Tourism industry calls for action over hurricane disaster
States affected by Hurricane Helene still await critical relief funding from Congress, U.S. Travel Association explain. The storm swept through the Southeast in September 2024, causing an estimated $53 billion in damage and severely crippling the tourism industry. one letter The agreement signed by more than 100 state tourism directors, destination leaders and small business owners urges lawmakers to act quickly to pass pending legislation and deliver promised aid. “Too many destinations in too many states are currently waiting for Congress to provide much-needed relief from the disaster that occurred just months ago,” said Jeff Freeman, president and CEO of the U.S. Travel Association. “The holidays are peak travel season, and Main Street Businesses have been affected. It’s time for Congress to take action.” Tourism industry leaders are urging lawmakers to approve additional funding for the Community Development Block Disaster Relief Program and the Economic Adjustment Assistance Program. The goal is to help communities that have experienced a significant drop…
Category 5 Pivot: One Event Company How to Defeat Helene and
Listen to audio Continuous hurricanes? are you serious? When you earn CEUs for mastering risk management and incident mitigation, they don't teach that. Yet, as you know from the harrowing news images that flashed across our screens in late September and early October, Hurricanes Helen and Milton dealt a double whammy to Florida (and elsewhere), sending palm trees, vehicles and homes rolling Raging floods drifted by. And you also know—because of what you did—that in their wake, countless long-planned events were cancelled. Of course, in the face of recent climate disasters, the hospitality industry has, as usual, rallied to the aid of local communities. One example: The Wyndham Grand Clearwater Beach hotel housed 200 utility workers working to restore city services during the peak of recovery in October. It also offers residents discounted room rates. But here’s a case study of how an award-winning, full-service media production company in Orlando put together a successful event during a weather emergency in…
Travel best practices when severe weather strikes
Planners rely on travel management professionals to arrange group air travel. But they may not be the best first choice when hurricanes disrupt flights. A few days before my flight from Dublin to Miami on September 25, I received a warning from American Airlines that flights to Miami might be canceled due to the approach of Hurricane Helene. I booked directly with AA and they provide free change service. I followed the storm's path closely through the Weather Channel app and eventually made it home safely. I was one of thousands of people whose travel plans were disrupted. A few weeks later, Hurricane Milton struck, again causing thousands of flight cancellations. As of this writing in mid-October, The busy hurricane season isn't over yet. When it finally weakens, the coming winter nor'easter could again cause travel disruptions. Leading conglomerate Travel Management says it's clear travel plans can change instantly when severe weather strikes, leaving thousands scrambling to adjust flights full…
Export-Import Bank provides relief to businesses affected by hurricanes
"These transformative exports fuel growth in the U.S. economy, strengthen our economy and national security, and improve our quality of life." The Export-Import Bank of the United States (EXIM) announced support measures for U.S. exporters, financial institutions and businesses affected by Hurricanes Milton, Helen and other recent weather events. These measures are intended to reduce operational and financial burdens on EXIM program participants located in FEMA-declared federal disaster areas. Also read: Allen mobilizes for Hurricane Milton as supply chain prepares for another major storm "Our priority is to support our clients and lenders through the challenges presented by these severe weather events," said EXIM Chairman Reta Jo Lewis. "We are providing flexibility to help those affected focus on safety and recovery." Relief measures for businesses and lenders:EXIM’s assistance includes a variety of facilitation measures to help businesses resume operations without penalty for missing deadlines: Working Capital Guarantee Plan 1. For loans maturing during the disaster period, the loan facility is…
Florida recovers from hurricane
