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Iberostar temporarily closing 1 of its 3 properties
Thursday, 27 August 2009
Tourism Minister Edmund Bartlett has challenged the accuracy of claims that the Iberostar Rose Hall Beach Hotel in Montego Bay, St. James will be closing its doors.
Reports surfaced that the two year old Iberostar Hotel, which has experienced low occupancy, will begin winding down operations on September 1.
This has prompted the University and Allied Workers Union (UAWU) to write to the Ministry of Labour requesting that its Industrial Relations Unit convene an urgent meeting with the hotel's management as nearly 500 workers would be affected by the closure.
However, Mr. Bartlett told RJR News on Thursday that only one of the three properties within the hotel would be temporarily closed.
"There are three hotels that are functioning there which employees well over 2,000 people. One of the hotels is dealing with financial hardships and will be temporarily laying off some of the workers in relation to that one hotel while the other workers will remain on the job," he said.
Mr. Bartlett said the section that will be closed employs approximately 300 persons.
According to the Tourisms Minister, as with any other hotels, if these workers at Iberostar are sent home because of low occupancy, they will be called back as soon as there is an improvement in bookings.
Business decision
In the meantime, Adrian Bailey-Haye, consultant for Iberostar, which is operated by a Spanish hotel chain, has confirmed the temporary closure.
"It's a business decision of the group which will take effect on September 1 and there's a process of consultation going on now," he said.
Thursday, 27 August 2009
Tourism Minister Edmund Bartlett has challenged the accuracy of claims that the Iberostar Rose Hall Beach Hotel in Montego Bay, St. James will be closing its doors.
Reports surfaced that the two year old Iberostar Hotel, which has experienced low occupancy, will begin winding down operations on September 1.
This has prompted the University and Allied Workers Union (UAWU) to write to the Ministry of Labour requesting that its Industrial Relations Unit convene an urgent meeting with the hotel's management as nearly 500 workers would be affected by the closure.
However, Mr. Bartlett told RJR News on Thursday that only one of the three properties within the hotel would be temporarily closed.
"There are three hotels that are functioning there which employees well over 2,000 people. One of the hotels is dealing with financial hardships and will be temporarily laying off some of the workers in relation to that one hotel while the other workers will remain on the job," he said.
Mr. Bartlett said the section that will be closed employs approximately 300 persons.
According to the Tourisms Minister, as with any other hotels, if these workers at Iberostar are sent home because of low occupancy, they will be called back as soon as there is an improvement in bookings.
Business decision
In the meantime, Adrian Bailey-Haye, consultant for Iberostar, which is operated by a Spanish hotel chain, has confirmed the temporary closure.
"It's a business decision of the group which will take effect on September 1 and there's a process of consultation going on now," he said.
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