On June 4, the Gaylord Texan Resort notified the Texas Workforce Commission of the layoffs effective March 16, which is just days after state and county disaster declarations related to COVID-19.
But during that period, the resort was also making efforts to reopen. The Gaylord Texan Resort officially opened its doors for summer travelers June 8.
“We are excited to have re-opened our doors, ... providing the same unique offerings and exceptional service we are known along with hundreds of enhanced cleaning protocols,” said Martha Neibling, director of public relations for the Gaylord Texan Resort, in an email.
The Gaylord Texan Resort declined to answer specific questions about the number of layoffs it initiated, saying the hotel brand has experienced “significant drops in customer demand.”
“Hotels are adjusting operations accordingly, which has impacted employment, resulting in staffing reductions, temporary leaves, and in some cases, termination notices,” a public information officer for Marriott International said in an email response to Community Impact Newspaper’s inquiry.
As part of Gaylord Texan’s efforts to reopen, Vanderbilt University Medical Center was selected as the resort brand’s official wellness adviser. In addition, seating areas for events and the pool at the resort have been spaced out to ensure social distancing, a news release said.
The hotel brand has initiated what it calls “Commitment to Clean” practices and is providing enhanced cleaning technology, hospital-grade disinfectants, attendants dedicated to sanitizing frequently throughout the day, new social distancing protocols and hundreds of new cleaning processes to take care of guests while they enjoy the resort’s amenities, according to the news release.
