Miami bouncing back after hurricane Wilma?

Just days after Hurricane Wilma swept through southern Florida, the Greater Miami Convention and Visitors Bureau was already welcoming back tourists and meetings attendees.

William Tabert III, President and CEO of the Greater Miami Convention and Visitors Bureau said though there is some damage in the area everyone in the hospitality industry was remaining positive and the area was back on its feet.

Talbert said, “We have a very positive story here.” After Hurricane Katrina ravaged the New Orleans area many groups were forced to make their plans elsewhere, including the New Cardiovascular Horizons CLI Summit which rescheduled its meeting to Miami, just in time for Hurricane Wilma. However, Talbert said the group, with speakers flying in from Europe and attendees from all over the world, was going on as planned. “In just a short time we were all up and running,” Talbert said. “This is a community that rebounds very rapidly.”

Talbert explained that the key to the bounce-back was the fact that just 24 hours after Wilma came through the international airport reopened and power was restored to most of the important tourist destinations.

However, not all has been completely recovered. The Miami-Herald reported that the storm ravaged three hotels in Miami’s business district, including the Four Seasons and the Biscayne Bay. MSNBC also reported that risk analysts predicted the storm’s damage in Florida at up to $10 billion, which would rank it among the top most expensive storms to hit the United States.

The following southern Florida hotels have been closed due to the effects of Hurricane Wilma: Marriott International Boca Raton Marriott at Boca Center; Courtyard Key West Waterfront; Courtyard West Palm Beach Airport; Fairfield Inn Key West; Fort Lauderdale Marina Marriott; Harbor Beach Marriott Resort & Spa; Marriott’s BeachPlace Towers; Marriott’s Ocean Point; and West Palm Beach Marriott are closed due to power outages and some minor damage. Global Hyatt Hyatt Regency Pier 66, Ft. Lauderdale; Hyatt Key West; Hyatt Regency, Miami; and the Hotel Victor, Miami, are closed due to power outages. Starwood Hotels and Resorts Sheraton Suites Key West; Westin Diplomat Resort & Spa, Hollywood.; Diplomat Country Club & Spa, Hallandale Beach; Sheraton Suites Cypress Creek, Hallandale; Westin Ft. Lauderdale Airport Hotel; Sheraton Ft. Lauderdale Airport Hotel; and Sheraton Bal Harbour, are all scheduled to open this week. Hilton Hotels Conrad Miami closed to Nov. 7 Boca Raton Resort and Club The Boca Raton Resort and Club is temporarily closed until power is restored but it is in good condition.-

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