Colonial Williamsburg extends COVID-19 closures to end of May
The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation announced Tuesday that it is extending operational closures through May 31 because of COVID-19 risks. Additionally, the Williamsburg Lodge will close as a hotel, although its food and beverage shop and an eatery offering curbside service will continue operations.
Because of the Lodge’s closure, approximately 38 additional hospitality staff will be placed on emergency administrative leave with full pay and benefits until May 9, after which they will be furloughed. On March 27, Colonial Williamsburg placed 692 hospitality and casual staff on emergency administrative leave with full pay and benefits through April 11, then furloughed them through the remainder of the closure period.
Salaried staff received scaled pay reductions in April, when rent was waived for furloughed employees who rent Foundation residences. That waiver will continue through the end of May and the scaled pay reductions will remain in place.
Still open at the Williamsburg Lodge are the Sweet Tea & Barley
— which offers a limited menu, daily specials and curbside pickup — as well as The Cupboard grab-and-go food and beverage shop. The Lodge kitchen will continue to prepare about 2,000 meals per week for the Foundation’s food donation initiative.
Some Colonial Houses are still open, along with the Golden Horseshoe Golf Club. The Governor’s Inn remains an emergency housing resource.
The new closures do not affect employees in the Historic Area, the art museums or operations. Some staff continue to work remotely, among them digital content producers who have helped expand the foundation’s online presence to more than 9 million new impressions, a 63% increase, since the suspension of public programming in midMarch.
Preservation, Operations and Historic Trades teams continue to maintain and beautify the Historic Area and Merchants Square. Operations, human resources and others are busy developing protocols to help protect employees and guests upon Colonial Williamsburg’s reopening.
“We are looking forward to reopening the Historic Area, art museums, hotels and restaurants, and are actively preparing by developing plans which include enhanced health and safety protocols,” Cliff Fleet, president and CEO of the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation, said in a release. “Our overriding objective is to protect the health of our employees, visitors and members of the community, so the timing will be guided by government and public health officials.
“In the meantime, we will continue to expand the delivery of our online programs and accelerate work to improve the appearance of the Historic Area and Merchants Square. We also will continue to support community needs by providing thousands of meals per week as well as emergency housing for those impacted by this very difficult situation.
“It is humbling to work with so many people and organizations helping those in need.”