After the state's second major hurricane in two weeks, millions of Floridians began the long and arduous recovery process today (October 11) of restoring power, shoveling mud from flooded homes and clearing away the hurricane's legacy. mountains of ruins Milton and Helena. While some coastal cities, such as Tampa, were spared the catastrophic surges that many forecasters feared, Milton brought widespread flooding and a series of deadly events along Florida's east coast, according to the U.S. Weather Service. Tornadoes killed at least 16 people and left millions without power. Reuters report. To add insult to injury, many areas were still clearing debris and repairing damage from Hurricane Helene as Milton pounded through. Hurricane Helene hit the Gulf Coast late last month and then struck much of the southeastern United States. Over a 72-hour period this week, the Florida Department of Transportation removed 1,000,000 square meters of water from a Pinellas County barrier island near the mouth of Tampa Bay, Florida…
Update on hurricane damage in the Southeast
Listen to audio Current assessment and resources for those affected Hurricane Milton made landfall in western Florida yesterday, killing nine people and knocking out power to nearly 3.5 million residents and 165 medical facilities. Currently, nearly 300 operating shelters support more than 80,000 Floridians. In a twist of fate, Hillsborough County, which had provided comfort stations, income-qualified hotel assistance and Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) assistance to those affected by Hurricane Helene, which made landfall on September 26, was suddenly forced to end those services , prepare for the approaching Hurricane Milton. The full damage from Hurricane Milton is currently being assessed, and southeastern states are still reeling from the devastation of Hurricane Helen. In western North Carolina, government agencies and local residents worked together to recover the wreckage and ensure everyone's safety. The storm killed at least 230 people and caused unprecedented flooding in the region. In Buncombe County, significant infrastructure damage—particularly the North Fork’s main water plant—has created…
MPI provides support to members affected by Hurricane Helene
In response to the devastation caused by Hurricane Helene, Meeting Professionals International (MPI), the world's largest association of meeting and event professionals, has taken action to provide support to members facing financial hardship. MPI provides One year membership subsidy through its MPI Member Hardship Programin partnership with the MPI Foundation. Members affected by the storm, which resulted in severe flooding, mudslides and power outages, can request support at: mpi.org/hurricane. With more than 600 members potentially affected, those in need can apply for support using the website, which provides details outlining criteria to ensure support is provided to those who need it most. The plan includes a six-month extension of membership, with the remaining six months being covered by the MPI Foundation to ensure continued access to its resources and educational services. During this challenging time, this assistance will help ease the burden and help impacted members recover by providing continued access to the Foundation’s network, resources and educational offerings. MPI…
IMEX America 2024 Review: Day One
Listen to audio Grand Opening Tuesday, October 8 US IMEX in 2024there were jaw-dropping trade shows, unexpected meetings with great friends, and one exciting announcement after another. Give back First, our friends in the South experienced the devastating effects of Hurricane Helene, less than a week after Hurricane Milton, now a Category 5 storm, was expected to hit Florida on Wednesday. Kate Patay, CPCE, Chief Strategy Officer, Patay Consulting, Search Foundationtook to the stage at the Inspiration Center to interview a select group of extraordinary people about their journeys of rebuilding after disaster. She shared with the audience that the SEARCH Foundation team takes pains to find the most relevant and accurate resources to help you. If you are in a position to help those affected and support relief efforts, please visit SEARCH Foundation’s Hurricane Helen Resource Page. Read more: One Thing: From Networking to Lasting Bonds—Practical Tips for Forging Authentic Connections with Kate Patay and Thuy Diep Meetings make…
Hurricane Milton is now a Category 5 hurricane threatening the Florida Gulf
