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American carnage: Trump Org hotels, golf courses have laid off over 1K employees
Mar-a-Lago Club, President Trump’s permanent residence; and Trump International Hotel in Manhattan is among them
As the coronavirus pandemic pummels the hospitality industry nationwide, the Trump Organization’s resorts and golf courses have not been immune.
President Trump’s properties, including Mar-a-Lago Club in Palm Beach and Trump International Hotel & Tower in Manhattan, have laid off more than 1,300 employees since March. Trump properties were barred from receiving direct support from the $2 trillion stimulus package.
The cuts have come as much of the country remains under statewide stay-at-home orders, prohibiting nonessential businesses from operating. Hotel occupancy nationwide has also plummeted, and now stands at 23 percent.
Here are some Trump Organization properties that have filed notices of layoffs and furloughs:
Trump National Doral Miami
Trump National Doral Miami
The 643-room golf resort in Doral laid off 560 employees, according to a WARN notice filed with the state. The furloughs, involving non-essential personnel, are expected to be temporary. Affected positions largely consist of employees in golf course operations, food and beverage service and hotel service. The golf resort closed on March 23.
Trump bought the 650-acre Doral resort in 2012 for a reported $150 million. He borrowed $125 million from Deutsche Bank and embarked on $250 million in renovations. Earlier this month, the Trump Organization reached out Deutsche, to see if it could postpone some loan payments.
Mar-a-Lago Club (Credit: iStock)
Mar-a-Lago Club
The Trump Organization said it was forced to furlough 153 non-essential workers at its crown jewel property in Palm Beach, according to a notice filed with the state. The furloughs for the 126-room hotel and club at 1100 South Ocean Boulevard are expected to be temporary. Trump Organization has also asked Palm Beach County whether the county was still expecting monthly payments on the land for the 27-hole golf course it leases from the government.
In September, the president switched his permanent residence to Mar-a-Lago, from Trump Tower in New York.
Trump National Jupiter Golf Club
Trump National Jupiter Golf Club
The golf resort in Jupiter, Florida, furloughed 92 employees, according to a WARN notice filed with the state. The resort — whose 18-hole, 7,242-yard course was designed by golf great Jack Nicklaus — has put all non-essential employees on furlough.
Trump International Hotel & Tower in Manhattan (Credit: Trump.com)
Trump International Hotel & Tower in Manhattan
The 1 Central Park West property in Manhattan laid off 70 employees in March, according to a notice filed with the state Department of Labor. The information was released earlier this month, and the notice characterized the cuts as temporary. The property has at least partially shut down, though the hotel itself appears to remain open.
Trump Golf Links in the Bronx (Credit: Trump Golf)
Trump Golf Links in the Bronx
The Trump Organization’s taxpayer-funded golf course at Ferry Point in the Bronx shut down and laid off 49 employees, according to a WARN notice earlier this month.
The 18-hole, $236 million golf course opened in 2015. New York had initially set aside $20 million to build the course, but costs skyrocketed to $100 million by 2010 and the developer dropped out of the project. Trump swooped in and won the right to operate the course for 20 years.
Trump International Hotel & Tower Chicago (Credit: Alvesgaspar/Wikipedia)
Trump International Hotel & Tower Chicago
The company laid off 294 employees at the 98-story downtown tower, at 401 North Wabash Avenue, according to a WARN notice.
Trump National Golf Club Washington, D.C. (Credit: Truejim/Wikipedia)
Trump National Golf Club Washington, D.C.
The club, actually in Potomac Falls, Virginia, laid off 102 employees, according to a WARN notice. The 800-acre private club includes two 18-hole courses.