8 Easy Ways to Show Worker Appreciation

Studies show it, but you don’t need data to back up the fact that feeling appreciated makes people happier and more engaged. In honor of Hospitality Worker Appreciation Day on February 23, 2025, consider a few ways to extend appreciation to the people who work in our restaurants, hotels, and hospitality businesses. 
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As an employer, taking the time and energy to make sure your hard-working team members receive positive attention for their efforts can have an incalculable effect on your business. When workers feel genuinely valued, a business is more likely to see productivity and profitability rise.   

For younger employees, encouragement and gestures of appreciation can help build self-confidence, direct their motivation, and build goodwill within your company. For established team members, however, recognition can strengthen positive relationships within the company, boost morale, and keep up engagement.  
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Luckily, there are many simple and cost-effective ways to recognize your teams.  

1. Express Gratitude Often. Saying “Thank You” is completely free and incredibly effective. Noticing the hard work and creativity of your team members – and letting them know it! - should be an essential and regular habit.  
2. Handwritten Notes. Add a personal touch to performance reviews or meetings by dashing off a card to your employees, or surprise employees just because. These messages can mention positive performance points, compliment your employees on a successful day, celebrate a completed project or career milestone, or simply take a moment to say you’re grateful they’re on the team!  
3. Free Food. You can never go wrong with snacks. Hosting a laidback morning coffee hour with pastries, ordering in subs for lunch, inviting the team for a classic pizza party, or just surprising your team with pretzels at their desk can be a pleasant way to show appreciation.  
4. Celebrate Birthdays. Keep an updated list of your team member’s birthday, giving them a special shout-out and making them feel remembered and cared about.  
5. Connect Them With Travel Perks. Thanks to your MRLA membership, you can access a discounted rate on the Hotel Employees Travel Rate, which offers exclusive rates on hotels around the globe.  
6. Invest in Professional Development. Make employees feel recognized and appreciated while also upskilling your workforce. Become a partner with your up-and-coming team members by helping them achieve their goals. The Hospitality Training Institute of Michigan is a great place to start. Offering convenient schedules and nationally recognized certifications, the HTIM’s training programs also give rising stars the financial knowledge, leadership skills and industry background they need to thrive as leaders in the hospitality industry.  
7. Take Your Team to an Extravaganza. Thanks to a special discount in honor of Hospitality Worker Appreciation Day from February 23-24, you can take your team to the 2025 Michigan Food & Hospitality Show, a special extravaganza designed especially for hospitality professionals to connect, celebrate, explore new solutions, and  gain insights into advancing our industry and businesses. 
8. Nominate Your Stars For An Award. At the MRLA’s annual Stars of the Industry Awards Dinner, the hospitality association honors the achievements and commitment of the industry’s best and brightest. As the only award honoring hospitality stars, this is a chance to shine the spotlight on the people who go above and beyond every single day to make your business outstanding.  You can nominate here! 

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The Stars of the Industry Awards Dinner is an annual event celebrating the best and brightest of Michigan's hospitality industry.  The only premier awards ceremony honoring those who go above and beyond to contribute to the industry's positive image, this is a timeless opportunity to give the stars of your restaurant or hotel a chance to shine. 

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