Tired of No-Shows Ruining Your Events? There's a Better Way to Hire

Finally Build a Team You Can Count On—For Every Wedding, Gala, and Shift

By Vetano Team, Hiring Innovation • • 11 min read

You Deserve Staff Who Actually Show Up

You know the feeling. An important event is starting in an hour, and your phone rings—another no-show. Now you're scrambling, stressed, and wondering why hiring reliable people feels impossible.

You're not alone. And it's not your fault.

The hospitality industry is stuck in a broken hiring cycle:

But here's the thing: traditional hiring—résumés, phone screens, crossed fingers—was never designed for hospitality. You need to see who you're hiring before the pressure's on.

> Related reading: [Tired of Résumé Roulette? Here's What's Actually Working](/blog/the-resume-is-dead)

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The Real Cost of Bad Hospitality Hires

A bad hire in hospitality doesn't just affect your payroll—it affects your reputation.

Direct Costs

Indirect Costs (Often Worse)

The average hospitality bad hire costs $6,200+ when you factor in turnover, training, and reputation impact.

> Deep dive: [The Real Cost of a Bad Hire (And How to Avoid It)](/blog/the-real-cost-of-a-bad-hire)

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What Hospitality Employers Actually Need to See

Résumés tell you someone worked at a hotel. They don't tell you:

For hospitality roles, demonstration beats description.

Skill Video Examples That Work

Here's what smart hospitality employers look for in skill demonstrations:

| Role | What to Demonstrate | Why It Matters | |------|---------------------|----------------| | Banquet Server | Proper table setting, tray carrying technique, guest greeting | Technique and professionalism visible immediately | | Event Bartender | Cocktail preparation, speed, customer engagement | Skill level obvious in 30 seconds | | Front Desk Agent | Check-in process, handling a complaint, upselling | Guest-facing demeanor can't be faked | | Housekeeping | Bed-making technique, attention to detail, efficiency | Quality standards demonstrated visually |

> More examples: [5 Skill Video Examples That Got Candidates Hired in 48 Hours](/blog/skill-video-examples)

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The Skills-Based Hiring Approach for Hospitality

Instead of hoping your new hire works out, [skills-based hiring](/blog/skills-based-hiring) lets you verify abilities before you invest in training.

How It Works

  • Candidates record skill demonstrations — Table service technique, guest greeting, cocktail preparation
  • You watch 30-second clips — See their actual abilities, not just claims
  • Verify identity and credentials — Background checks, food handler cards, certifications
  • Build your reliable roster — Save top performers for repeat bookings

    • Benefits for Hotels and Event Venues

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    Building Your Hospitality Talent Roster

    The best hospitality employers don't start from scratch for every event. They maintain a curated roster of reliable, proven workers.

    The Roster System

    Tier 1: Core Staff

    Tier 2: Proven Flexibles Tier 3: Vetted Backups Tier 4: New Applicants When a 200-person wedding needs 25 servers, you pull from Tiers 1-3 before touching Tier 4.

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    Summary: Key Takeaways for Hospitality Hiring

  • Hospitality turnover is 73% — Traditional hiring makes it worse, not better.

  • Skill videos reveal what résumés hide — Service style, warmth, and technique are visible in 30 seconds.

  • Build a tiered roster system — Proven performers first, new candidates last.

  • Verification is mandatory — Guest safety and liability require ID checks and background screening.

  • Proactive beats reactive — Screen candidates in slow periods so you're ready for events.

  • The result: Less stress, more confidence, happier guests, and a team that actually sticks around.