NEW YORK — Hospitality companies are increasing investment in workforce training again, but a different constraint is shaping how those programs operate: Time.

According to the 2026 Hospitality Training 360 Report, a report from Opus Training and the CHART, 55–61% of hospitality organizations expect to increase training spend in 2026. At the same time, 55% of respondents say time pressure and operational speed are the biggest factors shaping training decisions, surpassing budget limitations.

The findings reflect a broader shift in how hospitality companies approach training.

As restaurants and hospitality operators scale, training is increasingly moving out of centralized programs and into day-to-day operations led by field managers.

Key findings from the report include:

  • Investment in training is rising: A majority of companies expect training budgets to increase across frontline and management roles in 2026.
  • Ongoing training gaining priority: More organizations are shifting resources toward continuous training instead of focusing primarily on onboarding.
  • Managers taking on training responsibilities: Managers are increasingly responsible for coaching and development on the floor.
  • Organizations are still struggling to measure: While most leaders believe training improves business outcomes, many still rely on subjective signals such as manager feedback instead of operational metrics.
  • Use of AI and AI adoption is accelerating: Two-thirds of respondents now report regular or proficient use of AI in training workflows, primarily for content development and planning.

“Hospitality leaders already know how much training matters. The challenge is demonstrating its impact on operations and the bottom line. What we are seeing now is a shift toward training that happens in the flow of work. That work is owned by the people closest to the frontline and measured against the outcomes that actually matter to the business,” said Rachael Nemeth, CEO and Co-Founder of Opus.

“Hospitality trainers know that great training shows up in the guest experience and in the numbers,” said CHART President Kelly McCutcheon, the Group Director of Training, Whataburger. “What’s changing is the expectation to connect those dots more clearly. The opportunity now is designing training that fits the pace of operations and proves its value where it matters most, on the floor.”

The 2026 Hospitality Training 360 Report is based on responses from 190 hospitality L&D and operations leaders representing more than 30,000 locations across the industry.

The full report and additional findings are available here: https://www.opus.so/resources/hospitality-training-360-report-2026

About CHART:

CHART (chart.org), a nonprofit professional association founded in 1970, is the leading resource for the development and advancement of hospitality training professionals and their organizations. With more than 650 members from more than 350 restaurant, foodservice, and lodging companies, CHART represents a workforce of more than three million. CHART includes all facets of hospitality training, learning, and performance professionals; from entry-level to senior executive. CHART’s mission is to develop hospitality training professionals to improve performance through access to networks, education, and resources. Follow CHART on LinkedIn, Facebook, or Instagram at @CHARTtrainers.

About Opus Training:

Opus is the leading training operations platform for multi-unit brands with frontline workforces, helping operators deliver consistent, engaging training that delivers measurable results. Trusted in thousands of locations across restaurants, retail, fitness, health care and consumer services, Opus customers include Smashburger, Craveworthy Brands, Let’s Play Soccer, Shipley Do-Nuts, Sound Fun Entertainment, Big Chicken, York Building Services, Gordon Ramsay Group, Jose Andres Group and more. Learn more at opus.so.