Florida's Gulf Coast is getting its second major hurricane in as many weeks, expected to hit on Wednesday. Hurricane Milton It is expected to make landfall on Florida's Gulf Coast late Wednesday. Florida is under a hurricane and storm surge watch, with officials urging residents to evacuate and prepare for power outages and life-threatening storm surge. As of Sunday, 51 counties including Hillsborough, Pinellas, Pasco, Miami-Dade and Broward were under a state of emergency. The Tampa Bay area has not experienced a major Category 3 or higher hurricane within 50 miles of Tampa in more than a century. Hurricane Milton was expected to be a Category 3 storm when it hit Wednesday. "Milton will be a historic storm on Florida's west coast," the National Weather Service in Tampa Bay said in a statement. briefing. As of Monday morning, October 7, 2024, Hurricane Milton has sustained winds in excess of 155 mph and is currently a Category 5 storm. Mandatory evacuations…
Smart Mobility: Field & Stream Lodge Co. debuts in Bozeman
Listen to audio Have you ever wished you could step into the pages of Field & Stream, the magazine that was published in print from 1895 to 2015 (don't worry, you can still enjoy its digital content)? Get ready for your dreams to come true next winter. Do you know what “maximizing travel” is? Hilton is here to tell you all. Most importantly, have you been thinking about how you can help those affected by Hurricane Helen? We have a suggestion in this week's Smart Travel magazine. Field & Stream Lodge Co. to open in Bozeman in winter 2025 Field & Stream Lodge Co., a new branded hotel platform for the iconic Field & Stream brand, announced the opening of its first location in Field & Stream Bozeman, Montana, a hunting and fishing lodge equipped with modern amenities. The venue has 179 rooms, ranging from king suites designed to look like fishing shacks to bunk rooms, and is now accepting…
Preparing for Hurricane Helen: 5 top tips from Ellen
As Hurricane Helen approaches, organizations must prepare for physical safety and potential supply chain disruptions. ALAN (American Logistics Assistance Network) offers these five key takeaways to help your business stay ahead of the storm. Also read: Allen urges logistics industry to mobilize for Hurricane Francine relief efforts 1. Personal safety comes first Keep you and your crew safe by monitoring real-time updates and local forecasts from the National Hurricane Center. Helen's winds may reach 115 mph, please heed all safety warnings and evacuation notices. 2. Keep abreast of supply chain disruptions For real-time information on road closures, facility closures and other impacts of the storm on the supply chain, visit ALAN's Supply Chain Intelligence Center. If you require further assistance, please contact ALAN via their contact page. 3. Monitor active logistics needs ALAN's disaster microsite provides an up-to-date list of logistical support requests. While there may not be an open plea for Hurricane Helene at the moment, that could change…
Hurricane Helen: What conference professors need to know
Listen to audio Hurricane Helene's Impact on the Southeastern United States and Resources for Planners. Hurricane Helen made landfall in the Big Bend, Florida, area late Thursday night as a Category 4 hurricane. It continues to move north and is expected to stall and continue to weaken over the Tennessee Valley through the weekend, according to the National Hurricane Center (NHC). Hurricane Helene became a tropical storm in the western Caribbean on Tuesday before making landfall in Florida, causing flooding in the Cayman Islands and heavy rainfall in western Cuba and the northeastern Yucatan Peninsula. As of Friday morning, more than 4 million homes and businesses were without power in Florida, Georgia and the Carolinas. A large swath of the Southeast, including Florida, Georgia and South Carolina, is experiencing widespread power outages and flooding. On Friday morning, President Biden approved emergency declaration requests from the governors of Florida, Georgia, Alabama, North Carolina and South Carolina, which will receive a variety…
Helene pushes southeast, causing more damage
Hurricane Helen The hurricane swept through Florida and Georgia in darkness on Friday, one of the most powerful storms to hit the United States, killing at least four people, flooding communities and knocking out power to more than 3 million homes and businesses. The Category 4 storm hit the Big Bend, Florida, area at 11:10 p.m. ET, causing chaos such as overturned boats in the harbor, downed trees, stranded cars and flooded streets. In Florida, Gov. Ron DeSantis confirmed a driver was killed when his car was struck by debris and warned the death toll could rise. Georgia Governor Brian Kemp said on Sunday that a tornado struck Wheeler County during the storm, killing two people; in Blackshear, Georgia, the ABC News affiliate reported that A firefighter was killed when his vehicle was crushed by a falling tree. More than 4 million homes and businesses were without power in Florida, Georgia, the Carolinas and other states in the southeastern United…
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