Hotel blames 'administrative error' as it sacks staff and asks them to 'vacate' accommodation in letter which has gone viral

The owners of the britannia Coylumbridge Hotel near Aviemore blame 'administrative error' after it sacked staff and told workers who live at the hotel complex to leave the premises immediately making them homeless amid the coronavirus crisis.

Britannia has released a statement and said: "With regards to the current situation regarding staff at our Coylumbridge hotel and being asked to vacate their staff accommodation. Unfortunately, the communication sent to these employees was an administrative error. All affected employees are being immediately contacted. We apologise for any upset caused."

Employees received the news via a letter signed by Mark Johnston, Holding General Manager yesterday. It has since been posted online and has come under huge criticism from the hospitality industry.

The letter said: "Taking the latest government advice, this letter is to confirm that with effect from 19 March 2020, your employment has been terminated and your services are no longer required."

It added: "You are asked to vacate the hotel accommodation immediately, returning any company property."

Kate Nicholls, Chief Executive for UKHospitality, commented on the letter via twitter, saying: “This is not what our industry is about. This does not represent the hard work being done to support our people, protect their jobs and secure their incomes. No one should be treated like this.”

The Scottish Tourism Alliance responded to the news and said: “This is not reflective of the approach of any business we know, all our members have come out to condemn the deplorable actions of this company.”

Adding: “We have seen nothing but compassion and respect across the sector, in the most dire of circumstances which is testament to the spirit and strength of the people who work in Scottish Tourism.”

Alvarito Garcia from Madrid, who has worked at the hotel for nearly two years, told BBC Radio’s Good Morning Scotland ‘his best option now was to live in his tent until his food ran out’.

He said: "I don't know what to do. They gave me the letter and they said I had to leave immediately. They didn't give me any notice. Even in my rota, they didn't put anything different."

Alvarito said the letter had been given to at least 13 people - most of whom were waiters in the hotel restaurant. He said that he was unsure if the letter had been handed out to others working in different areas of the hotel.

He added: "I don't know why. They didn't say anything

"I don't have words to say. I feel useless, I feel bad."