Planning Your HR Calendar in Hospitality for 2026

Effective HR planning is the cornerstone of a thriving hotel. Mapping out your HR calendar for 2026 ensures a productive, engaged, and motivated workforce throughout the year. 

Here is a guide to help you create a strong HR calendar for 2026. 

Why Plan Your 2026 HR Calendar? 

A well-organised HR calendar helps streamline operations and fosters better communication across teams. It ensures that important dates, initiatives, and deadlines are not overlooked whilst enabling proactive workforce management.  

Planning early gives your team sufficient time to prepare for engagement activities and important events. 

What Are Key 2026 HR Dates to Consider? 

When planning your HR calendar for your hotel, consider including these categories:

1. Public Holidays and Annual Leave Planning

Identify public holidays early and encourage your team to plan their time off in advance. Sharing your holiday policies digitally helps everyone understand how the year will unfold and prevents surprises or disappointments. 

• Read more: Moving Beyond Paper: Digital Document Libraries 

Digital leave management systems can streamline requests and approvals, giving managers better visibility and control. 

2. Payroll Days

Schedule payroll dates throughout the year and communicate them to your team. This also helps with forecasting payroll spend against projected revenue in each period. 

3. Performance Reviews and Check-Ins

Plan quarterly or biannual performance reviews. Set up reminders and track goals to ensure consistent follow-through. 

• Read more: The Impact of Check-Ins on Employee Retention in the Hospitality Sector 

4. Employee Engagement Initiatives 

Schedule team-building activities, wellness programmes, and training sessions. Align these with your organisation's objectives and feedback from your team. 

Some examples may include: 

• 20 March: International Day of Happiness 

Gratitude Wall: Set up a board where team members can post what makes them happy or what they're grateful for. 

• 7 April: World Health Day 

Steps Challenge: Organise a step-count competition for the week leading up to this day, with small prizes for the most active participants. 

• 21 June: International Day of Yoga 

Morning Yoga Session: Host a group yoga session.
 

• 30 July: International Day of Friendship

Team-Building Activities: Host games that encourage collaboration, such as escape rooms or trivia competitions. 

• 13 November: World Kindness Day 

Appreciation Day: Write thank-you notes to team members recognising their efforts and impact. 

5. Recruitment and Onboarding

Identify peak recruitment periods and align them with structured onboarding solution sessions to ensure new hires feel welcomed and equipped from day one. 

• Read more:  

• Mastering Hospitality Onboarding 

• Simplify Your Onboarding: Alkimii x Talos360 

How To Optimise Your 2026 HR Calendar 

Engage Your Team in Planning 

Use feedback tools like surveys to understand what matters most to your team. Involving your workforce in the planning process ensures their needs and preferences are considered. 

Gathering Feedback to Enhance Your Calendar 

Your HR calendar is only as effective as the insights behind it. Regular feedback from your team can help you plan initiatives that genuinely resonate. 

Ways to gather feedback: 

• Conduct surveys asking about preferred activities, training needs, and recognition preferences 

• Use polls for quick decisions on event timing or format 

• Track engagement with past initiatives to understand what works 

Sample Survey Questions: 

• What initiatives or activities would you like to see included in our 2026 HR calendar? 

• How can we improve our team-building events to make them more engaging? 

• Are there any specific areas of training or development you would like us to focus on this year? 

Sample Poll Questions: 

• What type of training would help you the most this year? 

• What would make you feel more recognised at work? 

• What kind of content would you like shared with you by the HR team? (e.g. Health and Wellness tips, career growth resources) 

Communicating Your Calendar 

Once your calendar is finalised, keep your team informed and engaged through regular updates about upcoming activities. Clear team communication ensures everyone stays aligned and excited about what's ahead. 

• Read more: Is Your Team Communication Tool Fit for Purpose? 

Planning your HR calendar for 2026 is an opportunity to set your organisation up for success. By involving your team in the process and maintaining clear communication, you create a collaborative, transparent, and proactive HR strategy. 

Ready to streamline your workforce management?