Macdonald Hotels expected to make huge job cuts due to coronavirus impact
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Macdonald Hotels and Resorts which has three sites in the strath including the Aviemore Resort could cut up to 1800 jobs due to the coronavirus.
The Bathgate-based hotel group – which runs the resort along with Dalfaber Golf and Country Club in Aviemore and Lochanhully by Carrbridge – is reportedly looking at making huge cuts in its workforce due to a fall in income.
Consultation notices have been sent to its 2299 employees.
There are 164 staff in Aviemore and the Strathy understands that 106 roles are at risk.
The company said they have seen a total collapse of income over the past three months brought on by the Covid-19 pandemic.
Group deputy chairman Gordon Fraser said what was happening to the sector and its workers because of the pandemic was a 'tragedy'.
He said: “We had really hoped to avoid this very unwelcome step, but with no realistic prospects of a return to anything like normal trading for the foreseeable future, we were simply left with no choice.
"Potentially, we are looking at around 1,800 roles at risk, in all areas and at all levels of the business.
“The Government’s furlough scheme has helped to a degree but our essential operating costs, insurance and some wages are still having to be paid, meaning our monthly cash outgoings are still running at £2 million while we are forced to remain closed.
"Even after cutting all non-essential spending and with senior management and our remaining staff accepting reduced salaries, the current situation is simply unsustainable.
“There is no realistic prospect of us returning to anything approaching normality for the foreseeable future and, whilst its enormously regrettable, we simply must take these steps to ensure that we have a meaningful business when this situation ends, enabling us to bring back as many of our
employees as possible.
“We are seeing more and more of our counterparts being forced into the same, very difficult decisions to either close completely or to cut back on hardworking and valued members of staff. It’s a tragedy.
“Everyone understands that drastic steps had to be taken to halt coronavirus but the only way out of this for our industry is when the current restrictions are eased significantly, and people feel comfortable returning to hotels and restaurants.
“Given the enormous importance of the tourism and hospitality sector for local economies the length and breadth of the UK, it is incumbent upon both the Westminster and Scottish Governments to do everything they can to support our industry.
"If they fail to do so, many long-standing and well-loved businesses will simply not survive, scarring some of our most fragile communities for years to come.”
The chain has 31 hotels and resorts throughout Scotland and England.
The announcement came a short time later on the same day Tourism Secretary Fergus Ewing announced in Holyrood that the Scottish Government hopes to start re-opening tourism from July 15.
