InterContinental Hong Kong to lay off 500 employees

Hong Kong’s InterContinental hotel will soon close its doors and lay off around 500 employees as it begins a two-year renovation.

It’s reported that employees of the 503-room hotel will be given up to four months of salary in compensation, based on their job tenure. However, employees “felt helpless”, according to the South China Morning Post, as they just learned about the project yesterday. 

Employees will work for the hotel until 1 May, but a small number of them can keep their jobs as Yan Toh Heen, a Chinese restaurant in the hotel, will remain open during the renovation. This restaurant can be accessed via the adjoining shopping mall, K11 Musea.

In a statement, the hotel said: “Our colleagues will be supported with opportunities, wherever possible, within InterContinental Hotels Group’s properties after the hotel closes. They will also be given priority to rejoin the hotel when it re-opens and be part of the transformation for its re-opening and relaunch.”

The hotel is operated by Britain-based InterContinental Hotels Group. On Thursday, it said the hotel would kick off the renovation on 20 April. After completing the renovation, the hotel will be renamed to Regent Hong Kong – its original brand since its debut in 1980 – until 2001 when InterContinental Hotels Group took over its operations.

The renovation will include the hotel’s facade to all guest rooms, suites, public areas, function rooms, and restaurants, according to the group.

Goodwin Gaw, chairman and managing principal of Gaw Capital Partners, which led the acquisition of the hotel in 2015 on behalf of a consortium of investors, said: “On behalf of the owning companies, we are committed to returning the property back to its glory days as one of the most prestigious hotels in the world. Following this exciting transformation and rebranding, the hotel will once again become an iconic flagship property for Regent Hotels & Resorts, and a jewel of Hong Kong.”

The renovation is expected to be completed in 2022. 

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