Why Are We Still Doing Online “TEAMS” Meetings?

Published 10.03.2025 - Michael A. Di Palma

Seriously, why? Are we really still pretending this is the best way to communicate, hire people, or sell our ideas to our teams? Hospitality is a face-to-face industry—yet we’re still sitting in front of glitchy screens, talking into the void, and wondering why engagement feels off.  

Teams meetings “had” their moment. They got us through COVID. But COVID is over, and in hospitality, a screen will never replace real human connection. Yet somehow, we’re still trying to hire people we haven’t even met in person. We’re trying to train teams through video calls when hospitality is hands-on. We’re trying to build culture through a WiFi signal. It’s not working.  

Why Virtual Meetings Are Failing Hospitality?

  1. This is a people business. You can’t feel energy, read body language, or build relationships over a screen.  

  2. Hiring over Teams is a joke. You wouldn’t trust a chef who’s only cooked on Instagram—why would you hire a team member you’ve only seen through a webcam?  

  3. Culture dies in a virtual meeting. Team spirit isn’t built on mute buttons and “Can you hear me?” moments.  

  4. Engagement is nonexistent. Let’s be real—half the people on the call are checking emails or thinking about lunch.  

What We Should Be Doing Instead?

  1. In-Person Huddles & Briefings – Quick, direct, and far more effective than another “off-line” conversation.  

  2. On-the-Floor Training – Real learning happens by *doing*, not watching actors pretending to be waiters.  

  3. Face-to-Face Hiring – You need to feel someone’s presence, not just hear their rehearsed answers.  

  4. Small Group Discussions – If it takes 60 minutes and 10 people, it should’ve been a 10-minute chat with the “right” people.  

When Virtual Still Has a Place.

  1. Multi-Site Operations – Quick updates for regional teams? Fine. But keep them short.

  2. Investor & Board Meetings – If they aren’t on the floor, let them stay on Zoom.  

The bottom line: Hospitality runs on real interactions, not virtual ones. The more we hide behind screens, the more we lose what makes this industry great. Let’s leave Teams meetings where they belong — in the past with lockdown sourdough, Zoom Happy Hour & cutting our own hair.

What do you think? Should we be pulling the plug on virtual meetings for good?