WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS, W.Va. -- The Greenbrier has started calling back all employees who were furloughed over the winter, less than a week after a company announced it had acquired the rights to the resort.

The southeastern West Virginia resort furloughed nearly half its 1,350 employees in January as it struggled to fill its rooms. Now, the busy summer season is approaching.

"We're breathing new life into The Greenbrier and our community,'' Jim Justice, owner of Justice Family Group, said Tuesday.

"We aren't going to sit back and wait for change; we're going to be aggressive and we will return this resort to its rightful place as the leader in the luxury hospitality industry. And to do that, we need all of our team members here and ready to serve our guests.''

The former playground of presidents and royalty and site of a Cold War nuclear bunker for Congress includes a 721-room hotel, three championship golf courses and a 40,000-square-foot spa.

The Greenbrier filed for bankruptcy protection in March, the same month that hotel giant Marriott International Inc. said it made a purchase agreement for the resort.

Court filings have indicated the resort lost more than $90 million in the past five years. Justice plans to ask a U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Richmond, Va., next week to dismiss the Chapter 11 case.

Earlier this week Justice said he plans to build a casino by the end of the year at the resort costing $15 million to $20 million and hire up to 600 new workers.

Voters narrowly approved a measure in November allowing casino-style gambling at the hotel. Gov. Joe Manchin signed legislation on Friday that would regulate gambling at The Greenbrier the same as the state's racetrack casinos. It also sets aside a portion of wagers to help The Greenbrier recoup employee benefits costs.

 

WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS, W.Va. -- The Greenbrier has started calling back all employees who were furloughed over the winter, less than a week after a company announced it had acquired the rights to the resort.

The southeastern West Virginia resort furloughed nearly half its 1,350 employees in January as it struggled to fill its rooms. Now, the busy summer season is approaching.

"We're breathing new life into The Greenbrier and our community,'' Jim Justice, owner of Justice Family Group, said Tuesday.

"We aren't going to sit back and wait for change; we're going to be aggressive and we will return this resort to its rightful place as the leader in the luxury hospitality industry. And to do that, we need all of our team members here and ready to serve our guests.''

The former playground of presidents and royalty and site of a Cold War nuclear bunker for Congress includes a 721-room hotel, three championship golf courses and a 40,000-square-foot spa.

The Greenbrier filed for bankruptcy protection in March, the same month that hotel giant Marriott International Inc. said it made a purchase agreement for the resort.

Court filings have indicated the resort lost more than $90 million in the past five years. Justice plans to ask a U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Richmond, Va., next week to dismiss the Chapter 11 case.

Earlier this week Justice said he plans to build a casino by the end of the year at the resort costing $15 million to $20 million and hire up to 600 new workers.

Voters narrowly approved a measure in November allowing casino-style gambling at the hotel. Gov. Joe Manchin signed legislation on Friday that would regulate gambling at The Greenbrier the same as the state's racetrack casinos. It also sets aside a portion of wagers to help The Greenbrier recoup employee benefits costs.