Wine Country Times

Sebastian, who bikes18 miles to work each way and Teresa, an elderly woman with "the strongest work ethic," were furloughed last week from their jobs the Yountville hotel.

They were two of thousands of associates furloughed by the company that manages Bardessono Hotel and Spa, where the two worked, because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

"The cost of living in our area is so high," Bardessono Hotel and Spa Human Resources Director Jenner Sampton said in a statement provided to Wine Country Times by Remington Hotels, which manages the property. "Associates are impacted on a normal basis, let alone a crisis. They have little to no money extra, not because they are frivolous or irresponsible, but because they simply cannot afford to live, after they work."

Teresa is just one of thousands of employees to be furloughed nationwide by Remington Hotels.

Sampton called on government to intervene.

"We need more resources for human beings that fall on hard times in situations where our government is mandating closures and restrictions to businesses," she said. "They need to feel a sense of security in times of need."

Sampton isn't alone in seeking government intervention in the crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic that now threatens the world's economy. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin warned earlier this week that COVID-19 could drive unemployment in the U.S. to  20%, levels not seen since the Great Depression.

The travel and hospitality industry is asking for about $150 billion in relief.

"Remington Hotels is struggling in the face of the coronavirus," Remington Hotels President and CEO Sloan Dean III said in his own statement to Wine Country Times.

Dean's appointment as president and CEO of Remington Hotels was announced in December.

Remington, founded in 1968, is a hotel management company that also provides providing property management services. Its hospitality wing manages 86 hotels in 26 states across 17 brands.

Like the rest of the industry, Remington Hotels has been hit hard by COVID-19, which has sunk its business to "beyond depression levels" and Remington anticipates losses this year in the hundreds of millions, Dean said.

Remington Hotels expects hotels that it manages to run at 90% lower occupancy levels in April 2020, compared to the same month last year, Dean said.

"Most all of our 6,800 associates are furloughed," he said, adding that the entire situation is a "disaster."

Sebastian is one of those furloughed.

"Sebastian was thrilled when we hired him at Lucy as a dishwasher, $15 hourly," Sampton recalled. "He recently moved from Arizona to Calistoga. He heard about our hotel and restaurant and knew this is where he wanted to be."

Sebastian rode his bicycle from Calistoga to Yountville and back again, 18 miles and 1.5 hours each way.

"Sebastian was grateful for his job and the opportunity," Sampton said. "He didn’t have enough money to get a car, as rent and basic living essentials are so expensive. We offer associates a meal during their shift and this was a bonus for him."

Now that will be one less meal Sebastian can count on for the foreseeable future.

"We had to furlough Sebastian," Sampton said. "What little money he did make, now he will have no source of income as his skill set is mostly in the restaurant industry, and nobody is hiring."

Unemployment benefits won't cover Sebastian's living expenses in Calistoga.

"He is scared and afraid of what his future holds, all the while, maintaining a positive and appreciative attitude for all that we have done for him, and the hope that soon this will pass," Sampton said.

It's more difficult for Teresa, furloughed last week after having worked at the Bardessono Hotel and Spa for about 20 years and took the bus to make her shift, to keep even that much positive attitude.

"While many people of her age are a couple of years into their retirement, she continues to put in a full time schedule," Sampton said. "She does not have the luxury of retiring yet, as she just can't afford it; as many of our elderly associates in this area face."

Help for people like Sebastian and Teresa must come from somewhere, Sampton said.

"There must be financial aid and resources that are appropriate for the people to live," she said. "Our State and Federal Government need to show compassion in times of need for the people that make our country amazing."

Dean said assistance will need to come from the nation's top leadership.

Priorities for the entire industry were presented to President Donald Trump on Tuesday, March 17 by the American Hotel and Lodging Association.

Those priorities are emergency assistance for employees, a workforce stabilization fund from the U.S. Treasury Department, preservation of business liquidity that would include $100 billion for employee retention and rehiring, and tax relief

"For many Americans in our sector, this health crisis will be compounded by economic hardship in the coming weeks and months," Dean said. "Congress must act now!! Time is essential as unemployment claims in hospitality will be in the millions."