VIRGINIA BEACH, Va (WAVY) — A Virginia Beach hotel will shut down for a major renovation in the fall, forcing some people to find new jobs.
Virginia Beach-based Commonwealth Lodging Managment has filed a WARN notice with the state notifying that 79 positions will be laid off in early November.
The company, which operates several hotels in the region, tells 10 On Your Side that all affected positions are at their the Virginia Beach Resort Hotel & Conference Center property located at 2800 Shore Drive.
“The hotel will be closing on November first” said Duane Gauthier, Commonweath Lodging Management’s managing director. “This is being done to complete the previously announced remodel.”
Commonwealth Lodging Managment began managing the property in the spring when Richmond-based Lingerfelt CommonWealth Partners, LLC bought the property for $19 million. Soon after, plans were announced for a $25 million renovation to rebrand the 295-suite hotel as a Delta Hotel by Marriott.
“We will be taking the building down to the concrete in some places,” Gauthier said. “We simply couldn’t operate a hotel around the work.”
The hotel is expected to reopen in April 2020.
“In reality, much less than 79 people will be laid off. Many of those positions are seasonal and we have encouraged employees to apply for jobs at our other properties,” Gauthier said.
The company also operates manages the Norfolk Waterside Marriott.
A $200,000 grant has also been approved by the Virginia Beach Development Authority to help Lingerfelt with the renovations.
