Landmark Hospitality is teaming up with Salt Labs, a New York City startup that aims to help frontline employees earn rewards for the hours they work.

The Plainfield-based hospitality group sought a solution to provide more value and motivation for workers at its boutique hotels, venues and renowned restaurants in response to industry challenges, such as high turnover and absenteeism rates.

Since deploying the employee rewards and incentive platform, Landmark Senior Vice President of Service & Training Thomas McAteer said it has “led to exceptional guest experiences and better business outcomes.”

He added that Landmark and Salt Labs both share the same vision of seeing employees “build something on value for their future and set goals to realize future memories from their work today.”

Salt Labs launched in 2022 with a mission to build long-term employee wealth through a first-of-its-kind earned loyalty asset that leads to higher retention and productivity.

Founder and CEO Jason Lee said, “We are thrilled to partner with Landmark, an innovator in the restaurant and hospitality space.”

“Landmark understands the importance of prioritizing the employee experience to drive a memorable guest experience. By allowing employees to earn Salt, Landmark truly empowers them to enjoy the long-term benefits of their work efforts today,” said Lee.

How it works

Employees who use the platform earn “salt” for every hour they work, which can be redeemed for goods or services. As part of the program, workers set goals to save for items they choose, such as a college savings fund, stocks or a family trip.

With more than 100,000 workers on the platform, Salt Labs says it has helped drive meaningful changes for employers and their employees. Users hail from various industries, including retail, call centers, hospitality and transportation.

From an employer’s perspective, Salt radically changes employee behavior. According to the company, users enjoy a 56% retention improvement and a 90% increase in engagement, demonstrated by an increase in employee willingness to pick up extra shifts.

Frontline workers – which McAteer said Landmark refers to as “memorymakers – are the heart and soul of our business.”

“They’re the cooks, hostesses, bartenders, and waitstaff in the trenches, creating memorable experiences for our guests,” McAteer said. “We believe that Salt will be a powerful tool to help our team stay motivated, especially during our busy periods. We anticipate that 1 in 3 employees will pick up an extra shift during the busy season because they can earn Salt, in addition to their paycheck. This allows them to work toward their own memories.”

According to a media representative for Landmark, the company has about 700 frontline workers.

Founded in 2001 by husband-wife team Frank and Jeanne Cretella, Landmark Hospitality specializes in the adaptive restoration of landmarked or historical properties. 

The group’s portfolio boasts 16-plus properties in New Jersey and Pennsylvania includes Village Hall in South Orange, Felina in Ridgewood, The Ryland Inn in Whitehouse Station and Liberty House in Jersey City.