As you no doubt know, Cindy and I are in Switzerland. Since we’ve been here we’ve only been able to see some CNN coverage of the hurricane aftermath in the south. When I saw the damage to the Hyatt I wondered how it would affect the NAMA convention next spring and in the latest NAMA e-News they mention that it is too early to tell. However, they’re looking at possible alternatives. I can’t imaging that the hotel will be ready for us by April but you never know.
According to the Hyatt website: “According to General Manager Michael Smith, minimal flooding is confined to a back, non-public area of the hotel, and the heaviest physical damage to the property was caused by windows being blown in to hotel guest rooms, all of which were completely vacated prior to Katrina’s arrival.
“Despite the wind and water damage to the hotel, the mood of those on property remains positive” he said.
The first convoy of food and supplies provided by Hyatt hotels in Atlanta and Houston arrived at Hyatt Regency New Orleans Wednesday morning, and further relief supplies are en route.
Hyatt is in the process of alerting its customers who have reservations through March 31, 2006 that the hotel will not be able to accommodate them and that all cancellation fees will be waived. In addition, Hyatt’s national sales force have contacted all meeting planners who have programs scheduled at Hyatt Regency New Orleans between now and March 31, and are in the process of assisting these groups with relocation to other destinations.
I have to make a comment on the terrible job (my opinion) the reporters are doing that I’ve seen on CNN. It’s just a non-stop “question the government” harangue. It’s pretty obvious where their bias is. This is the international feed and I can’t say it helps our image in the rest of the world. The situation is a tragedy and questions need to be answered but I can’t help but feel angry at the way these reporters are being allowed to talk about our government!
The photo is courtesy of AP Photo/Bill Haber.