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September 18, 2020

Omni New Haven Hotel reopens after COVID shutdown

PHOTO | New Haven BIZ Omni Hotel New Haven
By Michelle Tuccitto Sullo

The Omni New Haven Hotel downtown reopened for guests this week following a six-month closure.

The luxury hotel, at 155 Temple St., closed back in March due to the coronavirus pandemic, resulting in staff furloughs. 

Kristen Cadenhead, director of communications for Omni Hotels & Resorts, confirmed the hotel reopened as of Wednesday morning.

“The hotel will be staffed according to business volumes, which remain low due to the COVID-19 pandemic,” Cadenhead said in an email to New Haven BIZ.

In a Sept. 11 letter to the state Department of Labor, hotel officials indicated they had temporarily furloughed approximately 170 employees as of March 30. The impacted employees hold various positions, such as front desk, sales and dining staff and room attendants.

“Regrettably, it now appears that the length and severity of the direct effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on our business operations are greater than previously were foreseeable,” the letter states. 

According to the notice, some furloughs will extend beyond six months, or past Sept. 30.

Constance Holt, secretary and treasurer for UniteHere Local 217, which represents several Omni employees, said in a statement, “We have spent a lot of time and energy working with Omni management and negotiators to reopen the Omni at Yale. We are proud to have reached an agreement that sets a new standard for guest and worker safety."

"Unfortunately, due to the COVID crisis, the hotel is not yet fully staffed," Holt said.

Ian Dunn, communications director for Local 217, added, "We hope to get everyone back to work soon."

Back in August, union members demonstrated in front of the hotel, demanding that it reopen and bring workers back.

Contact Michelle Tuccitto Sullo at msullo@newhavenbiz.com.

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