Gulf Coast Recovery, by John Kloster
Group Travel Blog
The Gulf Coast was hit twice by hurricanes this fall, first by Katrina and then by Rita. This update is intended to examine the affected areas in the four states from the perspective of a group travel planner. Katrina hit first and extended from New Orleans to the Alabama coast. Then Hurricane Rita hit southwestern Louisiana and southeastern Texas. We discovered that many areas are open for tourists, with adequate infrastructure of hotels, restaurants and attractions. In fact, the only areas that have damage are located very near to the coast. However, at the moment many areas have limited hotel availability, including some quite far inland. Rooms are being occupied by both evacuees and emergency personnel. This situation seems to be very fluid and areas that do not have current availability should not be written off for group trips planned as soon as this winter. On the other hand, some areas were completely devastated and will not be ready for tourists during 2006. But, even in these areas, there is a spirit of determination.
Louisiana
The New Orleans area was hit hard by Katrina, but most devastated areas were residential. The central business district, Garden District and French Quarter suffered little structural damage. At press time, the city reports 20,000 rooms available and general availability for tourists. According to Kim Priez, Vice President of Tourism for the Greater New Orleans CVB, We have restaurants, attractions and hotels coming online every day. Service levels are low because of the shortage of workers and its going to be a long road as far as getting workers back. Some hotels are offering full service levels for tourists and limited service for emergency workers. She reports that the city is targeting the first of January as the date that the city will begin an active push to bring tourists and conventioneers back to the city. Tour operators generally are leaving New Orleans in their programs, as most groups arrive there in the spring and conditions look positive for things being very much up and running by then. Curently, ten of the thirteen pre-Katrina airlines are functional.
Our review shows attractions such as Mardi Gras World and most of the plantations are open for touring. By press time, such restaurants as Antoines, Arnauds and the Court of Two Sisters are expected to be open, with Commanders Palace coming in early 2006. Mardi Gras is still happening and 70% of the normal number of parades are already committed for next year. As of press time, curfews are still in effect citywide. The Central Business District, the French Quarter and Uptown have the most lenient restrictions: a 2 a.m-6 a.m. ban for streetwalkers and drivers alike.
The Lake Charles area in southwest Louisiana was hit by Hurricane Rita. According to Megan Monsour of the Lake Charles CVB, the area was definitely impacted, but we have more opening every day. Many attractions are open and 25 of our 33 hotels are operating. However, hotel availability is very sporadic. The major draw of the area is its four casinos. LAuberge du La Hotel & Casino and the Isle of Capri Casino and Hotel are both open. Delta Downs Racetrack Casino & Hotel and Harrahs Casino & Hotel are closed. The Creole Nature Trail All-American Road is the areas second most popular tourism attraction and was devastated, according to Monsour. However, the marsh will recover and wildlife will return. It is planned to reopen and be fully operational in the spring.
Alabama
Starting in the east and working west, the Gulf Shores and Orange Beach areas had minimal damage. However, some businesses are still cleaning up from Hurricane Ivan last year. Mobile was partially sheltered by its location, set back from the gulf on Mobile Bay. More than 90% of its hotels are fully operational, according to Rosemary Judkins, Group Travel Manager of the Alabama Bureau of Tourism & Travel. The only attraction to have suffered serious damage is the USS Alabama Battleship Memorial, which is closed indefinitely. The ship was tilted at an angle and needs to be righted. The walkway to the ship was destroyed and the building that houses the aircraft collection was seriously damaged.
Dauphin Island extends approximately six miles south of the Alabama mainland into the gulf. Its residential west end sustained major damage. In the east end, where the Dauphin Island Sea Lab Estuarium is located, there was little damage. and it is open. The areas on the mainland coast west of Dauphin Island, such as Grand Bay, Bayou La Batre and Coden sustained the greatest damage in the state, primarily to homes and shrimp boats. The state welcome center and hotel in the area are both open.
Source: www.leisuregrouptravel.com
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