The Hotel Chain Meliá, the largest in Spain, has announced a new plan to attract and retain seasonal workers: the purchase of properties to ensure accommodation to its employees. The measure arises in response to the housing crisis that affects high demand tourist destinations, where the high lease prices make it difficult for workers in the sector to permanence.
Investment in accommodation for employees
Meliá CEO, Gabriel Escarrer, revealed that the company has acquired an old hostel on the island of Menaca and aims to expand the initiative to other locations, such as Ibiza, Majorca and the Canary Islands.
These regions, of great tourist affluence, are also the most profitable for the group. However, the high housing costs have created difficulties in recruiting and retention of personnel.
The decision to invest in their own accommodation is justified by the need to guarantee stability and quality of life for employees, allowing them to remain in tourist areas during the high season without the weight of the housing cost.
According to Escarrer, just “paying well” is no longer enough to retain talents, and it is essential to offer conditions that facilitate employment permanence.
Labor shortage in the hotel sector
The hotel chain recently announced a plan to hire 1,800 workers, providing that 2024 could be the best year in the sector, with the arrival of over 100 million foreign tourists to Spain.
However, the lack of accessible housing has been an obstacle to filling vacancies, especially in destinations where tourist demand pressures the real estate market.
The housing crisis and increased living costs led to a disparity between sector wages and the cost of accommodation.
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The Union Confederation Workers Committees (CCCO) pointed out that while hotel workers wages increased by 3% by 2023, the rent rose an average of 11.5% this year.
Other initiatives in the sector
Iberostar, another large hotel chain, has adopted a similar solution, offering free accommodation in destinations with scarce housing.
The Spanish Confederation of Hotels and Tour Housing (Cehat) warned that not all companies can bear the costs of providing housing to workers.
In addition to investment in housing, Meliá also bets on the training of new professionals through partnerships with educational institutions.
The goal is to prepare qualified labor in tourist destinations that face greater difficulty in filling vacancies.
The group’s decision reflects a growing trend in the hotel sector, where companies are looking for innovative solutions to retain workers in an increasingly competitive market.
The impact of this strategy may define new standards on industry, especially in destinations where the cost of living makes it difficult to recruit qualified professionals.
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