Choosing a hotel staffing company is a decision that affects your guest experience every single day. These twelve questions will help you compare agencies on what actually matters, not just the quoted rate.

The 12 Questions

1. How much hospitality-specific experience does your team have?

General staffing experience is not the same as hospitality experience. Ask specifically about hotel housekeeping, front service, or F&B placements, not staffing in general.

2. How do you screen and train workers before placement?

Understand what vetting happens before someone arrives at your property, including background checks and hospitality-specific orientation.

3. How fast can you deploy staff for an urgent need?

Ask for a realistic response time, not an aspirational one, and ask what has actually happened during their busiest periods.

4. What is included in your bill rate?

Get a clear breakdown of what is covered by the rate versus billed separately, so you can compare quotes accurately.

5. What happens if a placement does not work out?

A good agency has a clear replacement process, ideally same-day or next-day, not a lengthy renegotiation.

6. Can you scale up or down with our occupancy?

Confirm minimum commitments and how much notice they need to adjust staffing levels.

7. Do you carry your own workers' compensation and liability insurance?

This should be confirmed in writing, not assumed.

8. Who is our day-to-day point of contact?

A single, responsive contact matters more during a staffing gap than a general support line.

9. Can you provide references from other hotels?

A reputable agency should be able to connect you with current hospitality clients.

10. How do you handle no-shows and call-outs on your end?

Ask how quickly they can send a replacement worker if their own staff does not show up for a scheduled shift.

11. What roles are you legally able to staff for hotels our size in this city?

In New York City specifically, ask how they handle the Safe Hotels Act's core-employee rules for hotels with 100 or more rooms, and how that applies to your property.

12. What does a typical onboarding look like for a new client?

A structured onboarding process, including a property walkthrough and standards review, signals an agency that invests in getting your account right from the start.

Red Flags to Watch For

• Vague or evasive answers about insurance and workers' compensation.

• No clear replacement process for a no-show or a poor fit.

• Reluctance to provide references from other hospitality clients.

• No familiarity with NYC-specific hotel staffing rules.

• Pressure to sign a long-term contract before a trial period.

What a Strong Fit Looks Like

The right staffing partner should feel like an extension of your team: responsive, familiar with hospitality standards, transparent about pricing, and able to scale with your property's real occupancy patterns.

See How Labor Solution Measures Up

We welcome these questions. Labor Solution has supported hotels through everything from routine daily coverage to a two-hour emergency deployment for a 650-room opening. Contact us or get a quote to compare us against your current shortlist.

What is the most important question to ask a hotel staffing company?

There is no single most important question, but confirming insurance coverage, response time for urgent needs, and their replacement process for a poor-fit placement will reveal a lot about how reliable they will be.

Should I ask for references before choosing a staffing agency?

Yes. A reputable hospitality staffing agency should be able to connect you with current or former hotel clients who can speak to their reliability and quality.

What should be included in a staffing agency's bill rate?

Ask specifically what the rate covers, such as wages, payroll taxes, and insurance, versus anything billed separately, so you can compare quotes accurately across agencies.

Does a staffing agency need to understand NYC's Safe Hotels Act?

Yes, if your hotel is in New York City. A knowledgeable agency should understand which roles they can and cannot staff for hotels of different sizes under that law.

How quickly should a good staffing agency respond to an urgent need?

Response times vary, but you should get a specific, realistic answer, along with examples of how they have handled urgent requests in the past, rather than a vague promise.