Manchester United legends Gary Neville and Ryan Giggs have opened the doors of their Manchester hotels to medical staff, free of charge.
Neville and Giggs will be closing Hotel Football, near Old Trafford, and The Stock Exchange, in the city centre, to guests due to the coronavirus outbreak.
However, Neville insists that staff at both hotels will not be left in the lurch.
"We will not be making anybody redundant or asking anybody to take unpaid leave"," said Neville in a video posted on social media.
"We're working together now on a package with our staff to ensure that they retain income. They're our most important people and the people who are the lifeblood of our business."
A message from our co-owner Gary Neville. @GNev2 @GG_Hospitality pic.twitter.com/uy2rEfweho
— Hotel Football (@hotelfootballuk) March 18, 2020
After speaking with the relevant bodies, Neville and Giggs came to an arrangement that will see National Health Service workers, in the North-West of England, accommodated in both hotels
"Over the last week we have been in consultation with the health services in the Greater Manchester area, in particular the Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust," Neville said in a video posted on social media.
"Our 176 beds will be occupied by National Health Service workers and medical professionals from Friday onwards.
"It's at this moment in time that I think the whole of our industry needs to show solidarity, not just for our staff in these uncertain times but obviously for those who need the accommodation most in the coming months.
"It's something we're delighted to have come into agreement with. It will operate free of charge and our staff will operate the hotels as normal.
"The health workers will be able to stay there without any cost whatsoever in these next few months when they need isolation away from family members who may be affected by what's going on.
"Stay safe and we wish everybody all the best."
