The hospitality industry in Nashville is facing an unexpected problem as it grows — finding enough qualified applicants to fill the number of open positions. According to an Associated Press article, is it especially challenging to staff quality housekeeping workers at facilities such as the new Omni Nashville Hotel.

"With the growth of the hospitality industry in Nashville, all of the hotels are really focused on recruitment," says Tony Phillips, general manager of Loews Vanderbilt. "To find the best of the best right now, it's either go outside of Nashville or go outside the industry to find customer service folks."

Two factors have work together to create the issue: the opening of the Omni, the anchor hotel for the new downtown convention center, and several new popular restaurants.

Omni director of sales and marketing Tod Roadarmel says the facility has hired 680 full-time staffers, but still has 50 openings.

"First of all, our experience has been good, frankly," Roadarmel said. "It's probably because we're the new kid in town. We've been very happy. We're still a little short."

Housekeeping is not the only area where staff is needed. Due to the city's expansion, hotels are also looking for administrative professionals and restaurants are looking for culinary experts. And because the need is so great, some businesses are even considering applicants with no experience just to fill the need.

Restaurateur Randy Rayburn said restaurants prefer to hire employees who have a culinary education and some experience.

He said the current hiring environment has already led to prospective employees relocating to Nashville.

"It's a pleasant predicament, really," he said. "You don't want to have higher unemployment and not enough jobs. I think this sends the signal to the rest of the country that we're a world-class hospitality and customer service city and the jobs are here."