The hospitality industry is one of the nation’s largest employers and one of the fastest-growing sectors for job creation. In 2025, the American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA) projects the hotel industry will add around 700,000 jobs, while the U.S. Department of Labor projects an increase of 800,000-plus hospitality jobs by 2033. These projections indicate significant demand for workers in the hospitality industry in 2025, with job openings expected to remain substantial.

If these growth projections hold true, the need to properly equip in-demand employees will be significant. Traditionally, training has focused on service excellence, operational efficiency, and customer satisfaction. However, with the rapid evolution of the sector, training practices have adapted to meet new challenges. To meet the expectations for experiential travel, technology, and sustainability, emerging training trends are required. Skill development needs include technology, personalization, and culinary and mixology innovation.

Here are five tangible training tips that hospitality leaders can implement today for results tomorrow:

1. Technology Literacy

With self-serve kiosks, ordering apps, and contactless payments rapidly changing the landscape of the service experience, how employees provide support and service for guests using these tools is essential for guest engagement and satisfaction. While technology has changed the roles needed, the human element was never removed. Guests want employees to assist them with ordering at a kiosk, answering questions about the menu, and being friendly when they pick up their orders. As a leader, confirm that you have an updated Steps of Service, incorporated guest touchpoints, and role-played with your team.

2. Personalization

Guests love to be recognized, and if you know their name, even better. Teach your team tricks to remember guests’ names. Create a guest recognition system and use technology to communicate with other areas or team members. When a guest makes a reservation, ask questions that can lead to surprise-and-delight moments, such as the children’s names and ages, favorite beverages, and reason for travel. Encourage service staff to share knowledge about guests with the host stand as well. Well-informed guest profiles allow you to provide nearly telepathic service for your regulars.

3. Culinary Innovation

The advent of the Food Network, celebrity chefs, and experiential travel has led to guests being as knowledgeable as employees about food and beverage. While the culinary team may have spent years in culinary school, servers and bartenders are guest-facing and need the information to share with guests. Take time to train your team on menu ingredients, practices, cooking methods, and how flavors interact with one another on a dish. A few tips a day can enhance the guest experience and capture the interest of the foodies on the team.

4. Mixology

It’s not just a cocktail anymore; it’s an experience. From smoked cocktails to zero-waste sustainable beverages, guests are all about the story, environment and locale. Spirit-free cocktails are also on the rise with a shift toward mindful drinking. Much like culinary, educate your team on spirits, their history, the differences between options, and how to take a classic drink and add a local flair. Dining out is about experiencing something different than what you can create in your own home. Discuss ways your team can deliver on that expectation.

5. Sustainable Practices

Sustainable practices are top of mind and guests appreciate actions taken to reduce waste, conserve water, sustainably source ingredients, and be energy efficient. Once those actions have been taken, share best practices with your team and discuss how they can be incorporated into storytelling. We recently worked with a team in Ann Arbor, MI, Echelon Kitchen + Bar, whose chef largely sourced ingredients within a 50-mile radius of the restaurant. This action supports local businesses and farmers, reduces gas emissions, and helps the planet.

Curated, skills-based training programs are essential for cultivating a competitive, agile and skilled workforce. For individuals, they provide opportunities for career growth, while for organizations they drive efficiency, innovation and long-term success. Investing in curated, skills-based training programs is not just a good business practice — it’s a strategic move that benefits both the company and its employees.

Mary D’Argenis-Fernandez is the president and founder of MDA Hospitality, which writes, designs and delivers dynamic training programs and resources that reflect its clients’ brand style, voice, and image.