Report: 84 percent of hotels have laid off or furloughed workers due to the ongoing COVID-19 crisis

A new report from the American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA) indicates that 84 percent of hotels said they have laid off or furloughed workers due to the coronavirus pandemic and the resulting “historic” drop in travel demand. 

Only 37 percent of hotels indicated they have been able to rehire employees through economic-relief measures like the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), a low-interest, potentially forgivable loan program through the SBA and participating financial institutions.

Two-thirds of hotels are operating at less than 50 percent of staffing levels they maintained before the COVID-19 shutdown, per the AHLA.

When asked when they expected to be back to pre-coronavirus staffing levels, 20 percent of hotel respondents said by June 30, 28 percent indicated by Aug. 31, 14 percent said by Dec. 31, and 38 percent reported later than the end of this year.

The AHLA said it conducted a survey of members on May 12-14. The results are based on more than 900 respondents.