Leading hotel chains including Riu, Meliá, Barceló, and Iberostar have launched innovative recruitment strategies in the Canary Islands, offering free accommodation to employees as an incentive to attract staff.
This move comes as the tourism industry gears up for what could be the best season in Spanish history, with expectations to surpass 100 million tourists across the country in 2025.
However, the challenge of finding staff has intensified in the Canary Islands, where a booming tourism sector and soaring housing costs have created a bottleneck in the job market.
To ensure their staffing needs are met ahead of the busy summer season, the major hotel chains have started their recruitment processes earlier than usual. The offer of free accommodation is aimed at overcoming the structural challenges of housing availability in the archipelago, which has been a significant barrier to attracting workers.
Many job offers in the hospitality sector have been turned down due to the difficulty of finding affordable housing.
Canary Islands: A Unique Challenge
The Canary Islands have seen nearly three million additional tourists over the past two years, exacerbating the demand for qualified staff in key areas such as kitchen, food and drink service, and housekeeping. The housing crisis has forced companies like Meliá to introduce free housing for their employees.
Riu, which operates 16 hotels with nearly 7,000 rooms across the archipelago, anticipates needing around 4,500 staff for the peak season. The company has highlighted that tourism in the Canary Islands is no longer a seasonal industry and that the shortage of qualified professionals in roles like kitchen and bar service is an ongoing issue.
Iberostar has also introduced housing benefits, aiming to make its job offers more competitive and appealing.
Addressing Absenteeism and Talent Retention
Apart from the housing issue, the hotel sector faces broader challenges with declining interest in hospitality roles, even as working conditions improve. Barceló has noted that fewer people are seeking work in the sector, and rising absenteeism is making it even harder to maintain full staffing levels.
To counteract this, hotel groups have strengthened their training programs. Iberostar, for example, has launched an intensive dual vocational training (FP Dual) model that combines theoretical education with practical experience in hotels. This initiative aims to attract young talent and promote professionalism within the industry.
Preparing for a Historic Summer
The Canary Islands are bracing for a record-breaking influx of visitors this summer, but the increasingly strained labour market poses a significant challenge. The strategies being employed by the major hotel groups are crucial to ensuring the sector can meet rising demand without compromising service quality.
By offering tangible incentives and focusing on long-term talent development, the hospitality industry aims to maintain its reputation and service standards, navigating the fine line between opportunity and operational strain in what could be a landmark year for tourism.
