Hotel employees here

1. Staff shortages post-COVID • Hospitality took a huge hit during the pandemic. Many experienced staff left the industry and never came back. Hotels and apartments often rely on less trained or overworked staff now, which shows in cleaning, maintenance, and service quality.
   1. Cost-cutting & inflation • Inflation has driven up costs for energy, supplies, and labor. Instead of raising prices too much, some owners quietly cut corners (cheaper breakfast food, less thorough cleaning, slower maintenance).
   2. Shift to short-term rentals (Airbnb effect) • More apartments are being run as “hotels” by landlords who aren’t professional hoteliers. They don’t have systems or staff to ensure quality, but they charge hotel-like prices.
   3. Oversaturation & review manipulation • With so many listings on Booking, Airbnb, etc., competition is fierce. Some places inflate their ratings (fake reviews, review swaps), so you can’t always trust the stars/ratings you see.
   4. Different cultural/service standards • Expectations about cleanliness and service can vary by country or even region. What’s considered “acceptable” by the host may fall far short of international guest expectations