According to the Orlando Sentinel, Marriott will be temporarily closing.
Disney World During Its Closure
Based in Orlando, Florida, Marriott Vacations CEO Stephen Weisz spoke on behalf of the company, stating, “Without a doubt, these shutdown decisions have been some of the most difficult and heartbreaking of my career.”
While Marriott was initially withstanding the economic pressures that had forced other businesses in the restaurant and hospitality industry to close, today the company disclosed they’ve seen a massive drop in business.
Coupled with new state and federal guidelines restricting many residents to their homes and forbidding the public from leisure travel, options forward were very limited. Just last Friday, we saw Disney World close down all of its resorts shortly after closing all of its theme parks until April 1st.
Disney’s BoardWalk Inn During Temporary Closure
Workers will be furloughed while all Marriott service centers are expected to remain closed through April 6th. The company also announced all of Marriott’s resorts will be closed to guests through April 23rd. Marriott Vacations Worldwide employs 3,300 people at seven properties and two corporate offices in Central Florida alone.
“While we certainly don’t know how long the changes will last, it will enable us to operate the business at close to cashflow-neutral,” Weisz said. Other businesses adjacent to Disney World such as Four Seasons Resort Orlando and many Disney Springs privately-owned restaurants have had to make similar calls recently.
Splitsville
Are Disney World restaurants really just firing people? Read more here.
We’ll continue to monitor the situation and report more information when new details become available. If you’ve made reservations at any Marriott resort or club between now and April 23rd, you should contact them at 407-206-6000 or [email protected].
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You may want to fact check that first line…
We are currently staying at a Marriott resort in Orlando on a timeshare exchange (with booked plans to stay for another week) and were told by the Front Desk that the closure applies to new inventory until April 23rd. So, if you’re looking to make a new Marriott hotel or resort reservation, you can’t, but if you’re currently booked on an exchange, they can’t kick you out.
Thanks, Cori!
Quick correction, Arne Sorenson is the CEO of Marriott. Stephen is the Marriott Vacation Worldwide CEO.