Managing staff development in hospitality has never been simple. With employees constantly shifting between roles—think front desk, housekeeping, events—it becomes difficult to track growth, assign training, or maintain consistency. Solving PDP and cross-skilling challenges requires more than static development plans; it takes a dynamic system that adapts to real-time operational needs.

We asked hospitality and HR professionals how they’re tackling these challenges—and why CloudApper became their go-to solution alongside UKG.

“Our PDPs Didn’t Match the Way We Work”

Angela R., Director of HR at a resort, explained:

“We used to have a one-size-fits-all PDP format. But our team members work in multiple roles, especially during peak seasons. The system we had couldn’t handle that complexity.”

Angela’s team adopted CloudApper to build role-specific PDP templates that reflected how employees actually worked.

“Now, someone can develop in both front desk and concierge roles, and their progress is tracked without extra effort. It’s been a game-changer for accountability and staff satisfaction.”

“Managers Finally Have Time to Focus on People”

For Jason T., a hospitality operations manager, the biggest benefit was automation:

“Managers were stuck chasing updates, checking who did what, and manually logging progress. It wasn’t scalable.”

By integrating CloudApper with UKG, Jason’s team now automates goal assignments, sends progress alerts, and reviews dashboards in seconds.

“Supervisors can focus on coaching, not chasing. The system takes care of tracking, so nothing gets missed.”

This approach directly addressed their need for solving PDP and cross-skilling challenges while keeping operations smooth.

“It Works Across All Our Locations”

At a hotel group with multiple sites, consistency was a major issue.

“Each property handled PDPs differently. Some tracked them manually, others didn’t at all,” said HR systems consultant Linda M.

With CloudApper, they deployed standardized PDP templates across all properties, each tailored to the unique roles at that site.

“We finally had visibility at the corporate level. We could see development data across the organization and make decisions based on real-time insights.”

“Employees Actually Use It—Because It’s Simple”

Simplicity matters in hospitality, where staff don’t sit at desks all day. Omar L., a training lead, shared:

“Our staff can access their development plans from a mobile device, even during breaks. It’s all in one place—progress, tasks, and what’s next.”

CloudApper’s interface helped boost engagement by making PDPs more accessible and less intimidating.

“It’s visual, easy to navigate, and connected to what they’re doing every day. That’s what made it stick.”

“Cross-Skilling Became a Strategic Asset”

One HR director summarized the transformation well:

“We always knew cross-skilling was important, but it was chaotic. CloudApper helped us structure it, measure it, and scale it.”

By enhancing UKG with flexible tools, their team turned cross-skilling into a competitive advantage—reducing onboarding time, improving retention, and preparing employees for promotion.

Why It’s Working

The key to solving PDP and cross-skilling challenges lies in enabling flexibility without losing structure. CloudApper gives hospitality teams the power to:

  • Build blended PDPs that reflect real roles
  • Automate training assignments and follow-ups
  • Provide real-time dashboards for managers
  • Offer mobile access for frontline staff
  • Standardize development across all locations

Best of all, it integrates directly with UKG—no added complexity, no disconnected systems.

Consult our experts today to see how your team can overcome PDP and cross-skilling challenges with a solution built for hospitality.