Radisson Blu has resumed operations in its Nairobi Upper Hill hotel although cutting its workforce by 30 percent.
According to hotel general manager Russel Storey, the company is now working with 210 workers down from 300 employees.
“We had around 300 staff before we closed two years ago and we have deployed just over 210 as we resume operations today
“We don’t see the demand as high as when the hotel closed and we are just being a little bit cautious. I had to bring in just a few people that knew the business,” Storey said.
The global hotel brand shut operations in December 2020 on low bookings due to financial difficulties brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic.
A hotel spokesman confirmed the development saying the decision to send employees home was aimed at mitigating the economic impact of COVID-19 on the business.
“To mitigate some of the economic impact of the pandemic, coupled with the uncertainty of Radisson Blu Hotel Nairobi Upper Hill’s reopening date, we have had to make the difficult decision to reduce the size of our workforce at the hotel,” said the spokesperson.
The hotel closed but its sister establishments Radisson Blu Hotel & Residence Nairobi Arboretum and Park Inn by Radisson Nairobi Westlands remained in operations.
The Upper Hill hotel is the largest facility.
