Hotel management firm launches assistance fund for laid-off workers

Reeling from the coronavirus pandemic, Tampa-based McKibbon Hospitality has had to let go of the majority of its employees.

By Business Observer Staff
| 3:30 p.m. March 25, 2020
| 2 Free Articles Remaining!

Economic fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic has forced McKibbon Hospitality to suspend operations at several hotels and lay off the majority of its employees. Courtesy photo.

Tampa Bay-Lakeland

TAMPA — McKibbon Hospitality, a Tampa-based company that operates Marriott, Hilton, Hyatt and other hotel properties in nine states, has established a fund that, beginning April 3, will pay its laid-off workers $200 per week for 90 days.

In a press release, the firm says the coronavirus pandemic has devastated its business, forcing it to suspend operations at several hotels and lay off the majority of its employees.

“Our associates are like family and are truly the heart of our business, which has made this unfortunate situation so difficult,” President Randy Hassen states in the release. “We are committed to supporting them through these challenging times in any way that we can, just like they’ve supported us over the years. Once the outbreak is contained, we look forward to restoring our operations and bringing as many employees back to work as possible.”

According to the release, McKibbon Hospitality has also partnered with Marketplace Chaplains, which provides its guests and workers 24/7 access to a chaplain who’s been trained to support people’s emotional needs. The firm says it will extend the chaplain service to employees of other companies who’ve lost their jobs as a consequence of the COVID-19 outbreak.