Hotel sacks and evicts its staff over coronavirus before owner Britannia Hotels – voted worst chain in the country for seven years running with a boss worth £280million – claims admin error
- Coylumbridge Hotel, Aviemore, workers were sacked and immediately evicted
- Owned by Britannia Hotel, ranked as the worst UK hotel chain for seven years
- The hotel claims move was an ‘administrative error’ after facing criticism
- Coronavirus symptoms: what are they and should you see a doctor?
A Scottish hotel that left staff homeless after sacking them with immediate eviction from their accommodation has claimed the move was an ‘administrative error’.
Workers at the Coylumbridge Hotel, Aviemore, in the Scottish Highlands were sent a letter terminating their employment and ordering them to leave their accommodation immediately, it emerged Thursday.
The hotel is owned by Britannia Hotel, a chain ranked as the worst UK hotel chain for seven years running in an annual survey by Which?.
Its decision to let the staff go amid the coronavirus outbreak, attracted criticism from first minister Nicola Sturgeon who condemned the move after calling on businesses to support staff.
Workers at the Coylumbridge Hotel, Aviemore, in the Scottish Highlands were sent a letter terminating their employment and ordering them to leave their accommodation immediately
Speaking at a coronavirus briefing yesterday Sturgeon said: ‘I would unreservedly condemn the approach that was taken in the Aviemore case: that is not how we want employers to operate.
‘I won’t underestimate and don’t want to downplay the difficulty that businesses and employers are in, but we’ve seen so many good examples, like Macdonald Hotels stepping in to offer accommodation to all affected by that.
‘We want to be doing everything we can to support businesses, but in turn we need employers to support their workforce too.’
Britannia’s spokeswoman told The Liverpool Echo: ‘Unfortunately, the communication sent to these employees was an administrative error. All affected employees are being immediately contacted. We apologise for any upset caused.’
(left to right) Alvaro Garcia, Carlos Ramero-Martinez and Normunds Varshavans who were sacked from their jobs at the Coylumbridge Hotel and told to leave the staff accommodation
The letter sent to employees at the Coylumbridge Hotel, owned by Britannia Hotel, a chain ranked as the worst UK hotel chain for seven years running in an annual survey by Which?
However it is not known if those staff will be reinstated to their positions.
On Friday chancellor Rishi Sunak effectively signed a blank cheque as he unveiled a huge new coronavirus bailout to cover the wages of millions of people and stop firms going bankrupt.
He said the government will cover 80 per cent of salaries up to a ceiling £2,500 a month – equivalent to the UK average wage of £30,000 a year – as long as employers keep workers on their books, and there will be no limit on the total cost.
Founder Alex Langsam, 82, has amassed an estimated £240 million fortune since he founded the company 33 years ago
Langsam lives in a sprawling ten-bedroom former hotel worth £3.4 million in a leafy suburb of Cheshire
The Britannia group, which as 61 hotels across the UK, has previously made headlines after its Fawlty Towers-esque running style saw guests complain of dirty rooms, broken toilets, and stained bedclothes and towels.
Despite being dubbed the worst hotel chain in Britain by consumer magazine Which? the chain has seen its operating profits soar over the last five years to nearly £20 million.
Founder Alex Langsam, 82, has amassed an estimated £240 million fortune since he founded the company 33 years ago. He lives in a sprawling ten-bedroom former hotel worth £3.4 million in a leafy suburb of Cheshire.
The company’s remarkable financial performance comes despite damning reviews by Britannia guests on ratings website TripAdvisor – and now despite its heavily criticised treatment of workers.
Alvaro Garcia (pictured with his possessions) was sacked from his job at the Coylumbridge Hotel and told to leave immediately
The company’s remarkable financial performance comes despite damning reviews by Britannia guests on ratings website TripAdvisor