If you work in hospitality or retail, you can feel it: 2025 is going to be another year of transformation.
New technology, new guest expectations, and the same big question: how do we keep our people engaged and our teams aligned while everything changes around us?
That’s exactly what Europe’s top hospitality and retail leaders explored at our LeaderTalks Breakfast in Amsterdam, hosted by us (hey, MobieTrain here 👋🏻).
Over great coffee and conversation, we uncovered the trends and leadership lessons shaping the next chapter of hospitality.
Here are the 7 key insights every hospitality leader should know.
Guests Are More Price-Sensitive, But Value Is Still a Story
The €35 steak debate came up quickly. Guests now hesitate at prices they once accepted without question. But here’s the twist: they’re not rejecting the price, they’re rejecting the feeling of overpaying.
The takeaway?
Value is narrative.
Guests will still pay for exceptional experiences, as long as they understand what they’re paying for.
The smartest operators aren’t discounting; they’re reframing value through storytelling, craft, and authenticity.
2. Team Alignment Isn’t Optional Anymore
Every hospitality leader knows this truth: what happens backstage always shows up front-of-house.
A friction between F&B and Front Office, or fine dining and brasserie, never stays behind the scenes.
Guests don’t see departments; they see one promise, one brand, one story.
That’s why the modern leader is more than a manager.
They’re an experience integrator, aligning everyone from reception to kitchen around a shared goal: seamless service.
3. Retention Beats Recruitment (Every Single Time)
When HR budgets tighten, the smartest investment isn’t new hires, it’s the ones you already have.
Replacing a single frontline employee can cost up to 30% of their annual salary (Gallup).
Add lost productivity, training costs, and cultural disruption, and the math is clear:
Retention is the new recruitment.
As one of our LeaderTalks guests said,
“Focus on keeping great people, not just finding them.”
Companies that double down on retention, through better onboarding, recognition, and growth opportunities, don’t just save money.
They protect consistency, morale, and the guest experience.
4. Gen Z Isn’t a Monolith, Lead with Context, Not Assumptions
If you’ve ever tried to “decode” Gen Z, you know the stereotypes: they want purpose, they love feedback, they hate structure.
Reality? It depends.
Our panel agreed that Gen Z isn’t one story; it’s a collection of stories shaped by culture, opportunity, and leadership.
A Gen Z employee in Amsterdam may not think or work like one in Milan or London.
The best leaders?
They don’t lead with assumptions.
They lead with context.
5. Culture Shapes Effort (And Performance)
“Work smarter, not harder”, in the Netherlands, it’s practically a lifestyle philosophy.
But as our leaders pointed out, it doesn’t mean “work less.” It means working better.
Across Europe, work culture looks different.
In France, collaboration thrives on structure. In Italy, passion fuels creativity. In the Netherlands, efficiency drives innovation.
Understanding these cultural nuances helps leaders manage performance without micromanaging. Culture isn’t a barrier. It’s a blueprint.
6. AI in Hospitality: A Lever and a Mirror
AI isn’t replacing people, it’s amplifying them.
It’s helping teams predict staffing needs, personalise guest experiences, and train faster.
But it’s also a mirror.
If your internal processes are unclear or your culture lacks trust, AI will only highlight it faster.
Used well, it enhances human connection, freeing staff to focus on warmth, empathy, and the moments that truly matter.
7. The Talent Shortage Is Real, Simplify to Survive
Europe’s hospitality sector is still short on people, and the pressure isn’t easing.
Many leaders rely on externals or seasonal workers just to stay open, but that often comes at the cost of consistency.
The winning play? Simplify.
Redesign service models so fewer people can deliver the same level of quality. Train smarter, communicate clearly, and protect the human moments that make your brand memorable.
LeaderTalks: Where Great Ideas Start Over Coffee
Every insight above came from an honest conversation, not a keynote. That’s the power of LeaderTalks, our roundtable series connecting retail and hospitality leaders across Europe.
We meet in small, relaxed settings (and always with good food).
No buzzwords. No slide decks. Just practical insights, laughter, and the occasional “aha!” moment.
After Amsterdam, we’re heading to Milan, London, and back to Amsterdam for the next editions.
👋 Be our guest. Join a breakfast where ideas flow as easily as the coffee.
Because the future of hospitality doesn’t happen in boardrooms, it starts around a table.
Final Thought
The future of hospitality isn’t about hiring more or digitising faster.
It’s about staying human and making sure every person, process, and tool works in harmony.
Because great hospitality doesn’t just happen.
It’s designed, led, and lived, one team, one story, one experience at a time.