Le Richemond will close at the end of August
Nearly 130 employees are affected by the cessation of activities at the hotel, which overlooks the harbor of Geneva. Employees will have their employment contracts terminated. The health crisis has been catastrophic for luxury tourism in Geneva. The decision to temporarily close turned out to be "the only solution".
The closure of borders as well as the stopping of air links, which have "drastically reduced" the number of tourists in Geneva, "are to be counted among the insurmountable obstacles which make recovery not possible in the short or medium term ", said the 5 star management.
Since the start of the pandemic, the hotel has remained open. However, the establishment faces incompressible charges which it can no longer pay. The palace has considered other solutions with the staff. But he had to make up his mind to make "this difficult and painful" decision.
The Richemond today has no more reserves and has exhausted all means to avoid this scenario, said its management in a press release. "We are stopping operations until business resumes," said Eric Favre, president of the 5-star hotel. The palace opened in 1875.
