SeaWorld cuts 350 jobs, including 79 in California
SeaWorld Entertainment Inc., which has struggled with declining attendance, said Wednesday that it is cutting 350 positions.
The company is laying off people and not refilling open positions across the company, although the cuts primarily affect its corporate headquarters in Orlando, Fla., and the parks in San Diego and Orlando, spokewoman Aimee Jeansonne-Becka said.
Jeansonne-Becka said the cuts mostly affect administrative positions and jobs that do not deal directly with the public. She stressed the company is still dedicated to its animal rescue and rehabilitation, which was not affected.
Seventy-nine positions were terminated in California, a spokesman said.
SeaWorld executives had previously said their goal was to reach $40 million in net savings through 2018.
Employees who lost their jobs were notified Wednesday. They will receive severance pay and help in finding new work, Jeansonne-Becka said.
Jeansonne-Becka could not say how much money SeaWorld would save by cutting 350 positions, but said the company plans to boost advertising to help increase attendance and it will invest in new rides.
“We remain committed to creating world-class guest experiences, providing comprehensively for the care of all our animals, and continuing our company’s focus on stranded marine animal rescue and ocean conservation initiatives,” the company said in a statement.
SeaWorld, which has dealt with a backlash from the anti-captivity documentary “Blackfish,” has had other layoffs, most recently in December as well as in 2010 and 2014.
In August, SeaWorld disclosed that its attendance dropped by 353,000 visitors in the first half of 2017 compared with the same period in 2016.
“We clearly still have an ongoing revenue issue at two of our three SeaWorld parks — Orlando and San Diego,” SeaWorld Chief Executive Joel Manby told his shareholders.
In recent weeks, reports of a possible sale of SeaWorld generated buzz. Jeansonne-Becka has said previously the company does not comment on rumors.
On Dec. 31, SeaWorld employed about 5,000 full-time employees and 8,300 part-time employees, its annual report said.
