Chicago hotels hit with huge business downturns because of the coronavirus pandemic continued mass layoffs in May, and some have made temporary cuts permanent.
Hyatt Hotels reported 566 permanent layoffs at its Chicago headquarters and an additional 200 at a call center in Marion, according to the state’s May layoff report. The layoffs were set to take effect June 1.
The chain previously announced plans to cut 1,300 corporate jobs worldwide and 350 in Chicago, or about a third of its local headquarters staff, after efforts to save money by cutting executive salaries and reducing employees’ pay and work schedules fell short. The company said Friday that some of the 566 layoffs reported to the state are remote workers.
Hyatt’s cuts were among 2,543 new layoffs reported by hotels across Illinois last month as the industry reels from travel restrictions. The state received notice of a total of 7,246 layoffs by Illinois employers in May, down from 8,476 in April.
Meanwhile, the Trump International Hotel and Tower Chicago reported that 229 of 294 temporary job cuts announced in March are now permanent.
The state’s Worker Adjustment Retraining and Notification Act requires large employers to report mass layoffs or plant closures to the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity.
Other Illinois hotels reporting layoffs last month include:
The Blackstone Hotel in the Loop, which temporarily laid off 181 employees.
Loews Chicago hotel in Streeterville, which announced 227 permanent and temporary layoffs.
The Thompson Hotel in the Gold Coast, which furloughed 198 employees.
The Talbott Hotel in the Loop, which announced 51 temporary layoffs.
Hotel Chicago Downtown in River North, part of Marriott’s Autograph Collection, which furloughed 119 employees.
The Embassy Suites in Deerfield, which furloughed 29 employees.
Doubletree by Hilton in Lisle, which temporarily laid off 116 employees.
Holiday Inn in Matteson, which temporarily laid off 72 employees.
The Pars-a-Dice Hotel and Casino in East Peoria, which permanently laid off 353 people.
Normal Marriott, which temporarily laid off 110 employees.
East Peoria Embassy Suites, which temporarily laid off 109 workers.
The Hotel Zachary, Talbott and Thompson also announced that previously reported temporary layoffs would last more than six months.
A range of other industries also reported COVID-19 related layoffs, including parking garages, car rental companies, bakeries and restaurants.
Glassdoor, an employer review site, reported 194 permanent layoffs at its West Loop office.
