Condemnation of Coylumbridge Hotel treatment of staff

As well as being sacked, staff at a Highland hotel have been made homeless amid the coronavirus outbreak.

Just yesterday, staff at the Coylumbridge Hotel near Aviemore were given a letter to say their employment was terminated on 'the latest government advice'

It also added: 'you are asked to vacate the hotel accommodation immediately, returning any company property'

Alvaro Garcia, originally from Madrid, has worked at the hotel for nearly two years. He is unsure of his future with travel restrictions limiting the likelihood of his return to his native Spain.

'My parents are over 60-years-old, so what if I was to get it on the plane, maybe they would get sick'

'I want to get accommodation, for the pandemic to pass and to go back to Spain and see my family, because I've not seen them for a long time'

Alvaro said his best option was to live in his tent until his food ran out.

'Some people are feeling very bad, they have no other options'

Local MSP Kate Forbes MSP hit out at the ‘appalling’ actions of Britannia Hotel, with the holding general manager of the hotel telling at least a dozen workers the bad news.

Ms Forbes said: 'The actions taken by Britannia Hotels in my constituency are appalling'

'At a time of national crisis, the hotel is making people homeless at the same time as making them redundant, with only a few hours’ notice. That is heartless and it left some of my constituents homeless and facing an even more uncertain future'

'This is a difficult time for everybody - but some will choose kindness over cruelty in how they manage the crisis. For every Britannia Hotels, there are hundreds of good employers and welcoming communities who will not allow people to be treated like this'

No one was available at the head office of Britannia Hotels for comment.