According to an employee who spoke anonymously with KVUE, staff learned about the closure this week.

AUSTIN, Texas — The South Congress Hotel is making some big changes, including laying off most of its employees.

In a letter sent to employees, Hyatt – the owner of the South Congress Hotel, which opened a little over a decade ago – said the hotel will temporarily close for renovations and rebranding, beginning on or around May 31. The hotel is expected to reopen in the first quarter of next year.

Hyatt said the entire hotel, except for the Mañana coffee shop, will close during this period. As a result, all hotel employees will be terminated on or around May 31, with the “exception of key roles, as determined by Hyatt Corporation in its sole discretion, and Manana colleagues,” according to the letter.

The letter says that when the hotel reopens, staff members who were terminated will be eligible to apply for any open positions.

An employee who spoke with KVUE via email and wishes to remain anonymous said that chefs and human resources staff found out about the closure on Monday in a late afternoon meeting. Line cooks were allegedly told about the closure Tuesday morning around 11 a.m. 

The South Congress Hotel is home to Mañana, as well as restaurants Maie Day, Café No Sé and Otoko, and bars Lobby Bar and Watertrade. It also has a rooftop pool bar.

Daryl Gomersall, general manager of the hotel, confirmed that Mañana is expected to remain open throughout the renovation. However, the employee who spoke with KVUE noted that due to the shorter staffing, the coffee shop will likely have to limit its menu and change from offering its current baked goods to buying from other local bakeries.

The employee also shared with KVUE a transition guide sent to them Monday night that walks terminated employees through how their benefits will be impacted.

Gomersall said the hotel-wide renovations will include “a redesign of all guestrooms, enhancements and updates to public spaces including the lobby and rooftop” and a “refresh” of all food and beverage outlets.

Hyatt owns 20 hotels in Austin, including four others on or near South Congress Avenue: Hotel Magdalena, Hotel Saint Cecilia, the Austin Motel and Hotel San José.