TOP WELSH RESORT TO CUT JOBS
HUNDREDS of jobs are being cut at the Celtic Manor Resort in Wales, its bosses have said.
The five-star resort, which hosted golf’s Ryder Cup in 2010 as well as the 2014 Nato Conference, said it would be making 450 workers redundant in response to the coronavirus pandemic.
Staff at the International Convention Centre Wales, situated in the Celtic Manor grounds in Newport and owned by the same company, will also be affected.
The company is owned by Wales’ first billionaire, Newport-born Sir Terry Matthews.
Yesterday, company bosses sent letters to staff informing them the resort was cutting almost half of its 995-strong workforce due to the financial impact of Covid-19.
In a statement, the company said: “It is clear the Covid-19 crisis will continue to have a catastrophic effect on the global economy, our nation and the travel, tourism and events industries for many months to come, and the Celtic Collection must reshape and resize its business to ensure that it is fit for the future.
“With drastically reduced occupancies and revenues, its current financial model is not sustainable.
“Staff whose positions are at risk of redundancy have been sent letters advising them of the process.
“The Celtic Collection deeply regrets having to take this course of action in response to the devastating economic consequences of the Covid-19 pandemic and understands the enormous impact this will have on the livelihoods of affected team members and their families.
“Everything possible will be done to support those affected and an employees’ consultative panel has been involved in the decisionmaking process.
“The Celtic Collection is unable to make any further comment as the consultation process is ongoing.”
The resort’s hotel boasts 332 rooms, six restaurants, five bars, two spas, and three golf courses.
The 5,000-capacity International Convention Centre Wales, which overlooks the M4 motorway, was opened in September last year with the help of £22.5 million in grant funding from the Welsh Government.
Ruth Jones, Labour MP for Newport West, said: “Very concerned to see this.
“This is devastating for Newport and South Wales and for the staff who will understandably be very concerned.
“The loss of these jobs will affect not just individuals and their families but the communities across Newport and further afield.”
Jessica Morden, Labour MP for Newport East, said: “Terrible news for Celtic Manor and ICC staff and their families. This shows the devastating impact Covid-19 is having on workers & the economy.”
Delyth Jewell, Plaid Cymru MS for the South Wales East region, said: “This is shocking news and cannot be allowed to happen.
“Celtic Manor owner, Sir Terry Matthews, is a billionaire. He should use his own money to sustain his hard-working and loyal workforce until the crisis is over. It wouldn’t make a dent to his fortune.
“The hardworking staff at Celtic Manor will be understandably furious to learn that their loyalty over many years is set to be paid back by being made redundant.
“Even if Sir Matthews were to pay the full wages of these 450 staff for a whole year, it would hardly make a dent of 1% to his own personal fortune, which has largely been amassed as a result of the hard work of his staff - for him to turn his back on them now would be utterly disgraceful.
“Sir Matthews has a civic and moral duty to sustain these jobs, especially considering the fact that the Welsh Government partly paid for the new International Convention Centre opened on his premises last year.”
Lorraine Gaskell, GMB regional organiser said: “This is terrible news for Newport.
“This workforce has helped to make Terry Matthews the first billionaire in Wales, so we think it’s only right that in these unprecedented times, he puts his hand into his very well-lined pocket and keeps the staff on furlough.
“This decision is shortsighted and cruel. When this pandemic passes, he will need their skills, hard work and dedication to keep the Celtic Manor Resort as one of Wales’ premier venues. GMB will do all we can to support our members who are affected.”
Newport East MS John Griffiths said: “The development and growth of the Celtic Manor has added a new dimension to our local and regional economy and focused the eyes of the world on Newport with the NATO Summit and Ryder Cup.
“The new International Conference Centre has great potential to build on that success.
“It is very disappointing that approaching half of the 1,000 or so jobs are under threat due to Covid-19.
“My thoughts are with the employees facing redundancy and their families.
“I very much hope these job losses can be avoided as we emerge further from lockdown restrictions.”
Meanwhile, the Celtic Manor Resort has confirmed that its Evergreen Day Nursery operation may close permanently.
Bosses said they do not “envisage the day nursery being able to reopen in the future unless significant changes are made to government guidance”.
The company said the day nursery is the only department of the business under threat of permanent closure.
Sir Terry Matthews is currently the fourth-richest man in Wales with an estimated wealth of £1.24bn.
He bought the Manor House and former hospital site in 1980 and transformed the site into one of the UK’s best-known hotel and golf complexes.