Grumpy
01-22-2009, 07:41 PM
http://www.orlandosentinel.com/orl-universal-layoffs-orlando-012209,0,7911589.story
By Jason Garcia | Sentinel Staff Writer
3:25 PM EST, January 22, 2009
Universal Orlando laid off approximately 70 employees today, as it and other resorts confront an increasingly dire economic outlook.
Although the cuts amount to less than 1 percent of Universal's 13,000 local employees, they illustrate the company's growing concern about how theme-park attendance will fare this year as the sinking economy forces more cash-strapped consumers cut back on travel.
Universal declined to identify the positions it eliminated. It described them as mostly management-level jobs, with some in administrative and support areas.
"This has not been an easy step for us. But after much thought and review, we are convinced it is an important part of positioning our business for the future," Universal spokesman Tom Schroder said. "We're doing everything we can to ease this process for those affected, and to help with their transition."
The layoffs at Universal came less than 24 hours after the Walt Disney Co. offered buyouts to 619 executives throughout its domestic theme-park division -- including 313 people in Orlando. Disney warned that it will shift to layoffs if too few executives accept buyouts.
A spokeswoman for SeaWorld Orlando's owner, Busch Entertainment Corp., said the company has no layoffs planned.
Theme-park operators across the U.S. have been hit hard by a nationwide drop in consumer confidence and spending. Universal revealed in November that attendance at its Orlando parks fell 2 percent during its fiscal third quarter; analysts say industry conditions have continued to deteriorate since then.
In a sign that the resort is concerned about falling revenue, Universal earlier this month eliminated free parking in its garages after 6 p.m. The resort now charges guests $3 to park in the evening.
Despite the turmoil, Universal said it is pressing ahead at full speed with two highly anticipated attractions: the "Hollywood, Rip, Ride, Rockit" roller coaster, which is to open later this year in Universal Studios, and "The Wizarding World of Harry Potter," scheduled to open next year in Islands of Adventure.
By Jason Garcia | Sentinel Staff Writer
3:25 PM EST, January 22, 2009
Universal Orlando laid off approximately 70 employees today, as it and other resorts confront an increasingly dire economic outlook.
Although the cuts amount to less than 1 percent of Universal's 13,000 local employees, they illustrate the company's growing concern about how theme-park attendance will fare this year as the sinking economy forces more cash-strapped consumers cut back on travel.
Universal declined to identify the positions it eliminated. It described them as mostly management-level jobs, with some in administrative and support areas.
"This has not been an easy step for us. But after much thought and review, we are convinced it is an important part of positioning our business for the future," Universal spokesman Tom Schroder said. "We're doing everything we can to ease this process for those affected, and to help with their transition."
The layoffs at Universal came less than 24 hours after the Walt Disney Co. offered buyouts to 619 executives throughout its domestic theme-park division -- including 313 people in Orlando. Disney warned that it will shift to layoffs if too few executives accept buyouts.
A spokeswoman for SeaWorld Orlando's owner, Busch Entertainment Corp., said the company has no layoffs planned.
Theme-park operators across the U.S. have been hit hard by a nationwide drop in consumer confidence and spending. Universal revealed in November that attendance at its Orlando parks fell 2 percent during its fiscal third quarter; analysts say industry conditions have continued to deteriorate since then.
In a sign that the resort is concerned about falling revenue, Universal earlier this month eliminated free parking in its garages after 6 p.m. The resort now charges guests $3 to park in the evening.
Despite the turmoil, Universal said it is pressing ahead at full speed with two highly anticipated attractions: the "Hollywood, Rip, Ride, Rockit" roller coaster, which is to open later this year in Universal Studios, and "The Wizarding World of Harry Potter," scheduled to open next year in Islands of Adventure.