Hyatt Laying Off 1,300 Employees

Hyatt Hotels, which has locations in Johnson County, Kan., and by KCI airport, is laying off 1,300 workers company wide, due to a steep drop in travel caused by COVID-19.

During its first quarter, Hyatt lost $103 million due to a dip in occupancy and revenue per available room, which is one of the hotel industry’s benchmark performance metrics.

The layoffs will take place on June 1. There will also be pay cuts for executives at the Chicago-based hotel chain.

“COVID-19 has thrown our industry into unknown territory,” said Mark Hoplamazian, Hyatt’s president and chief executive officer. “While parting ways with our colleagues is excruciating, we must be sensitive to commercial realities so we can continue to fulfill our purpose of care over the long term – through this pandemic and for what lies beyond.