Travel + Leisure Co. Unveils a $1,000 “Stay Bonus” for New Hires and Current Associates in Key Vacation Resort Markets

Rhea-AI Summary

Travel + Leisure Co. (TNL) has launched a new strategy to bolster hiring and retention ahead of a busy summer season. The company is offering substantial retention bonuses of up to $1,500 for existing hourly associates and up to $750 for new hires, alongside enhanced referral bonuses of $1,000 for resort positions. Additionally, a pilot program for sales associates allows a hybrid pay structure of salary and bonuses. This initiative aims to strengthen the workforce and improve service quality as leisure travel rebounds in 2021.

Positive

• Significant retention bonuses of up to $1,500 for existing associates.
• Aiming for better talent attraction with enhanced referral bonuses, up to $12,500 for sales positions.
• Pilot program for sales associates offering a hybrid salary and commission structure to ease the transition.

Negative

• Concerns about continuity and experience gaps with a focus on rapid hiring.

Travel + Leisure Co. (NYSE:TNL), the world’s leading membership and leisure travel company, recently rolled out a revamped strategy to attract and retain associates in key departments across the U.S. in preparation for a busy summer travel season.

For new hires and existing associates in hourly operations and hourly supervisor positions across its nearly 200 U.S.-based Wyndham Destinations vacation resorts, Travel + Leisure Co. is offering a “Stay Bonus” for staying with the company through Sept. 7, 2021. Operational hourly associates hired prior to June 1, 2021 will be eligible for a $1,000 bonus. June, July and August hires will be eligible for bonuses of $750, $500 and $250, respectively for staying through Sept. 7, 2021. Supervisory hourly associates hired prior to June 1, 2021 will be eligible for a $1,500 bonus, while June, July and August hires will be eligible for bonuses of $1,125, $750 and $375, respectively.

In addition, the company, which previously paid out more than $2 million in associate referral bonuses prior to the pandemic, is continuing to invest back into its people – rather than external recruiting services – with enhanced referral payouts of $1,000 for all U.S.-based resort operations positions and up to $12,500 for referring qualified candidates to open sales positions.

“2021 is shaping up to be a strong year for the return of leisure travel, and we need top talent to deliver the best experience to our owners and guests,” said Kimberly Marshall, chief human resources officer at Travel + Leisure Co. “In previous years, we’ve hired more than 1,400 associates annually through referrals from our existing associates, and we know that people who are hired based on referrals are more likely to stay with our organization for an extended time. By incentivizing existing and incoming employees with some of the largest referral and retention bonuses in the industry, we continue to strengthen our incredible team.”

The company is also piloting innovative options for hybrid salary and commission compensation programs designed to attract and retain new sales and marketing associates in key locations. The program enables newly-hired sales representatives and marketing agents the opportunity to be paid a fixed hourly rate – in addition to a bonus – for up to six months. Participants would also have the option to move to an incentive-based plan earlier for higher compensation potential.

“Taking a commission-based role for the first time can be intimidating, so a pilot program of this kind allows new associates to take a salary before transitioning to the traditional sales incentive model,” added Marshall. “This is just one example of how our innovation fuels the attraction of talented associates – we’re always thinking outside the box to develop industry-leading recruitment and retention techniques."

Current hiring efforts are focused on roles in the company’s top markets – popular summer travel destinations where resort occupancy is expected to be the highest. These markets include Orlando, Fla., Las Vegas, Nev., Nashville, Tenn., San Antonio, Texas, Williamsburg, Va., Branson, Mo., and the Carolinas.

Travel + Leisure Co. offers competitive benefits to support the wellness and financial goals of its associates and their families including medical, dental, vision and life insurance programs, a 401(k) matching plan, and travel discounts. Jobseekers can explore available career opportunities at careers.wyndhamdestinations.com.

About Travel + Leisure Co.

Travel + Leisure Co. is the world’s leading membership and leisure travel company, with nearly 20 travel brands across its resort, travel club, and lifestyle portfolio. The company provides outstanding vacation experiences and travel inspiration to millions of owners, members, and subscribers every year through its products and services: Wyndham Destinations, the largest vacation ownership company with more than 245 vacation club resort locations across the globe; Panorama, the world’s foremost membership travel business that includes the largest vacation exchange company, industry-leading travel technology, and subscription travel brands; and Travel + Leisure Group, featuring top online and print travel content, online booking platforms and travel clubs, and branded consumer products. At Travel + Leisure Co., our global team of associates brings hospitality to millions, turning vacation inspiration into exceptional travel experiences. We put the world on vacation. Learn more at travelandleisureco.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210603005154/en/

FAQ

What retention and bonus programs has Travel + Leisure Co. (TNL) implemented for summer hiring?

Travel + Leisure Co. is offering retention bonuses of up to $1,500 for existing associates and varying bonuses for new hires, potentially totaling $1,000.

How does the new pilot program for sales associates at Travel + Leisure Co. (TNL) work?

The pilot program allows new sales associates to receive a fixed hourly salary along with bonuses, easing the transition to a commission-based model.

What are the key markets for hiring targeted by Travel + Leisure Co. (TNL)?

The company is focusing hiring efforts in popular summer travel destinations, including Orlando, Las Vegas, and Nashville.