In general, technological progress, seen as data processing and new food preparation techniques, has created a potential for higher labour productivity and therefore higher salaries for highly skilled staff. Other staff, however, are facing decreased demand for their particular skills. The ILO report says that what is now needed is a flexibility to work in different departments, at different hierarchical levels and at varying hours. There is widespread consensus that formal training in the sector falls short of its new requirements for skilled workers. Hotel and tourism schools are having problems keeping up with technological changes which require investment in equipment and the retraining of trainers.
Many countries have no special structures for training hotel and tourism staff.
New technologies and working conditions in the hotel, catering and tourism sector, ILO Sectoral Activities Programme. Swiss francs 17.50. Estimates of the WTTC include all travel-related consumption, both for business travel and personal holidays, such as transportation costs, restaurants meals, hotel accommodation and so on.