The Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Resort is laying off 1,136 employees as it responds to low occupancy and cancelled events. The Orlando Sentinel reports that the hotel, which is operated by Marriott, cited the economic climate as “historic, swift and devastating.”
The layoffs are reportedly permanent and go into effect beginning November 13, 2020. The 1,136 positions span across the resort’s operations, including housekeepers, banquet servers, cooks and more.
This is devastating news that puts the harsh reality of the tourism industry into perspective. The Swan and Dolphin Resort was likely able to stave off layoffs until now as they played host to MLS teams competing at the ESPN Wide World of Sports complex. Now that the tournament has concluded and the MLS teams have departed, Marriott is reacting to the reduced demand.
Hopefully the tourism industry improves soon and the Swan and Dolphin Resort is able to bring back many of these positions.
