Guyana Marriott Hotel sends home 40+ employees amid COVID-19 pandemic

Over 40 employees of the Guyana Marriott Hotel were sent packing during the week in a decision which the hotel stated was an executive one in light of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Guyana Times understands that all those fired were Guyanese who had worked in the lobby, restaurant, banquet, housekeeping and finance departments. In addition, some of the staff in the lower level were dismissed, as well as a few managers.
Senior Director of Public Relations for the Caribbean and Latin America, Kerstin Sachl, when contacted on Thursday, stated that while she could not comment extensively on the issue, the decision to terminate the services of the employees was terminated as a result of the impact of the pandemic.
“Business levels have been profoundly impacted by the pandemic, and continue to determine hotel operational and staffing adjustments,” she told this publication.
Guyana Times understands that due to the coronavirus pandemic, profits which the hotel would usually garner have been at their lowest. Closed airports mean that foreigners are not permitted to travel, leaving the five-star hotel unoccupied. As such, there is no significant income stream, other than the local needs. But even the restaurant and rooms are not in demand due to the current situation.
With these unfolding events, the Marriott was grappling to keep its doors open and services afloat. During the initial months, employees were placed on rotation and given a cutback on their salaries. This came with assurances that they would not be fired.
However, they showed up to work this week only to be told that a decision was made to have them retrenched. They were given one month’s salary, asked to clear their personal belongings, and then told to leave. Without warning from management, many staffers have come out to question this sudden move, since the overseas staff are still employed.
While their jobs were considered redundant, the sacked persons argued that there are several foreign workers under the same portfolio, and that magnitude of persons is not needed at this time. These persons are hired to cater for large events, even though none is booked at this time. This has raised eyebrows among those dismissed, citing that it was unfair.
The Atlantic Hotels Incorporated (AHI) is the NICIL special purpose company that owns Marriott, a 197-room hotel that opened in 2015, whose financing structure had depended on a casino and entertainment centre to make enough money to repay up to US$30 million in debts to the banks and other creditors.
Last February, AHI reportedly scrapped its plans to construct the casino, despite the previous rationale that this would make the hotel financially viable.
Atlantic Hotels Inc had previously faced several setbacks regarding the entertainment complex and casino. In 2017, an advertisement by the company stated that it was “interested to receive EoIs (Expressions of Interest) from either persons or companies, either individually or as part of a joint venture/consortium”.
AHI had said preference would be given to submissions by applicants who are established in the gaming and entertainment industry. The tender itself was eventually scrapped under dubious circumstances involving a rival casino and a coalition Government minister.