Hotel Industry & Its Employees Remain Crippled by Pandemic

Washington, DC, August 4, 2020-A new survey of American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA) members shows that the pandemic continues to have a devastating effect on the hotel industry and its employees. Results show nearly nine in ten hotels have been forced to lay off or furlough employees due to COVID-19 and the resulting drop in travel. Four months into the crisis, only 37% of survey respondents report that they have been able to bring back at least half their full-time employees.

AHLA conducted the survey of hotel industry owners, operators, and employees from July 23 to 27 with more than 1,200 respondents. Key findings include the following:

* 87% of hotels report being forced to lay off or furlough staff because of COVID-19

* 36% have been unable to bring any of their furloughed or laid off workers back to full-time employment

* Just 37% of hotels have been able to bring back at least half their full-time employees

* Only one in four hotels (24%) is back to a minimum of 60% of their pre-COVID staffing levels, while less than one in three (29%) is still at or below 20% staffing

* Of the more than 600 hotel owner respondents, more than half stated that are in danger of losing their property to foreclosure by commercial real estate lenders due to COVID-19