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Gary Neville will allow NHS to use both his hotels and promises to protect his staff from financial hit
GARY NEVILLE and Ryan Giggs will allow the NHS to use both their hotels FREE of charge over the coming months - and have promised to protect ALL their staff.
As coronavirus ravages the world, the two Manchester United legends have decided to do their bit in the battle against the pandemic.
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GG Hospitality will close Manchester residences Hotel Football and the Stock Exchange this weekend, and open up all 176 beds to NHS workers.
Hotel Football, opened in 2015, sits around a hundred yards from Old Trafford while the Stock Exchange opened in November in the centre of Manchester.
Staff will continue to work in both hotels, and have been promised that they will all keep their jobs and income.
Neville released a video through the Hotel Football Twitter account where he updated the nation of his plans.
He said: "We will be closing both our hotels over the weekend.
"It's obviously been a difficult time for all the hospitality industry, and the most important thing and priority is the health of our staff and guests, and we have taken this decision with that foremost in our minds.
"The second most important thing are our staff and our team members and that they retain their income over the next few months.
"We will not be making anyone redundant or asking anybody to take unpaid leave.
"We are working together now on a package with our staff to ensure they retain income, they are our most important people, and the lifeblood of our business."
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Neville then moved on to how he will open both hotels up to NHS workers to base themselves as the country battles coronavirus.
He added: "And the third thing is over the last week we have been in consultation with the health services in the Greater Manchester area, and in particular the Manchester University National Health Services Foundation Trust.
"And our 176 beds will be occupied by National Health Service workers and medical professionals from Friday onwards.
"It is in 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 for the people who need the accommodation most in the coming months.
"It is something we are delighted to have come to an agreement with. It will be free of charge our staff will operate the hotels as normal.
"And the health workers will be allowed 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.
"It's obviously very difficult times and we hope we can grow out of this stronger as a hotel business beyond what is happening.
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"But for the time being, stay safe and I wish everybody all the best."
The generous move follows Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich vowing to give NHS staff freeaccommodation at the Millennium Hotel during the fight against coronavirus.
The Blues are making the Millennium Hotel at Stamford Bridge available to hospital staff who are tirelessly working around the clock during the crisis.
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