Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick said he would direct state employees to boycott Hyatt hotels when conducting state business, if the company doesn't rehire housekeepers it let go.

As a cost-cutting move, Hyatt outsourced the housekeeping jobs at three of its Boston-area properties in late August.

Patrick made his boycott threat in a letter sent to Hyatt CEO Mark Hoplamazian.

Phil Stamm, the Hyatt Regency Boston's general manager, responded by stating, "We are very disappointed by the governor's decision to threaten a boycott of our hotels, since it directly threatens the 600 associates who work in Hyatt properties and who live and work in Massachusetts at a time when businesses and individuals are cutting back on travel during the worst economic period we have seen in decades."

Stamm said Hyatt "deeply regrets whenever staff reductions are necessary."

"We have instituted a task force to provide support to the Boston-area Hyatt employees affected by the recent restructuring of the hotels' housekeeping services," he said. "In support of their transition to new jobs, the program includes extended health care coverage and retraining assistance tailored to the situation of each individual."