A SCOTS hotel chain has announced that 241 jobs are at risk of redundancy at the start of August.
The Crieff Hydro group is reportedly planning on cutting more than a quarter of its workforce across its seven hotels following a downturn in trade due to the coronavirus pandemic.
The family-owned group runs Crieff Hydro, Murraypark Hotel, Peebles Hydro, The Park, Isles of Glencoe, Ballachulish Hotel and Kinghouse Hotel.
Chief executive Stephen Leckie said that a consultation is under way with his employees, and that the final number of redundancies could change depending on further support for the hospitality industry and how the lockdown restrictions currently in place are eased.
The company had taken steps in an attempt to reduce costs, and has been using the UK Government's job retention scheme.
But revenue lost during the closure of its hotels during the Covid-19 outbreak is expected to amount to £17 million in the current financial year.
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Leckie said: "For every month we've been closed with zero income, we've had to pay £500,000 just to keep our buildings safe and secure.
"This would have a profound effect on any business."
He added: "When we closed our doors at the end of March, it was one of the darkest days in our 150-year history and this is another.
"The impact coronavirus has had on our industry and business has been immediate and drastic.
"As a family-run business built on the strength of our people, discussing potential redundancies is the toughest step we've ever had to consider.
"I am personally devastated for every one of our team who could lose their job."
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Scotland's tourism industry has been hit hard by the pandemic and subsequent lockdown.
Tourism Secretary Fiona Hyslop had expressed hopes that there could still be a summer season for the country, and suggested "staycations" for Scots would be ideal once in a situation that allowed it.
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