PG hotels stay open to pay workers, serve essential workers

PACIFIC GROVE, Calif. (KION) Some hotels in Pacific Grove are staying open amid the COVID-19 shelter-in-place orders to keep their employees from getting laid off and to serve those essential workers who need housing.

"This is Spring Break, and typically we would be running about 90 to 95 percent occupancy. However, we are running at five percent occupancy," said Moe Ammar, the president of the Pacific Grove Chamber of Commerce.

Only 11 out of the city's 23 hotels and bed and breakfasts are still open. Centrella Hotel on Central Avenue opened back up on Wednesday after being closed. But it is not to serve tourists from the Bay Area or elsewhere.

The hotel wants to keep their employees working and paid and to help provide shelter for essential workers who need a place to stay. This is the only reason hotels in PG are allowed to stay open right now.

"I would venture to say nine out of 10 of the businesses that are open are not making any money," said Ammar. "They're losing money, yet they are staying because they want to keep people working."

25 restaurants out of 40 in PG are still operating - strictly doing take out orders. The chamber of commerce says they are averaging just 10 to 15 orders per shift. Still, 90 percent of the town's stores are still closed, meaning a lower tax revenue for the city and less money for businesses to spend on improvements.

Right now, about 85 percent of the labor force in PG is unemployed, according to the chamber of commerce. Even if things open again, it is not going to be quick.

"We're not going to flip the switch and like everybody be back," said Ammar. "It's going to be gradual, it's going to be soft."