Southeast Asia’s fast-growing hospitality industry has a people problem. Here’s what leading brands are doing to get the staff they need

A hotel is already alive long before it welcomes its first guest. Housekeepers make the rounds before dawn, kitchen crews rehearse dishes yet to be ordered, concierges prepare for the day. 

This unseen work is now expanding as Southeast Asia’s travel sector expands at an unprecedented pace. The region’s hospitality sector is projected to grow to roughly $208 billion by 2033, up from $136 billion in 2024, according to Deep Market Insights, a market research firm.

Hotel construction across Asia‑Pacific is hitting record highs...