The secret to hiring hospitality stars

Welcome to your weekly pour of what’s happening in hospitality! This week, we’re swirling through the rising trend of wine tourism, plus exploring why smarter security investments are driving repeat stays and boosting guest spending. And here’s the real buzz: hoteliers now have free access to a data powerhouse—real-time benchmarks on revenue, labor, margins and more, all in one place. No guesswork, just smarter decisions. But first: check out how regenerative farming is catching on as a travel trend.

We’ll drink to that. Corks are popping and so are profits—wine tourism is becoming a major draw for experience-hungry travelers. Crafting a stay that pairs well with the local pour could be your hotel’s next big win. 

Walking on sunshine. Curator Hotel & Resort Collection, backed by Pebblebrook Hotel Trust, just added six new properties, all in sun-soaked destinations, to its growing portfolio. With four hotels in California, plus one each in Arizona and Florida, the collection now boasts 80 independent hotels and resorts.

A little something extra. Sweat, sleep, supplement, repeat. At its New York property, Equinox Hotel is making wellness travel effortless with in-room Tru Niagen to keep your cells as energized as your itinerary. Jet lag who?

An oldie but a goodie. It’s been almost 10 years(!) since Skift issued its "Complete Oral History of Boutique Hotels," focused on the birth of the boutique hotels movement in the U.S., but like your favorite bedtime story as a kid, it never loses its allure. It’s worth a read (or a reread) and, ahem, Skifters—any news on an update?

‘Tech is elevating the importance of hiring agile, adaptable thinkers’

JW Bibbins III, founder and principal at JWB Hospitality, is a trusted source in hospitality search and recruitment. His journey began on the floors of New York City’s dynamic dining scene, where he rose from waiting tables at Millesime in Manhattan's Carlton Hotel (now James NoMad) to managing front-of-house operations for renowned chef David Burke. That hands-on experience shaped his deep understanding of the industry and today, he’s known for connecting top-tier talent with some of the most respected names in hospitality. Here, he shares common hiring mistakes, non-negotiable hiring practices and why he's optimistic about the future of hospitality hiring. —Jennifer Glatt

What hiring or staffing challenges are your clients running into most right now?
The biggest challenge is the shrinking pool of mid-level talent... especially in culinary and operations. Covid pushed a lot of skilled professionals out of the industry, and many haven’t returned. Clients are finding that the résumés are coming in, but the depth of experience often isn’t there.
 
Which roles are toughest to fill—or most urgent—in boutique operations?
Executive chefs and GMs are always critical, but today the toughest roles to fill are department heads with real leadership chops... people who can manage teams, handle pressure and wear multiple hats. [At] small properties, every hire has outsized impact.
 
How do smaller hotels compete with the big brands for top talent?
By emphasizing what they do offer: creative freedom, closer relationships with ownership and less red tape. Talented candidates are often hungry for purpose and personality, not just paychecks. Boutique hotels need to lead with culture and vision in their recruitment messaging.
 
With tech and automation growing, how is that changing who hotels hire and what they look for?
There’s growing demand for digitally fluent candidates... those who are comfortable toggling between guest experience and back-of-house systems. Tech isn’t replacing people, but it’s elevating the importance of hiring agile, adaptable thinkers, especially in guest-facing roles.
 
What common hiring mistakes do you see owners or operators make?
Hiring too fast, or too narrowly. Some operators focus only on industry pedigree and miss out on amazing candidates with transferable skills. Others are so desperate to fill roles that they skip due diligence. The best hiring processes combine speed with structure. Scorecards, trial shifts and reference checks are non-negotiable.
 
With all the noise about labor woes, what’s something positive you’re seeing in hospitality hiring?
There’s a renewed sense of purpose among the next generation of hospitality leaders. A lot of people left during the pandemic but those who stayed, or came back, are in it for the right reasons. They’re building culture, prioritizing wellness and helping redefine what hospitality careers can look like.

Art Deco echoes

Perched in the hills above the downtown neighborhood of Charlotte Amalie with sweeping views of the St. Thomas harbor, the Pink Palm Hotel channels vintage Caribbean soul with modern, playful elegance. Each space, from its 28 rattan-laced rooms to its gorgeous emerald-tiled pool deck, is layered with texture, color and character. It’s a boutique stay that feels both transported and totally at ease.

Why it matters: Design is a key differentiator in the boutique space, and the Pink Palm nails it by crafting a space that feels unquestionably original and undeniably rooted in local history. Its commitment to adaptive reuse—retaining stone walls, alfresco pathways and endless flights of stairs—lends the property both credibility and charm (if not a cardio workout). The result is a stay that resonates with travelers seeking narrative and cultural connection. At the same time, its modern amenities and curated comforts ensure no compromise on luxury. (Hospitality Design)

One camera’s not gonna cut it anymore

Security has become a defining feature of the modern guest experience, right up there with comfort and convenience. From encrypted Wi-Fi to smart surveillance and staff training, the most trusted hotels are building security into every layer of their operations. It's a strategic investment that not only safeguards data and property but also boosts guest loyalty and revenue.

Why it matters: Today’s travelers expect more than luxury and they expect to feel safe, both physically and digitally. Secure Wi-Fi, protected IoT devices and thoughtful privacy practices are no longer perks, they're dealmakers (or dealbreakers), directly influencing return visits and higher rate tolerance. Beyond the tech itself, security also hinges on human factors like well-trained staff and clear safety protocols, which build visible, lasting trust. With the majority of hotel operators now prioritizing security as a business growth driver, safeguarding guests and systems can meaningfully improve occupancy, ADR and brand reputation, giving your hotel security a real ROI. (Hospitality Technology)

Take a number

Actabl just launched a powerful, no‑cost hub offering real-time benchmarks across revenue, labor, profit margins and more. Based on real performance data, HotelData.com’s inaugural 2025–26 Budget Planning Guide provides operators with data-driven clarity—showing what hotels actually budgeted vs. the forecasts and results. It’s the kind of tool hotel teams can actually use to budget better, trim waste and make data-backed moves with confidence.
 
Why it matters: Accessing thousands of aggregated hotel performance metrics, including RevPAR, ADR, labor costs, GOP, lets owners and operators replace guesswork with grounded, market-based planning. For instance, even though RevPAR lagged expectations in H1 2025, ADR held steady and strong GOP margins were preserved. With labor costs trending +6.6% YoY, comparing your property to real market benchmarks becomes essential to identify inefficiencies and adjust staffing plans—especially useful since budget season is here. This level of transparency enables smarter resource allocation and faster strategy shifts in response to emerging trends. (Actabl)

Thank u, next

Feeling a little stuck, even though everything looks “fine” on the outside? What does it really mean to quietly outgrow your life, and how can you make a change without blowing everything up? If you’re craving more meaning, momentum or simply a new groove, Nancy Mendelson offers a few ways to recognize the shift and start moving forward.

Why it matters: Hotel leaders are constantly adapting to industry shifts, but it’s easy to miss when your personal growth needs the same attention. When your inner spark dims, leadership, creativity and decision-making can quietly suffer. Subtle signs—like going through the motions or feeling disconnected from once-meaningful goals—signal it’s time for a shift. It’s not about tossing everything out, it’s about recognizing when you’ve evolved and your life hasn’t caught up. Reigniting your own momentum brings clarity. (Hertelier)

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Mint Pillow is curated and written by Jennifer Glatt and edited by Lesley McKenzie.