The company hired to install a giant G-20 welcome banner at the Hilton Pittsburgh has walked off the job, saying it has yet to be paid by the hotel for the work.

Jay Simpson, owner of Airborne Promotions, confirmed yesterday that he suspended work at the Hilton Sept. 9 when the hotel did not deliver on promises to pay him.

"We're at a work stoppage and we're at a work stoppage for obvious reasons," he said.

He declined further comment.

Ironically, Airborne Promotions was hired by the Hilton last month to fabricate and install a mesh banner to cover a hotel addition left unfinished when another contractor, P.J. Dick, walked off the job after not being paid.

The idea for the banner, which is to read "Pittsburgh Welcomes the World," was conceived to hide the addition's steel framing, which many consider to be unsightly, from G-20 delegates and visitors as they enter Downtown from the Fort Pitt Bridge.

Shubh Hotels LLC, the Hilton owner, had been working with Mayor Luke Ravenstahl and other city officials to come up with a suitable covering for structural steel in advance of the summit.

Neither Mr. Ravenstahl nor Shubh officials could be reached for comment.

The G-20 banner originally was to be installed between Sept. 1 and Sept. 6.

Airborne promotions did hang a black mesh covering over the addition for the Hilton at the request of the National Football League, which wanted the structural steel shrouded for the festivities at Point State Park tied to the start of the NFL season Sept. 10.

The black mesh still is in place. It was to be taken down and replaced by the G-20 banner.

With only a week to go before the summit, it is not known whether the banner could be in place by the time delegates start arriving even if Airborne Promotions is paid promptly.

The work stoppage is just the latest in a series of financial woes afflicting the hotel, which occupies a prominent spot at the entrance to the Golden Triangle.

Earlier this month, a union health and welfare fund set up for Hilton workers garnished Shubh's PNC bank accounts and a Wells Fargo Advisors account held by Shubh Chief Executive Officer Atul Bisaria in an effort to collect a $1 million debt.

The city also revoked the building permit for the hotel addition earlier this summer after the project's architect, Stephen Berry, asked for the return of his design plans and specifications after Shubh failed to pay him $308,575 for his work at the Hilton. When it stopped work in May, P.J. Dick said it was owed $317,273.

Shubh officials reportedly have been talking to Fuel Group International, a Tampa, Fla., company with interests in hotels, entertainment and real estate, about getting involved at the Hilton.

A union official said last week workers were told the Fuel Group would be taking over management and labor relations at the hotel. No formal announcement has been made.