Hotel group to make redundancies at Scottish chains including Kimpton and Crown Plaza

An international hotel chain has warned hundreds of staff at branches across Scotland that redundancies are "likely" due the severe economic impact of the coronavirus pandemic.

Intercontinental Hotel Group (IHG), which runs more than 5,000 hotels across the globe under 16 different brands, said a selection of hotels in the country’s main cities are at risk of job cuts.

The hotels Edinburgh where some staff are likely to be made redundant include Kimpton, in Charlotte Square, The George in George street and Crowne Plaza in Royal Terrace, while workers at the Kimpton Blythswood Square hotel in Glasgow have also been warned they could be made redundant.

Edinburgh hotels The Crown Plaza in Royal Terrace and The George in George Street | JPIMedia

The move comes as part of the hotel company’s restructuring plan which as been created in response to the changing financial climate in light of the Covid-19 outbreak.

A spokesman for IHG said: “This is a very difficult time for our industry, and we have done everything to protect and retain jobs for as long as possible.

“Our hotels are currently closed and while we are looking forward to welcoming guests back when we can reopen, it will take time for travel and tourism to return to pre-coronavirus levels.

“As a result, we have launched a consultation to restructure our hotel teams, which unfortunately is likely to involve some redundancies.”

IHG hotels have remained closed since the pandemic struck back in March.

Staff have been made aware that plans for the consultation are in place.

There is no indication at this stage of the number of redundancies that could be made.

A source connected with the hotel chain, who wishes to remain anonymous, said 600 people work for the hotel group across the country’s Capital.

He said a consultation will be carried out across hotels on a global scale.

He advised staff who are made redundant to sign up to Unite Hospitality, a union set up to support those working in the industry.

IHG runs a variety of branded hotels including Holiday Inn, Hotel Indigo and Crown Plaza.