Royal Caribbean, Marriott And Edwardian Hotels Too Big To Fail?

Neil used to live in London. Others lived there, too, some of them spending the summer in the chi-chi and glitz of the May Fair Edwardian Hotel where he would count the cars as he passed by. Lamborghini, Bentley, Lamborghini, McLaren, Neil's Fiat Punto (imagine getting a parking space there, in central London!), Bugatti, Aston, some dodgy matte-green super-Audi; they lined up like statements-of-arrival for the well-wheeled and the well-keeled. If there is one hotel chain that is vaccinated against Covid-19 surely it is Edwardian Hotels London, one of Britain’s biggest privately owned hotel groups. Apparently not. Caroline Marais, human resources director at Edwardian, said at the weekend, “Covid-19 has severely affected the hospitality industry and our business. Regrettably we have to make difficult decisions, such as the reduction of the corporate work week . . . salaries and permanent job cuts.” They have even had to reduce some of the ice-sculptures which tower over the breakfast buffet at the May Fair. Hard times are felt differently by different groups of people.