How Hurricane Dorian Is Impacting Meetings and Trade Shows

August 29, 2019

Hurricane Dorian whipped through Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands yesterday, bringing heavy rains and high winds. As a Category 1 storm, it spared much of the main island of Puerto Rico from extensive damage, though islands off the eastern coast were hit harder.

Dorian will continue on its path heading toward the coast of Florida over the weekend through Tuesday. Forecasters are predicting it may grow into a Category 4 hurricane as it moves through warm waters.

With Labor Day weekend upon us, it’s a relatively slow time for meetings and conventions, CVBs report. While poor for business, this has worked out in the best interest of the safety of attendees. 

Puerto Rico Convention Center in San Juan reports postponing three social events previously scheduled this week to September and October. However, the convention center resumed operations after being closed yesterday. A larger event planned for this weekend, the Caribbean International Auto Expo, will still take place as planned.

A statement released by Discover Puerto Rico today included the following: “Travel planners with upcoming events in Puerto Rico can be confident that their plans will not be affected. Hotels, including those in Vieques and Culebra, are operational, and most businesses are planning to reopen today. Airports and cruise ports are open, and airlines and cruises have resumed, or are starting to resume normal routes.”

In Turks & Caicos, The Sandals Global Sales Conference, which was slated to take place Aug. 28-Sept. 1 at Beaches Turks & Caicos, has been postponed. New proposed dates are pending, says Jennifer Pardo, senior marketing executive with the Turks & Caicos Islands Tourist Board.

In Florida, Daytona Beach has no cancellations currently, according to Kate Holcomb, director of communications for the Daytona Beach Area CVB. The Palm Beaches and Orlando also have no reported cancellations at this time.

“Because this is a holiday weekend and we are a beach destination, there are not a lot of conferences and conventions typically scheduled for this weekend,” says Holcomb. “We will keep in touch with upcoming groups to be sure they have the most up to date information. We encourage everyone to watch the weather and contact their hotel directly for more information.”

Fort Lauderdale reports having eight groups in town currently, and so far, none have reported cancellations, according to Kara Franker, senior vice president of marketing and communications with Greater Fort Lauderdale CVB.

This weekend also happened to be a quiet one at Tampa Convention Center, according to Kevin Wiatrowsky, public relations with Visit Tampa Bay. “We have nothing on our calendar to be affected by the storm,” he says.

The same goes for Jacksonville, which reports having no large groups in town this weekend.

One meeting has been reported postponed to later this month along Florida’s Historic Coast, according to Barbara Golden, communications manager with St. Augustine, Ponte Vedra & The Beaches Visitors and Convention Bureau. “We are in full prep mode,” she says.

In Orlando, Rosen Hotels & Resorts is opening the doors of its eight Orlando-area properties with special distress rates starting at $60 per night for those displaced by Hurricane Dorian. The company is also working to help evacuees find a safe home away from home. Call 866-377-6736 for assistance.

TSNN will continue to update this story as more information becomes available.

 

