What The Hospitality Industry Doesn’t Tell You About The Holiday Season

This is me and one of my ex-coworkers, Mauricio. He is one of the people who I now consider my family thanks to this industry. We were about to step out into service during Thanksgiving time. Can you hear the people in the room, the kids, and the kitchen orders at the same time? Ready? Set, go!

Before you start packing your bags to leave for your holiday vacation or making a reservation at that restaurant you’ve been dreaming of, let me let you in a little secret.

Us hospitality people, we make miracles happen.

Whether it’s working a double or triple shift, filling in different positions, flying the plane that's taking you home to your loved ones, or cooking your favorite meal. We make it happen.

The thing is, part of working in this industry means making magic happen every day. But during the holiday season, it’s like we become The Avengers or something.

You see, during this season the hospitality industry suffers the most because we’re understaffed. Why is that? Because we want to spend the holidays with our families and loved ones too. Managers take on the daunting task of trying to figure out a schedule that works both for the company and the employees' lives.

And we’re not complaining. We knew what we signed up for when we decided to work in this industry. Because as exhausting as it can be, it is equally as rewarding.

Being able to bring people together is what we're here for. To make you go back home with the best memories.

While you’re sitting down having Thanksgiving dinner with your family, we’re back in the kitchen eating a quick bite or a bag of chips. With our family. Our work family.

While you’re on the plane waiting to see your loved ones, there are people who will be traveling the whole day unable to see theirs.

While you’re relaxing in that gorgeous hotel room, we’re making sure there’s nothing missing for you and your memorable experience.

That’s part of the reason why we’re able to make magic happen during this holiday season. Because of the people around us.

We get to spend this special time with them and it makes us feel at home. Because even if we’re far away from our loved ones, this industry rewards us with people who become family.

At the end of the day, part of the beauty of this industry and the holiday season, it’s that it’s all about connection. About feeling the warmth from the people around you. About making someone else feel good.

This holiday season, keep in mind that there’s always someone in the back of the house making things happen for you.

Smile as often as you can to us.

Say “thank you” anytime you can. Appreciation during this time of the year goes a long way.

Little things are suddenly not so little when they come straight from your heart.

Because what the hospitality industry doesn’t tell you about the holiday season is that we wish we were at home.

So this holiday season, let’s all make magic happen. You while on vacation, and us working.

Let’s make each other feel at home. Doesn’t matter where we are.

To all my hospitality fellows who are working behind the scenes, THANK YOU. 

We see you, we appreciate you, and we’ve got your back.