Hat Yai Hotel Stays Closed As Ownership Dispute Continues

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Hat Yai hotel stays closed as ownership dispute continues

By Taranit Piroonla-ong

The Nation

The JB Hat Yai Hotel in Songkhla province remained closed yesterday as a dispute between the old and new operators continued, while 300 members of the staff hoped the row would end quickly so they could get back to work.

On Monday evening, a group of 50 men claiming to be employees of Hat Yai Hansa Plaza placed a large sign outside the hotel saying: "Our apologies, Hansa JB Hotel is temporarily closed for renovation. Outsiders cannot enter". Then they padlocked all entrances except the main door, and strictly prohibited staff members to enter. The group claimed that it had all the proper documentation to show that the company had taken over the hotel and that the transfer of ownership had been completed since Monday.

The men continued to guard the hotel yesterday and would not allow about 100 staff members to start their morning shift. The workers were advised to apply for a job again. They said Hat Yai Hansa Plaza had notified the old administration and given them a document explaining what would happen to the existing staff, but the document was hidden and therefore they had no choice but to lock up the premises.

They also explained that they didn't want to cause problems for hotel guests and that they had informed existing patrons and those wishing to stay that the hotel would be closed temporarily from yesterday onwards until both sides can solve the dispute.

The group explained that the Thai Military Bank had seized the hotel due to a failure in loan payment and the old administration rented the hotel from the bank on a monthly basis. Now, however, the bank had sold the hotel to Hat Yai Hansa Plaza, so the old operator should back off.

The workers are worried about losing their jobs because most have not heard about the change in ownership and are worried about whether they will be reimbursed and compensated. Some workers have already signed up with the new company.

-- The Nation 2011-05-25

[vont]

Ahhh poor JB

where I used to meet up with my dates from the university.

RIP.....

[jfchandler]

This sounds like another episode of business Thai style...same like the guys with guns who took over the Suvarnabhumi Airport parking lots a few months back at gunpoint.

[sabye]

I heard that Hansa Plaza had bought the hotel from the bank a few weeks ago. It sounds like the old owners can't accept the fact that they no longer have any claim to "their" hotel. Just like Bangrak Petroleum many years ago the original owners built a business and then lost it due to poor management and now they can't accept that fact. Good luck to the new owners and I hope they can get better staff and management than has been there for the last 5 years. The holiday was very run down and the management was skimming so much money they couldn't make a profit.