In What Ways do Hurricanes Impact the Hospitality Industry?

Hurricane season in Florida goes through the end of the month, and the storm can wreak long-term havoc in the regions where they make landfall and beyond.

Hurricanes and their related risks are a fact of life in Florida, since much of the state sits in a part of the world where environmental conditions make it easy for the storms to form.

Hurricane season goes through the end of the month, and the mere threat of them hitting land can influence the decisions that leaders make as they seek to accommodate those using hotels and other sectors of the hospitality industry.

They can keep visitors away long term

Catastrophic storms can keep people from heading to destinations cities that might have selected to visit if circumstances allowed. Since hurricanes and other weather emergencies can destroy the infrastructure of a given locality, visitors may stay away not only in the days leading up to a storm but also in the ensuing days and weeks thereafter.

Plenty localities in southwest Florida (more recently) and even along the Panhandle are still dealing with storm effects that in some cases will permanently change the tenor of tourism efforts at the local and state level.

Weddings go awry

The wedding industry is important where tourism is concerned for cities on both coasts and otherwise. Experts have noted in recent months the booming demand for Florida weddings, especially among non-residents who keep an eye on the state’s destinations. Couples generally make their reservations months in advance for weddings, but weather emergencies can pretty quickly make their plans go awry.

Given the time constraints, many don’t have the option to reschedule their wedding for a later time, and because of sustained demand they may also have trouble finding a place to accommodate them more immediately.

Food becomes scarce quickly

In many cases, some sources of food and water are harder to find before and after a hurricane as people rush to find supplies to help themselves and their families given what can be rapidly changing circumstances.

As a result, those operating in the hospitality industry may find themselves in an inevitable situation where they have to make difficult decisions about their obligations to the customers, to themselves, and to their peers at work. Those who run wedding venues may find themselves unable to operate for quite some time, which could impact the bottom line as they seek to recover after a storm.