The Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS) was a vital support measure for the UK hotel industry during the pandemic, allowing businesses to furlough staff while the government covered a portion of wages. Our coverage explores how hotels used the scheme to protect jobs through closures and reduced occupancy, and the challenges they faced when it ended. We examine the long-term impact on staffing, including workforce shortages, financial planning, and rebuilding operations. For hoteliers and industry professionals, this provides valuable insight into employment strategies shaped by one of the sector’s most significant crises.