8 Hotels & Hospitality Companies That Hire Felons
The hospitality industry — hotels, resorts, convention centers, and managed food services — is one of the largest employers in the United States and one of the most accessible for people with criminal records. The industry employs roughly 16 million Americans and is characterized by high turnover, seasonal demand, and a wide variety of positions ranging from entry-level to management. For people with felony records, hospitality offers a genuine path to stable employment with room for advancement.
The hotel segment alone offers a remarkable range of positions. Every hotel needs housekeepers, laundry attendants, kitchen staff, dishwashers, maintenance workers, and groundskeepers — back-of-house roles that are in constant demand and tend to have the most flexible hiring practices. Major chains like Marriott, Hilton, and Hyatt have all made public commitments to fair chance hiring and use individualized assessment when reviewing criminal backgrounds. While front-of-house positions like front desk and concierge may be harder to access with a record, the back-of-house workforce at a large hotel can number in the hundreds, creating significant opportunity.
Contract food and facility service companies represent another major opportunity within hospitality. Sodexo, Aramark, and Compass Group are the three largest companies in this space, collectively employing hundreds of thousands of workers across the United States. These companies operate dining services at hospitals, universities, corporate offices, sports venues, and government facilities. Sodexo has been especially active in second-chance hiring and partners directly with reentry organizations. Aramark, which also operates food services in correctional facilities, is familiar with justice-involved populations and has established pathways for post-release employment.
Many hotel brands are franchise-operated, which is an important detail for job seekers with records. Holiday Inn (IHG), Best Western, and many Marriott and Hilton properties are owned and operated by independent franchisees who make their own hiring decisions. This means that being rejected at one Holiday Inn does not mean you will be rejected at another — each property is a separate business with its own management team and hiring standards. Applying to multiple properties of the same brand is a smart strategy that significantly increases your chances.
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All 8 Hotels & Hospitality Companies
Marriott is the largest hotel chain with fair chance hiring pledges. Considers applicants individually.
Hilton runs background checks but uses individualized assessment. Back-of-house roles more accessible.
Hyatt has second-chance hiring initiatives and considers applicants with records individually.
IHG hotels are mostly franchised. Individual hotel owners set their own hiring policies.
Best Western hotels are individually owned. Each property sets its own hiring policies for people with records.
Sodexo is a recognized second-chance employer in food and facility services. Works with reentry programs.
Aramark hires for food and facility services. Familiar with justice-involved populations through correctional contracts.
Compass Group is the world's largest food service company. Operates Chartwells, Eurest, Levy, and more.
Tips for Getting Hospitality Jobs With a Record
- 1.Back-of-house positions (housekeeping, laundry, kitchen, dishwashing, maintenance) are significantly easier to get than front-of-house roles (front desk, concierge, valet) for people with records. Start in the back of house and work your way forward.
- 2.Large hotels in tourist-heavy cities (Las Vegas, Orlando, Miami, New York) have massive staffing needs and higher turnover, which makes them more willing to hire people with records. Consider relocating to these markets if possible.
- 3.Contract food service companies like Sodexo, Aramark, and Compass Group are excellent options. They operate cafeterias, dining halls, and food service facilities at hospitals, universities, corporate campuses, and convention centers. Sodexo in particular has publicly committed to second-chance hiring.
- 4.Many hotel chains are franchise-owned (Holiday Inn/IHG, Best Western), meaning each hotel is independently operated. One Holiday Inn may reject you while another across town may hire you. Apply to multiple properties of the same brand.
- 5.Get any hospitality-related certification you can. ServSafe (food handling), CPR/First Aid, or a hospitality management certificate from a community college can set you apart from other applicants and demonstrate commitment.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Do hotels hire felons?
- Yes, many hotels hire people with felony records. The hospitality industry has high turnover and constant demand for workers, which makes hotels more willing to give people second chances. Major chains like Marriott, Hilton, and Hyatt all use individualized assessment when reviewing criminal backgrounds. Back-of-house positions like housekeeping, laundry, kitchen, and maintenance tend to be the most accessible. Franchise-owned hotels (Holiday Inn, Best Western) have independent owners who make their own hiring decisions.
- What hotel jobs can a felon get?
- People with felony records can work in many hotel positions including housekeeping, laundry attendant, dishwasher, prep cook, line cook, maintenance worker, groundskeeper, porter/bellhop, and in some cases front desk agent. Housekeeping is the most common entry point because the demand is constant and turnover is high. Kitchen positions are also very accessible. Front desk and concierge roles may be harder to get with a record but are not impossible, especially at properties with more flexible management.
- Does Marriott hire felons?
- Marriott, as the largest hotel chain in the world, has publicly committed to fair chance hiring and uses individualized assessment for applicants with criminal records. They consider the nature of the offense, how much time has passed, and the relevance to the position. Marriott operates over 8,000 properties worldwide under brands including Marriott, Courtyard, Residence Inn, Sheraton, Westin, W, and Ritz-Carlton. Hiring policies may vary by property and position, but the corporate commitment to second-chance hiring is genuine.
- What is Sodexo and do they hire felons?
- Sodexo is one of the world's largest food and facility management companies, operating cafeterias, dining services, and facility maintenance at hospitals, universities, corporate campuses, and government buildings. Sodexo is a recognized second-chance employer and actively works with reentry programs to hire people with criminal records. They offer positions in food preparation, serving, dishwashing, janitorial services, maintenance, and facility management. Sodexo is often recommended by reentry counselors as one of the best large employers for people with records.
- Can a felon work in a casino hotel?
- Casino hotels have stricter requirements than regular hotels because gaming operations are regulated by state gaming commissions. Most states require casino employees to obtain a gaming license, which involves a thorough background check. Felony convictions — especially those involving theft, fraud, or drugs — can disqualify you from gaming positions. However, non-gaming positions at casino hotels (housekeeping, restaurant, maintenance, grounds) may have less strict requirements depending on the property and state regulations. Las Vegas and Atlantic City properties hire large numbers of non-gaming staff.