Evening Telegraph (First Edition)
Hotel staff redeployed as opening delayed again
STAFF who were due to start work at Dundee’s newest hotel in December have had to be redeployed to other cities until March, amid a further delay in opening.
Hampton by Hilton had already suffered a setback when it was forced to send customers with festive bookings to other hotels in the city, pushing the opening date back to January 31.
The opening has now been delayed again until March, meaning employees have to travel to other parts of the country to work at the company’s sister hotels.
An official statement released by Hampton by Hilton insists the delay is due to an “increase in investment” allowing initially unplanned features such as a bar and a restaurant to be built.
The hotel’s general manager Paul Wood confirmed staff have been sent to sister hotels but said it was a chance for them to be trained so they could “hit the ground running”.
He said: “The delay to the opening of the hotel is down to an increase in investment, which has enabled us to create additional, initially unplanned, enhanced amenities such as a bar and restaurant that will cater for the local community as a social venue, as well as the guests staying with us.
“We’re proud to be creating around 60 new jobs for the area and we have been using the time we’ve had while work is completed to place staff at sister hotels, where they are developing their skills to ensure they hit the ground running when we open our doors.”