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Hurricane Helene’s Aftermath

Hurricane Helene affect on meetings and events infrastructure

Hurricane Helene tore through the Southeast last month, leaving a trail of destruction that impacted not only homes and businesses but also the region's vital tourism and events infrastructure. From Florida to North Carolina, popular attractions, convention centers, and hotels faced closures, cancellations, and costly repairs.

Florida

Helene's landfall in Florida's Big Bend region brought significant damage to Tallahassee, despite the city being spared a direct hit.

Tallahassee
Attractions: Mission San Luis, Goodwood Museum & Gardens, Tallahassee Museum, and Alfred B. Maclay Gardens State Park all suffered flooding and wind damage, leading to temporary closures.
Convention Center: The Donald L. Tucker Civic Center experienced minor water damage and power outages.
Hotels: Numerous hotels, including Hotel Duval, Four Points by Sheraton Tallahassee Downtown, Courtyard by Marriott Tallahassee Capitol, and Residence Inn Tallahassee Universities at the Capitol, reported flooding and power outages.

Tampa Bay
The Tampa Bay area also felt Helene's wrath, with storm surge causing flooding and damage to coastal properties.
Attractions: While the Florida Aquarium and Busch Gardens Tampa Bay closed briefly, they reopened quickly with minimal damage.
Convention Center: The Tampa Convention Center suffered minor water damage.
Hotels: Hotels along Clearwater Beach and St. Pete Beach, including the Hyatt Regency Clearwater Beach Resort and Spa, Sandpearl Resort, Opal Sands Resort, TradeWinds Island Grand Resort, and Don CeSar Hotel, faced flooding and water damage.

Georgia

Helene brought heavy rainfall and strong winds to Georgia, impacting tourism in Valdosta and coastal areas.

Valdosta
Attractions: The Wild Adventures Theme Park suffered significant damage and closed for an extended period due to flooding.
Hotels: Hotels near the Withlacoochee River experienced flooding.

Coastal Georgia
Jekyll Island and St. Simons Island faced beach erosion and localized flooding, potentially impacting beachfront properties.

North Carolina

Western North Carolina bore the brunt of Helene's fury, with catastrophic flooding and landslides causing widespread damage.

Attractions: The Blue Ridge Parkway, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Biltmore Estate, Chimney Rock State Park, and Sliding Rock all faced closures and significant damage.
Convention Center: Harrah's Cherokee Casino Resort Convention Center experienced water damage and event cancellations.
Hotels: The Omni Grove Park Inn and Grand Bohemian Hotel in Asheville suffered flooding and temporary closures.

The economic impact of Helene on the tourism and events industry is still being assessed, but the storm serves as a stark reminder of the vulnerability of these sectors to extreme weather events. As the Southeast recovers and rebuilds, businesses and communities will need to prioritize resilience and preparedness to mitigate the impact of future storms.

For the most up-to-date information on the recovery efforts and the status of specific businesses, you can refer to the following resources:

Florida Division of Emergency Management: www.floridadisaster.org
Georgia Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency: gema.georgia.gov
North Carolina Department of Public Safety: www.ncdps.gov
South Carolina Emergency Management Division: www.scemd.org

Any thoughts, opinions, or news? Please share them with me at vince@meetingsevents.com.

Photo by CC BY 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

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Lake of the Torches Resort Casino

Introducing Lac du Flambeau Casino Resort: The perfect venue for unforgettable meetings and events! Conveniently located amidst the breathtaking beauty of Northern Wisconsin, our resort offers a harmonious blend of modern amenities and natural surroundings. The conference center is situated on the shores of Lake Pokegama nestled in Wisconsin’s Northwoods, providing a classic Northern retreat feel that reflects its Ojibwe culture and heritage. The casino has slot machines and table games, dining in the Eagle’s Nest Restaurant and Woody’s Bar & Grill, and 101 well-appointed rooms. The 8,500 square-foot Convention Center with the Hall of Nations offers an outstanding venue for entertainment, receptions, trade shows, meetings, presentations, and seminars. The Convention Center can accommodate up to 800 people. Call 1-800-25-TORCH for more information.

The Edgewater Hotel

The Edgewater Hotel in Madison, Wisconsin is an ideal location for hosting meetings and events. The hotel is located in the heart of Madison, next door to the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and within a short walking distance of the Capitol Square and downtown. The hotel has over 14,000 square feet of indoor space including seven breakout rooms, multiple ballrooms, and four special event spaces that can be configured to support your meeting or event. The Grand Ballroom and Terraces, The Madison Room, The Mendota Ballroom, The Red Crown Club, and The Sky Bar are some of the venues available for hosting events. The hotel offers first-class meeting and banquet facilities with the latest A/V equipment and is staffed with in-house A/V technicians. Contact their sales team at sales@theedgewater.com to start planning your event today.