By Olivia Rose From TC Weekly News

A STAGGERING 250 TCI tourism and hospitality workers will be jobless from Monday as the Covid-19 pandemic continues to hammer the industry.
Turks and Caicos Collection, a group of four all-inclusive resorts, this week made the decision to let go of a large percentage of its workforce for at least eight weeks.

In a letter obtained by the Weekly News dated August 6, employees were informed of the dismissal which will begin on Monday, August 10.

The letter explained that the decision came as businesses struggle to revive operations following the nationwide lockdown enforced during the height of the coronavirus outbreak.

“Due to the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on the hospitality industry and the continuous fallouts that we experience daily, we have made the decision to lay off employees in an effort to mitigate the loss of business experienced to date,” it said.

According to a reliable source, some 13 executives were also made redundant.

The Weekly News reached out to the company, which manages Ambergris Cay, Alexandra Resort, Beach House Resort and Blue Haven Resort, for a comment on the matter.

Human resources director Beryl Hanfield-Charles said a statement will be issued soon.

The travel and hospitality industry has been one of the hardest-hit by the coronavirus pandemic.

Although the borders have reopened, hotel occupancy rates are still low across the territory.

Club Med Turkoise on Thursday announced it is not going to reopen until October 24.

In a Facebook post it said the decision was made “due to continued travel restrictions that remain in place around the world and subsequent flight cancellations, as well as ensuring the health and safety of both our guests and staff”.

A few weeks ago, Beaches all-inclusive family resort, which is responsible for the majority of passengers to the TCI, announced it is delaying its opening to October 14.

Armando Pizzuti, executive vice president of Turks and Caicos Collection, hosted a luncheon and press conference at Beaches resort on July 24.
He expressed his concern about the potential fallout for the economy due to the delayed opening of the resort.

“I think it’s devastating news,” he said. “I just want to make sure that people understand that Beaches Resort is the anchor for this island and [it] carries 60 to 70 percent of the seats coming here. 

“While I am very happy that you have announced the date, it is horrible news. Personally, it’s certainly not good news to me.

“It’s horrible news for my business, and it’s horrible news for my staff.”
Pizzuti said the two-and-a-half-month delay in reopening will not augur well for the territory.

“Beaches had their own reason why they are not opening like everybody else, but I can tell you, make no mistake when Beaches sneeze we all catch pneumonia.

“The amount of money that Beaches invests in the extra marketing and advertisement we all benefit from it.

“I can tell you and in my situation Beach House is closed, Blue Haven is closed and the Alexandra is closed because there is no business.”
Pizzuti, who represents the four resorts in the group, said some 450 staff members would have to be sent home.

“I have to tell my 450 staff that they can’t come to work, because I have no business.

“You guys have the largest hotel on this island and I don’t think there is business for nobody else because the 30 to 40 people coming in everyday don’t move the needle.”

He explained that opening October 14 means that smaller hotels are going to be without business for August and September.

“We’ve been off the map since March, so I can tell you that we’re in trouble and without Beaches we cannot open and that is what I think this industry needs to understand.

“You guys have the anchor here, the condo owners don’t bring in any money and they are not hiring any employees.”

He stressed that no other hotel or resort besides Beaches could drive the traffic needed to sustain hotel operations in Providenciales.

“For the industry this is a total disaster. We are hoping that you guys are pulling some muscles to bring this island back on the map, because I don’t have that muscle, the Government doesn’t have that muscle.”

In a press statement issued on July 28, Beaches said there is “no magic wand” to fix the damage the unprecedented pandemic has inflicted.

The resort underscored that it is working with all stakeholders to find a solution.

“Let us be clear, there is no magic wand that is going to make this better overnight.”

Beaches said reopening successfully will “require many millions of dollars in marketing, extensive coordination with vast numbers of travel agents, tour operators and airline partners throughout the United States, Canada, Latin America, the UK and Europe, along with robust training of team members on the ground, all of which can only be achieved through experience, hard work and an excellent reputation”.

It added: “We fully recognise that Beaches is the anchor resort of the TCI, as was pointed out just days ago by fellow hotelier Armando Pizzuti of the Turks and Caicos Collection who lamented what the closure of Beaches until October 14 would mean for the destination in the interim.” 

The resort stressed that it is working feverishly to get back on track to support the economy and livelihoods of the people of the TCI.

For more on this story go to; https://tcweeklynews.com/resort-group-lays-off-workers-p10850-151.htm