70% of pub employees decide within their first month whether they’ll stay.
That’s why onboarding for pubs can’t be just admin; it’s your first chance to shape confident teams, protect your brand, and embed learning and development from day one. At Luxe Hospitality Group, we have built an onboarding experience that reflects our values and ambitions. It introduces more than processes and systems; it introduces purpose, belonging, and the promise of growth. Because how you welcome someone on Day One sets the tone for everything that follows.
Why Onboarding Matters Now More Than Ever
The hospitality industry moves fast, and teams need to be confident and aligned from the get-go. Without a structured onboarding program, new hires often feel underprepared, leading to higher attrition, uneven service, and missed opportunities to grow talent from within.
Here’s why effective onboarding is a competitive advantage in 2025:
- Increases new hire retention in a high-turnover industry
- Drives faster readiness and performance on the floor
- Sets consistent service standards across multiple venues
- Builds a strong foundation for team culture and growth
- Connects individual goals with the brand’s long-term vision
Anjali Kukreti, our Director of People and Talent Management comments, “Onboarding is where our culture becomes real. It’s our first promise to new joiners that we’re investing in them not just as workers, but as people with potential.”
What Onboarding Looks Like at Our Pubs
Luxe Hospitality Group has designed a tailored, people-first onboarding journey that empowers our teams from day one:
1. Structured, Personal Welcome
Every new hire receives a clear onboarding plan before they start including a welcome video from leadership, an outline of their first week, and access to key resources. We make sure every team member knows exactly what to expect and who to turn to.
2. On-the-Job Training That’s Timely and Relevant
We deliver foundational training modules through our LMS, including role-specific tutorials, safety procedures, and brand values. Managers then reinforce this learning during live shifts, so knowledge becomes practice from day one.
3. Human Connections
We pair every new team member with a buddy, facilitate team meet-and-greets, and encourage daily check-ins. Relationships are at the heart of hospitality and we have incorporated that in our onboarding for pubs for our people to be seen and supported.
4. A Clear Path to Growth
New employees are introduced early to learning and development opportunities — from digital micro-courses to internal promotion pathways. Growth is not a promise we make later. It’s part of the onboarding conversation from the start.
Beyond Compliance: Learning That Drives Engagement
Onboarding is often seen to get people “up to speed.” But for us, it is about embedding a culture of continuous learning right from the start. Our LMS supports both compliance and personal development, ensuring that team members feel empowered, not overwhelmed.
- Courses are tailored to roles, locations, and experience levels
- Mobile access allows learning to happen anytime, anywhere
- Badging and gamified milestones keep people motivated
- Learning analytics help managers offer timely support
“Training should never feel like a chore,” says Anoop Singh, Director of Marketing at Luxe Hospitality Group. “We have designed the training content in a way that it is engaging, visual, and instantly applicable. Our LMS isn’t just a tool; it’s part of the Luxe experience.”
Leadership That Leads with Learning
One of the reasons our onboarding stands out is because it’s championed at every level. The entire leadership team — from operations to marketing — is involved in shaping the experience. This alignment ensures that our culture is reinforced not only in training, but in every conversation and every shift.
As Daniel Thompson, Director & Co-Founder, Luxe Hospitality Group puts it:
“When we started this business, we knew we wanted to do things differently. From our first hire, we have made it clear: people are our biggest investment. Onboarding isn’t a formality; it’s a foundation. It is how we scale not just service, but spirit.”
Building Hospitality Teams That Stick
Want to build an onboarding experience that makes a difference? Focus on these principles:
- Clarity from Day One: Outline roles, responsibilities, and expectations
- Make It Human: Facilitate real connections with peers and leaders
- Embed Learning: Introduce development tools early and make them ongoing
- Celebrate Wins: Recognize milestones, feedback, and early contributions
- Involve Leadership: Let senior voices reinforce company vision and values
Final Thought
The way you onboard new employees says everything about your business. In hospitality, where people power the guest experience, the employee journey must begin with intention and care. At Luxe, we have built onboarding for pubs not as an HR process but as a brand experience; one that reflects who we are, where we are going, and how every team member can grow with us.