Hotel lays off 200 workers in Puerto Rico

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – About 200 workers have been laid off from a Wyndham Worldwide Corp-owned resort in Puerto Rico as the Caribbean hotel industry continues to struggle with a drop in revenue and bookings amid the global financial crisis.

Labor Department spokeswoman Rebecca Ramos says the layoffs represent 20 percent of the 1,000 workers at the Rio Mar Beach Resort & Spa. Hotel spokeswoman Veronica Taveira says most of the laid-off employees worked in catering and transportation.

Rio Mar said Tuesday it hopes to reinstate many of the jobs if business picks up.

The island's Hotel & Tourism Association said hotels are reporting a 10 percent drop in bookings or more and that layoffs have become increasingly common as a result.