon and then from 5 p . m . to 8 p . m . Many Gen Zers have a “ side hustle ” such as music , modeling or selling tennis shoes on the Internet . Hotels can embrace the side hustle .
28 hotelsmag . com March 2020