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© St. Petersburg Times, published October 7, 2001
ST. PETERSBURG -- The Hilton St. Petersburg laid off 20 workers, about 15 percent of its work force, because of a drop in business after the terrorists' attacks.
"We're hoping it is just temporary. We're not sure how long the downturn will be," said hotel general manager Mike Butler.
The 333-room Hilton at 333 First St. S is expecting annual revenues to be 10 percent below what they were last year, and Butler said there are concerns another 10 percent could be lost next year.
"It's an across-the-board loss. Corporate business is off. We do a lot of groups: leisure, education, social and corporate. It hit us," Butler said of the attack aftermath.
Air travel fell in the days after the Sept. 11 attacks, reducing not only tourists coming to the Hilton but also air crews who stayed there.
The Hilton has been upgrading sections of the 29-year-old hotel over the past few years. A decade ago it was brought out of bankruptcy by the current owners. Occupancy rates earlier this year were averaging 70 percent.
The layoffs took place last weekend and involved both management and hourly positions, Butler said. Positions already vacant are being left open, he said, and those duties handled by others.
For example, a purchasing manager's job is open. Those duties now are being done by "someone else in the culinary department. They are buying, cooking and doing other things," Butler said.