Travel demand has rebounded sharply, but hotels and restaurants worldwide can’t find enough people to run them. In Europe and the US, hospitality still runs 10–20% below pre‑pandemic staffing levels, leaving millions of vacancies. Even Asia-Pacific markets report that intense turnover and shortages are already hurting service scores. In the Gulf region too, booming tourism meets a “skilled workforce shortage,” driving operators to adopt technology just to keep up. This global pinch is now a tipping point: automation is shifting from a temporary fix into a strategic advantage.
In this newsletter we’ll explore how operators are redesigning kitchens and back offices and imagine what a hotel stay might be like in 2030 when robots handle routine tasks. Throughout, we remain upbeat – savvy investors (including our own team at Velocity Ventures) see these trends as opportunities to lift margins and delight guests.
