Major hotel brands are reporting RevPAR, the industry's key performance metric, at levels 15 to 20 percent above 2025 for leisure market properties. The strength reflects both occupancy and rate gains as travel demand remains robust. However, behind the financial metrics, guest satisfaction scores at many properties have deteriorated as post-pandemic staffing models that reduced housekeeping frequency and food service hours become permanent.
Employee turnover in hospitality remains significantly above pre-pandemic levels despite wage increases across most job categories. The industry's reputation for demanding hours, limited benefits, and unstable scheduling continues to deter workers who gained experience in other service sectors during pandemic retraining. Several major brands are piloting technology-enabled service models that rely on fewer but higher-paid employees to deliver the same guest experience as larger legacy workforces.