Photo credit: David Mark/Pixabay

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Partner Voices
Less than six months ago, Lisa Messina joined the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA) as the first-ever chief sales officer after leading the sales team at Caesars Entertainment. A 12-year Las Vegas resident, Messina is a graduate of Cornell University’s School of Hotel Administration and serves on MPI International’s board of directors. TSNN had a chance to catch up with this dynamic leader and talk to her about her vision for the new role, current shifts in the trade show industry, creating more diversity and equity within the organization, and advice to future female leaders. Lisa Messina, Chief Sales Officer, LVCVA With Las Vegas becoming The Greatest Arena on EarthTM, what are some of the things you’re most excited about in your role? Our team was at The Big Game’s handoff ceremony earlier this month, and I couldn’t help but think, “We’re going to crush it next year!”  These high-profile events and venues not only drive excitement, but also provide unmatched opportunities for event planners. Allegiant Stadium hosts events from 10 to 65,000 people and offers on-field experiences. Formula 1 Grand Prix will take place in Las Vegas in November, after the year-one F1 race, the four-story paddock building will be available for buyouts and will also offer daily ride-along experiences that will be available for groups. And, of course, the MSG Sphere officially announced that it will open in September, ahead of schedule, with a U2 residency. It’s going to be the most technologically advanced venue as far as lighting, sound, feel, and even scent, and it will be available for buyouts and next-level sponsorships inside and outside. There’s no ceiling to what you can do when you’re doing events in Las Vegas.  Allegiant Stadium As the trade show and convention business returns to the pre-pandemic levels, what shifts are you noticing and how do you think they will impact the industry going forward? Our trade show organizers are very focused on driving customer experience. Most of our organizers are reporting stronger exhibitor numbers and increased numbers of new exhibitors, with trade shows proving to be almost or above 2019 levels. Now our organizers are really doubling down on driving attendance and focusing on the data to provide that individualized, customized experience to help attendees meet their goals and get the best value. Some companies continue to be cautiously optimistic with their organizational spend when it comes to sending attendees, but I think it will continue to improve. As the U.S. Travel Association makes more progress on the U.S. visa situation, we also expect a growing influx of international attendees. What are some innovative ways the LVCVA helps trade show and convention organizers deliver the most value for their events? We focus on customer experience in the same way that trade show organizers are thinking about it. We got rave reviews with the West Hall Expansion of the Las Vegas Convention Center (LVCC), so over the next two years, we will be renovating the North and the Central halls, which will include not just the same look and feel, but also the digital experiences that can be leveraged for branding and sponsorship opportunities.  Vegas Loop, the underground transportation system designed by The Boring Company, is also a way we have enhanced the customer experience. Vegas Loop at the LVCC has transported more than 900,000 convention attendees across the campus since its 2021 launch. Last summer, Resorts World and The Boring Company opened the first resort stop at the Resorts World Las Vegas , with plans to expand throughout the resort corridor, including downtown Las Vegas, Allegiant Stadium and Harry Reid International Airport. The LVCVA also purchased the Las Vegas Monorail in 2020, the 3.9-mile-long elevated transportation system that connects eight resorts directly to the convention center campus. This is the only rail system in the world that integrates fares directly into show badges and registration. For trade show organizers, these transportation options mean saving time, money and effort when it comes to moving groups from the hotels to LVCC and around the city. Also, the more we can focus on building the infrastructure around the convention center, the more it supports the customer experience and ultimately supports our trade show organizers. Scheduled to debut in Q4, Fontainebleau Las Vegas will offer 3,700 hotel rooms and 550,000 square feet of meeting and convention space next to LVCC.  What are some of the plans for advancing DEI (diversity, equity and inclusion) within your organization? We’re currently partnering with instead of working with a leading consulting firm, to lay the foundation and create a solid DEI plan and be the leader when it comes to DEI initiatives. The heart of that journey with the consulting firm is also talking to our customers about their strategic approaches to DEI and driving innovation in this space.  What are your favorite ways to recharge? My husband and I have an RV and we’re outdoorsy people. So, while we have over 150,000 world-class hotel rooms and renowned restaurants right outside our doorstep, one of my favorite things to do is get out to Red Rock Canyon, the Valley of Fire, and Lake Mead. Five of the top national parks are within a three-hour drive from Las Vegas, so there’s a lot you can do. We love balancing the energy of Las Vegas with nature, and we’re noticing that a lot of attendees add activities off the Strip when they come here.  Valley of Fire What advice would you give to women following leadership paths in destination marketing? I think it’s about being laser-focused on what you want to accomplish; building a team around you that lifts you and helps you achieve your goals; and being humble and realizing that you do it as a group. No one gets this done alone. Thankfully, there are a lot of women in leadership in this organization, in our customers’ organizations, and in this city that we can be really proud of. We’re a formidable force that is making things happen.   This interview has been edited and condensed. This article is exclusively sponsored by the Las Vegas Convention & Visitors Authority. For more information, visit HERE.