Hotels around the U.S. struggling to staff up before summer crush

Hotels around the U.S. are facing a labor crunch as they scramble to accommodate a surge of visitors as more Americans start traveling thanks to the COVID-19 vaccine. Indeed, workers are returning more slowly than guests, leading hotels to offer perks such as signing bonuses in an effort to boost hiring.

"It's been very busy — lots of guests are coming to enjoy this beautiful weather we've had to sit at the pool, hike, golf and just relax," said Laurel Ely, a front desk agent at the Fairmont Scottsdale Princess, a luxury resort in Scottsdale, Arizona.   The hotel has been swamped with guests since February, when more Americans started to become vaccinated against COVID-19. Many of the hotel's former workers never returned, however. Some left the city or state, while others left the hospitality industry altogether after business plummeted in after the coronavirus took hold in the spring of 2020.