AUSTIN, Texas — The South Congress Hotel will undergo a year of renovation, following its acquisition by Hyatt Hotels Corporation. The entire staff was laid off ahead of the rebranding, according to a letter sent to employees.
The layoffs will affect 126 employees and will happen around May 31, according to a WARN filing with the Texas Workforce Commission.
According to the letter, the terminated employees will be eligible to apply for any available positions once the hotel reopens.
In spring of 2027, the hotel is expected to reopen as The Standard, Austin. The rebranding is a collaboration between Hyatt Hotels Corporation and Timberline Real Estate Partners and will be led by an Austin-based creative team, including Michael Hsu, the original architect for the South Congress Hotel.
“South Congress has always been a place where Austin’s past and future meet,” managing partner of Timberline Real Estate Partners Stan Nix said in a news release. “Bringing The Standard brand here feels like the natural next step.”
The Standard, Austin will be the first The Standard brand location in Texas.