Happiness in Hospitality: Mark McCulloch, Hospitality Rising founder, shares his views on the report

When it comes to hospitality, there is no disputing the fact people are at the centre of every business. In an industry where the ‘product’ is all about how your customer ‘feels’, every person-to-person interaction of your team has a critical effect on the successful customer experience – and therefore the success of the business.

Hospitality businesses know the importance of people: their success is built on this. By providing a positive working environment and ensuring the people who work for you are happy, they will, in turn, ensure customers are happy.

The CODE Happiness in Hospitality report is the ideal barometer in assessing how the industry has fared over the past year. Not only does it provide an opportunity to shout about its successes, it allows us to collectively work to do better.

It was heartening to see that staff salaries are up almost 30 per cent from last year, especially when we are battling spiralling energy bills and a cost-of-living crisis. Making sure our hospitality teams are well renumerated will go some way to alleviating the added stress we have found as a population in 2022.

What’s more, with 75 per cent of those surveyed seeing themselves in hospitality next year and 71 per cent likely to recommend working within the industry as a career, the future is bright and we are casting off old stereotypes. The sector is now less seen as a stop gap, but rather one in which individuals can develop and flourish.

Having recently launched Hospitality Rising, the UK’s biggest hospitality recruitment campaign, we hope to create a new era by helping to change the perception of the industry. I believe that in no other sector can you go further, faster – we’re working to show people that.

The report shows that once you are in the industry, the belief that you can go on to forge a rewarding and successful career is there for the taking. Alongside the numerous job opportunities currently available within hospitality, it’s up to us to work together to harness the passion our people show on a day-to-day basis.