White Lodging Extends Furloughs

(Image courtesy of White Lodging

Merrillville-based White Lodging Services Corp. has extended temporary layoffs for more than 600 employees at three hotels in Indiana.

In a notice to the state, the hospitality company said it notified the workers in March of the furloughs and possible layoffs as the pandemic continued to unfold. On July 2, the company said the layoffs were being extended.

The hotels impacted by the notice include the J.W. Marriott and the downtown Marriott in Indianapolis and the Courtyard by Marriott in Fort Wayne.

The company said as travel restrictions remain in place, occupancy rates remain low. The company’s banquet services have also been disrupted.

“Given the unprecedented length of the pandemic and continued downturn of the travel and hospitality industry, it is now reasonably foreseeable that these temporary actions may extend beyond six months,” said the company.

According to the state WARN notice, White Lodging notified all affected workers it is unsure when it might call the workers back.