A hotel complex in Ibiza faces a perennial staffing challenge that stretches across its many departments—management, reception, reservations, maintenance, security, sales, human resources, administration—and the same struggle repeats each season. The issue has become an almost weekly headline and shows no sign of abating as summer reaches its peak.
A hotel manager at a Portinatx property, who asked to remain unnamed, describes the problem as so severe that rooms had to be reallocated to staff. He notes that the difficulty begins with ineligible rentals, making it extremely hard to secure proper housing for workers, so the resort may end up offering only accommodations instead of full-room assignments. In practice, a dozen rooms out of the 190 available for staff were removed, and more reductions are anticipated in the coming weeks. The economic impact is undeniable. Casualties occur, yet the service cannot continue without staff, he explains.
Another layer of trouble is a lack of competence. This shortfall hits mid- and upper-level roles, especially department heads. Experience matters, but the team values attitude above all else—an attribute that can be learned. Training is ongoing, but the fear remains that if someone is dismissed for poor performance, they will easily find another job. In short, they cannot afford to fire people.
In Es Canar, the manager of two hotels in María Peñalva describes a suffocating situation: staff turnover is constant. The hotels opened on May 1, yet some hires are already on probation or leaving for better offers. The problem isn’t just timing; it’s the quality and availability of qualified candidates.
To ease the strain, one hotel in María Peñalva has reserved ten staff-only rooms. Depending on how much space is available, sleeping arrangements range from two to five per room. The living conditions are not ideal, as staff share rooms and bathrooms. Nevertheless, meals—breakfast, lunch, and dinner—are provided, and this opportunity is offered free of charge, with no deductions from salaries. The manager emphasizes that this approach helps maintain a livable salary for employees.
Despite these measures, the challenge remains stubborn. Some organizations have begun pre-hiring campaigns to guarantee staffing for the season, as seen at a hotel in Sant Antoni Bay. The Human Resources Director explains that hiring started in March. Normally, hotels operate with intermittent communication channels, but this year they have added new staff early to counteract current shortages. Even with those efforts, attracting mid- to senior-management talent is proving difficult. The strategy is to recruit younger workers for entry-level roles, where attitude often trumps experience. The belief is clear: enthusiastic people who show dedication should be given opportunities, without a sense of superiority, to help sustain the business.
Yesterday, Hotel Figueretes opened with only half its staff. The receptionist laments the situation, noting the inability to absorb illness when coverage is lacking. Morning calls to CVs have yielded mixed responses: some candidates demand housing before accepting, others are weighing multiple opportunities. The message is that leaving a job is no longer intimidating, since someone else will take the post quickly.
The accommodation shortage adds another layer: 16 in-house rooms exist, but this year seven more were rented nearby to house staff during off-hours. The statement from a manager is stark: staff must have a place to live or they simply won’t come. The pattern is repeating across most Ibiza hotels, and as a result, reporting of shortages has diminished in some properties.
Job opportunities flood the internet daily. Organizations place frequent postings for key roles such as cooks and receptionists. A typical listing for Hotel Ibiza Playa announces a third staffing expansion for a new season and emphasizes housing as part of the package. Similar postings appear for Sant Antoni Bay hotels seeking maids, caretakers, and kitchen helpers, preferably locals or residents of nearby areas. Other listings from Náutico Ebeso in Ses Figueretes target positions like party managers, buffet and bar waiters, and floor waiters, with requirements that include up-to-date paperwork.
The recruitment wave continues. Advertisements for massage therapists surface for hotels in Sant Antoni, San Remo, Marco Polo, and the Riviera, with full-time roles and English language skills valued and required. Lifeguard positions are also advertised, with accommodation and catering provided and immediate start dates expected.
Yet some candidates apply without fully assessing the market. A prospective applicant from Puig describes a broad skill set—experience as a butler in a five-star hotel, driver, team management, engineering and MBA background, and coaching—seeking responsibilities and opportunities for continued self-improvement. They also note past residence in Canada and bilingual Spanish-English abilities, signaling a global pool of talent drawn to Ibiza’s hospitality sector. This demonstrates the wide range of qualifications that hotels are looking for and the urgent need to find the right fit quickly.
Citations: industry observers in Ibiza note the persistent staffing gap and the ongoing shifts in housing policies, recruitment timelines, and retention strategies across the island’s hotels. These trends underline a broader tourism labor market dynamic impacting service levels and operational continuity for the season.