TOUR operators’ contingency plans swung into
action last week to evacuate thousands of holidaymakers in the path
of Hurricane Charley. At least four Gulf Coast hotels remain off
sale as a result.
As news of the hurricane broke, UK operators moved customers
from the Gulf Coast and Florida Keys to properties in Orlando,
following advice from the National Hurricane Centre.
But when the hurricane changed direction and headed for Orlando
– cutting the power off in hotels and villas in Kissimmee
– operators had to move more holidaymakers to alternative
properties.
Virgin Holidays had 4,500 holidaymakers in Florida and evacuated
1,400, while TUI moved 74 of its 1,400 Thomson and Jetsave
customers in Florida.
TUI UK head of customer operations Colin McGregor said: “There
was pressure on hotel capacity in Orlando. In some cases it took a
bit of time and we had to pull in a few favours. Luckily it is low
season for hotels so there were beds available.”
Tradewinds moved 75 of its 500 holidaymakers in Florida from the
coast to Orlando.
Marketing director Karl Thompson said: “We worked closely with
our ground handlers but operationally it was tricky.”
Meanwhile, Virgin Holidays has taken four Gulf Coast hotels off
sale – West Wind Inn in Sanibel, South Seas Plantation in
Captiva, Fort Myers DiamondHead Beach Resort and Sanibel Harbour
Resort and Spa – which have all been shut due to storm
damage.
The operator has been forced to rebook holidaymakers before the
end of September into alternative accommodation in the Clearwater
and Naples areas or give customers the option to travel later.
Visit Florida UK sales and marketing director Colin Brodie
played down the impact of the hurricane.
“Two thirds of the state remain untouched,” he said. “As far as
we are concerned it’s business as usual.”
He said 80% of visitors go to central Florida as their first
port of call.