In the Wake of Hurricane Devastation, Travel Industry Steps Up

In the wake of the extreme devastation wreaked in the Caribbean and Florida by Hurricanes Irma and Maria, and in Texas by Hurricane Harvey, the travel industry is pulling together in ways both large and small.

“These are tragic days,” said Mike Rea, CEO of the nonprofit Tourism Cares, in an email to supporters and a blogpost, adding that this is also a time of “inspiration, courage, immense empathy and selflessness.” Those qualities are especially evident as individuals, companies and trade groups from across the travel industry contribute time and money to support both immediate aid and long-term recovery efforts.

Tourism Cares Recovery Fund
Many travel firms and industry associations, including ASTA, are channeling their own contributions and those of their customers to the Tourism Cares Destination Disaster Recovery Fund for the Caribbean, the Texas Gulf Coast and the Florida Keys. More than a dozen industry associations are on board, in some cases setting up their own giving portals. As of Monday, Tourism Cares had collected $65,000 in donations.

Tourism Cares is focused on long-term recovery efforts in affected areas, including by pooling resources for investments in tourism infrastructure such as visitor centers, attractions and cultural institutions, and supporting the workforce. The nonprofit is working closely with the Caribbean Hotel & Tourism Association (CHTA) and the Texas Travel Industry Association to prioritize needs and develop investment approaches, said John Yonce, director of advancement and engagement for Tourism Cares.

While immediate relief in the form of shelter, water and food in the days and weeks following a disaster are critical, long-term recovery is equally important, Yonce said. Six to 18 months after a disaster is a “critical window,” he said, a period “when we can really make a difference in how strong a destination comes back, and how quickly.”

In addition to their own and client contributions, travel agents can help by encouraging clients to “support with their feet” by visiting destinations as soon as they are ready for tourists, he said.

Photo: Royal Caribbean.

Cruise lines help out
Cruise lines have stepped up in a big way to support immediate relief and rescue efforts to hurricane-ravaged areas, including by delivering critical supplies such as food, water, ice, medical supplies, generators, bedding, clothing and diapers. Carnival Cruise Line planned to use 11 ships to deliver supplies.

Several cruise lines assisted in evacuations. The Norwegian Sky evacuated 1,000 from St. Thomas and Royal Caribbean evacuated 1,700 people from St. Thomas and St. Maarten.

All told, the cruise industry has committed about $15 million toward relief efforts, according to the Florida-Caribbean Cruise Association (FCCA).

Following are a few highlights of cruise line efforts and initiatives:

– Carnival Corporation, the Miami HEAT Charitable Fund, and the Micky and Madeleine Arison Family Foundation pledged up to $10 million in funding and in-kind support for relief and rebuilding efforts in Florida and the Caribbean. The Micky and Madeleine Arison Family Foundation also will make an immediate donation of $2.5 million to Direct Relief, UNICEF and the United Way of Miami-Dade County to support urgent relief needs.

– Carnival Corporation created a matching fund for employee donations to support American Red Cross hurricane relief efforts.

– Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. will match donations up to $1 million to aid hurricane relief efforts.

– Disney Cruise Line donated $2.5 million to aid humanitarian relief efforts and committed to matching employee contributions to eligible relief and recovery organizations.

– Princess Cruises will match donations made by passengers and crew up to $100,000.

Photo: Norwegian Cruise Line

The Florida-Caribbean Cruise Association charitable initiative, the FCCA Foundation, has committed $500,000 to providing supplies and services to affected areas.

The FCCA also has been involved in sourcing and coordinating delivery and installation of semi-permanent structures for shelter and schooling; sleeping pods, cots and bedding; as well as food. All of these supplies are being delivered by member lines to affected areas.

Photo: Royal Caribbean.

Other supplier efforts
Many suppliers have undertaken their own relief and recovery efforts. Here are just a few examples:

ID Travel Group, parent company of Island Destinations, committed to matching up to $1,000 for every donation made through Sept. 30 to its nonprofit the ID Travel Group Foundation for Better Living . The company will reevaluate the match at month’s end. As of Monday, ID Travel Group firm had raised more than $40,000. The money will be used to supply immediate relief, including generators, tarps and water filters to St. Barts, Anguilla and the British Virgin Islands.

Cheap Caribbean donated 50 percent of all booking profits on Sept. 22 to Tourism Cares, earmarked for the Caribbean Hotel & Tourism Association. Through Oct. 31, the online booking site is donating all proceeds from sales of T-shirts to Tourism Cares relief fund and has raised $10,620 as of Monday.

Apple Vacations’ website has a page promoting online donations to the UNIDOS Disaster Relief Fund to Support Puerto Rico and Mexico, which is channeling money to help with hurricane- and earthquake-related needs in Puerto Rico and Mexico. The UNIDOS fund is a program of the Hispanic Federation (HF), a nonprofit Latino membership organization. Apple Vacations is also encouraging donations to the Tourism Cares recovery fund.

How to help Puerto Rico
The Puerto Rico Tourism Company’s website is directing those who wish to help to United for Puerto Rico, an initiative of Beatriz Rosselló, first lady of Puerto Rico, in collaboration with the private sector.