Property developer Staple shifts to worker-owned model for hotels, to open across Japan

Working in hospitality for years before joining Staple, Kanako Watanabe recalls struggling with the separation of ownership, management and operations. As a front-line worker, her focus was on the here-and-now of the guests she served. Meanwhile, she realized that being involved with a hotel's long-term vision would make staff members feel far more committed to their jobs.

The need for change is urgent. The hospitality sector is known for its extraordinarily high employee turnover rate; in Japan's hotel industry, it's 26.9%, more than double the average for other industries. Front-line hospitality work is seen as long hours for low wages in Japan as it is elsewhere, without the prospects of building a fulfilling career. No wonder younger generations are looking elsewhere.

And this isn't just about retaining staff: consumers want brands to take a stand on social injustice and economic inequality. Wary of purpose-washing, they'll seek out companies that put people first. By visibly presenting itself as an employee-owned and managed hotel brand, Staple People's CO-OP could attract both workers and guests eager to make a change. One to be inspired by?