About 84 percent of hotel officials report their properties have laid off or furloughed workers due to the coronavirus pandemic, according to a new American Hotel & Lodging Association survey. Only 37 percent have brought any of them back, despite assistance from the U.S. federal Paycheck Protection Program.
Further, two-thirds of hotels are operating at less than 50 percent of pre-Covid-19 staffing levels, and when asked when they expect to return to pre-Covid levels, 52 percent said they don't expect to fully staff until at least year-end. Just 20 percent expect to be fully staffed by June 30, and 28 percent by Aug. 31.
More than 900 members, including hotel, brand and management company officials, responded to the survey, which AHLA conducted May 12-14.