The Road to Recovery: Manning + Company’s Talent Perspective on Travel’s Resurgence
The travel and hospitality industry was hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic. But with restrictions lifting and demand surging back, the sector is poised for recovery. Realizing this potential requires rebuilding teams and sourcing talent that can elevate the end-to-end traveler experience. At Manning + Company, our deep expertise in the industry allows us to partner with travel companies to build the specialized teams they need across functions.
Industry Overview: Well-Positioned for Rebound
The travel industry came to a standstill in 2020 as the world hunkered down. Airlines slashed flights, hotels and resorts shuttered, and overall travel spend declined by 42%. Millions found themselves unemployed almost overnight.
But the pendulum is swinging back fast. Travel demand has proven resilient, with spending projected to fully recover by 2024. Consumers have savings and pent-up wanderlust. Corporate travel and events are also returning.
While economic uncertainty could impact discretionary spending, demographics and secular trends favor travel's growth long-term. Younger generations like Millennials and Gen Z are entering peak travel years. And the rise of remote work means people can travel more frequently and to more remote destinations than ever.
This has catalyzed a wave of innovation across hospitality, transportation and experience design. The industry recognizes the need to adapt to new traveler priorities focused on flexibility, wellness and personalization. For companies looking to elevate guest experiences, designing the right talent strategy is critical.
Rebuilding Teams in a Competitive Market
As travel plunged, many companies had to enact layoffs. Now they are looking to staff back up amidst a tight labor market and intense competition for talent.
At Manning + Company, we leverage our deep networks to identify professionals for key roles across functions:
Hospitality Operations – Front desk, housekeeping, F&B, concierge, and other staff delivering personalized service.
Sales & Marketing – Partnerships, promotions, and campaigns to stimulate travel demand across segments.
Revenue Management – Forecasting, pricing, and inventory optimization as travel patterns shift.
IT & Digital – Customer-facing platforms and backend tech modernizing legacy systems.
Finance & Analytics – Experts in travel data and metrics to guide planning.
Our recruiting team maintains relationships with top hospitality and tourism programs to tap rising talent. And we utilize targeted assessment to ensure candidates have the right operational skills and service mentality.
With our blend of industry connectivity and recruiting capabilities, we help clients win in this competitive hiring market across levels from hourly staff to executive leadership.
Elevating the End-to-End Travel Journey
Today’s travelers want flexibility and personalization across the entire trip lifecycle. Meeting this means obsessing over the holistic guest experience, identifying friction points, and bridging operational silos.
At Manning + Company, we partner with travel clients to build multidisciplinary teams focused on connected experiences. Key roles where we provide talent advisory include:
Customer Journey Mapping – Analyzing touchpoints and interactions from booking to lodging to in-destination.
Experience Design – Crafting guest experiences grounded in understanding traveler needs and expectations.
Loyalty Strategy – Designing integrated programs spanning brands and sectors like airlines, hotels, cruises.
Ancillary Services – Curating customized offers for add-ons like insurance, luggage, Wi-Fi, dining.
Retail Management – Optimizing every aspect of on-site retail from assortment to placement to payment.
Operational Excellence – Ensuring systems and staff deliver consistent experiences property-wide.
Our team understands how to construct collaborative groups with the right balance of skills in service design, revenue optimization, operations, and technology.
The Road Ahead: People Are Key
The travel rebound presents immense opportunities for companies ready to deliver meaningful and memorable experiences. But seizing this potential requires expertise in talent strategy and teams.
At Manning + Company, we geek out on all aspects of travel. Our passion for the industry is matched only by our people capabilities. Let's connect to discuss how we can help assemble your dream team to lead in the next era of hospitality. The journey begins with the right talent!
