The National Conference Center in Leesburg is expected to lay off more than 70% of its 250-person workforce early next year as Covid-19 continues to devastate the hospitality sector.
The 40-acre hotel and conference center filed a Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification with Virginia on Nov. 18 referencing 180 layoffs. Those are set to take effect on Jan. 18.
Representatives of The National declined to comment.
The National features a 917-room hotel, 265,000 square feet of meeting and event space and an 800-seat dining room. Greater Washington's No. 4 largest banquet and meeting facility, according to Washington Business Journal research, is best known as a host for federal government-related events and training sessions, though it has been working to diversify its base of users.
Virginia's phase 1 coronavirus restrictions forced the National to temporarily suspended operations in mid-March, though it has since reopened. The Loudoun County Chamber of Commerce's 2020 Valor Awards were held there last month after the event was pushed back from April because of the pandemic. There were some in-person attendees at the event, which was also streamed over Zoom.
Last week, The National took to social media to remind customers that due to its size and variety of 250 meeting spaces, it is still able to accommodate any and all groups while adhering to social gathering restrictions.
"Our senior leadership team has meticulously reviewed every facet and area of our operations to implement enhanced safeguards, some clearly noticeable while others invisible to our guests," Geoff Lawson, vice president and general manager, said in a letter that's part of The National's Covid plan originally published in June. "We will continue to update our Safe & Ready Plan as public health issues develop and we promise to continue to learn and adjust on the best path forward."
