Hiring Seasonal Staff: Tips and Solutions for Hotels and Restaurants

With the arrival of spring, many hotels and restaurants are already starting to plan for their summer season. It’s the perfect time to think about recruitment strategies, especially for temporary and seasonal positions. Hiring qualified staff during these key periods can make all the difference in service quality and customer satisfaction.

To help employers tackle this challenge, we spoke with Maëlle, Recruitment Manager at Placements Sacrée Soirée, the agency specializing in staffing for hospitality, restaurants, and events. Placements Sacrée Soirée, part of the Groupe Sacrée Soirée along with HotellerieJobs, supports establishments through every stage of temporary recruitment, from candidate selection to quickly connecting with qualified professionals.

In this interview, Maëlle explains why temporary staffing is strategic for the high season, which positions are most in demand, and how Placements Sacrée Soirée can make life easier for employers who want to anticipate their summer staffing needs.

1️⃣ The Strategic Role of Temporary Staff

💬 Maëlle, can you introduce yourself and explain your role at Placements Sacrée Soirée?

I joined the Placements Sacrée Soirée team in November 2024 as Recruitment Manager. Before that, I had a diverse career in hospitality and restaurants: from cook to pastry chef, then from server to maître d’hôtel. I’ve experienced different branches of the industry and understand the challenges of each role. These skills and on-the-ground knowledge are assets I bring to recruitment, helping me understand both client and candidate expectations.

As Manager of Temporary Placements, I handle client requests, refine and clarify the position(s) needed, and manage the entire recruitment process. I then present the selected candidate(s) to the client and provide follow-up throughout the placement, both with the client and the employee.

💬 In your opinion, what are the main advantages for a hotel or restaurant to hire temporary staff, especially during the high season?

• Temporary staff help quickly address personnel shortages, which are often linked to seasonality in our sector. In hospitality and restaurants, certain periods like summer or the holidays lead to a significant increase in customer traffic, and it’s essential to have a strong team to maintain service quality.
• It also allows establishments to strengthen their team for a specific period without handling the administrative burden of traditional hiring: job postings, application screening, interviews, selection process, HR management, payroll, administrative declarations, and more. With an agency like Placements Sacrée Soirée, all of this is taken care of.
• Another key advantage is quick response in case of unforeseen events. Thanks to an active pool of qualified professionals, Placements Sacrée Soirée can rapidly find replacements when an employee is absent or when a business faces an urgent staffing need.

Photo credit: Placements Sacrée Soirée – employee on placement during the winter season at a restaurant in Mont-Tremblant

In practice, we support companies from candidate search to post-season follow-up, allowing them to focus on what matters most: operations and customer experience.

For employers who prefer to recruit independently first, it’s also possible to post seasonal job openings on HotellerieJobs or RestoJobs to quickly reach industry candidates. Since these platforms are part of Groupe Sacrée Soirée and managed by the same team as Placements Sacrée Soirée, establishments can easily combine job postings with the agency’s placement services. The team can then propose candidates from its internal database of qualified professionals while leveraging its recruitment expertise in hospitality and restaurants.

2️⃣ How Placements Sacrée Soirée Supports Employers

💬 Can you explain how Placements Sacrée Soirée assists clients with temporary recruitment?

• Information gathering / receiving the request
• Evaluating the request (defining tasks and responsibilities, assessing the work environment, determining essential and desirable profile criteria). I guide clients to better specify their needs.
• Full recruitment process (posting, application screening, interviews, etc.)
• Presentation of preferred candidate(s) / client validation
• Communication of employee information
• Follow-up during the contract (with the client and the employee)

💬 What sets Placements Sacrée Soirée apart from other staffing agencies?

At Placements Sacrée Soirée, we focus first on our industry expertise and the quality of the profiles we offer. With over 20 years of experience, we have developed an extensive database of qualified and available professionals.

Our strength also lies in our structured hiring process and field knowledge, which allow us to quickly identify candidates who truly match an establishment’s needs and culture.

For seasonal jobs, we also have access to many candidates, including temporary workers who come to Quebec to gain professional experience while exploring the region. These profiles are often a real asset for seasonal positions: they are usually highly motivated, dynamic, and available to work in the region for the duration of the season.

Photo credit: Placements Sacrée Soirée – two employees on seasonal placement in Saint-Sauveur

3️⃣ The Connection Between Placements Sacrée Soirée and HotellerieJobs

To complement its placement services, Placements Sacrée Soirée also relies on its job posting platforms, HotellerieJobs and RestoJobs, offering employers an even more complete solution.

HotellerieJobs and RestoJobs naturally complement Placements Sacrée Soirée in supporting hospitality and restaurant employers with recruitment needs. While the platforms allow businesses to post jobs and quickly reach qualified candidates, Placements Sacrée Soirée provides additional solutions for urgent or specific needs.

For example, its on-demand service helps establishments quickly find qualified staff to cover temporary needs while recruitment is ongoing. For employers who want more, Placements Sacrée Soirée also offers talent search services, especially useful for seasonal positions or when companies prefer to delegate the entire recruitment process. Together, these services provide employers with a flexible and complete solution for efficient hiring.

4️⃣ Practical Tips for Preparing for the High Season

💬 When would you recommend establishments start planning temporary recruitment for summer?

Right now (early March)! And no later than six weeks before the season starts. Starting too early risks lower employee retention, while starting too late isn’t effective either.

💬 What mistakes do employers often make when recruiting temporary staff, and how can Placements Sacrée Soirée help avoid them?

One common mistake is not detailing work conditions and the role environment, which can lead to candidate disappointment and faster turnover.

Another classic challenge is workload management, such as adding unplanned tasks, inconsistent hours, or last-minute schedules. At Placements Sacrée Soirée, we help employers clarify needs from the start, structure positions, and set realistic expectations so placements run smoothly and effectively for both parties.

To go further, discover 4 tips to fill your next upcoming seasonal positions on HotellerieJobs.

⭐️ Ready to Simplify Your Seasonal Recruitment?

It’s never too late to hire temporary staff, but the secret to a stress-free season is planning ahead. Start early, prepare your teams, and everything will run much more smoothly!

📲 To discuss your temporary or seasonal staffing needs, contact Maëlle, Recruitment Manager at Placements Sacrée Soirée, who will guide you and propose the solution best suited to your establishment.

Placements Sacrée Soirée staffing agency permit: AP-2000767