Thanksgiving & Hospitality: The Holiday’s Effect on our Industry
By Jack Beck (CAS ’21, SHA Minor)
Being that the mythical and historical roots of Thanksgiving can be traced back to one of America’s earliest examples of hospitality, it makes sense that the holiday and the industry are undeniably related. Thanksgiving is one of the most celebrated traditions in the country, and in this article, we’ll be taking a walkthrough of the exact impact it has for anyone working in hospitality.
Because it always falls on a Thursday, travel trends related to Thanksgiving are fairly consistent and easy to predict. As you would likely expect, Wednesday and Sunday are by far the biggest travel days, with around 50% of the travelers flying for the holidays leaving Wednesday and returning Sunday, according to a SmartTraveler study. With these crowds, long security lines and overcrowded terminals can lead to a rough day at the airport, so be sure to prepare for your flight by arriving earlier than you would on an ordinary day. Also, always stay updated on delays, gate changes, and other information.
Of course, with this much air travel, the hotel industry is sure to be affected. Boston area hotels will see a slight increase in room and occupancy rates, but rarely will these jumps reach anywhere near mid-summer highs. In terms of festivities, most upscale hotels will offer some kind of holiday-appropriate meal for their guests, such as the FriendsGiving package at Marriott International’s Tribute Portfolio. Furthermore, hotels and inns of smaller towns such as Plymouth and Salem that host special Thanksgiving celebrations see a significant increase in prices that can get them through otherwise slow winter months.
From fast food to fine dining, most restaurants do tend to stay open on the holiday. While you can definitely find some great meals in Boston during the holiday, working on Thanksgiving can put employees and employers in a difficult place. The financial opportunity the holiday presents is often too great for a restaurant to pass up, but on account of their opening, many workers may miss dinner with their own families and a chance to truly celebrate the holiday. Because of that, if you do go out for Thanksgiving, be sure to enjoy your meal and remember to be extra courteous to any staff you encounter.