05 SEP 2017: Hurricane Harvey unleashed a torrent of destruction on Texas leaving a path of homelessness and despair to hundreds of thousands of people. Harvey’s devastating effects will last not days but years. Some communities have been totally destroyed by the floods. We have had daily visual reports of people wading through toxic flood waters, stranded on rooftops and thousands sleeping in shelters. Thankfully there have also been uplifting stories of total strangers risking their lives for fellow citizens and the herculean efforts of police, fire, National Guard, FEMA and other aid organizations. The travel industry has also stepped up to the plate and assisted in a variety of ways to address the huge need.

Most travel suppliers waived change fees and other reservation restrictions to ease the burden many travellers have experienced. Rerouting air and cruise passenger, cancelling hotel/flight reservations and getting people to safer destinations away from flood areas have been daily tasks for agents not only in Texas but worldwide.

This obviously pales in comparison compared to people losing their homes and in some tragic cases, their lives. The fact is no matter how much or how little every form of assistance helps. A $5.00 donation is needed as much as a corporation or celebrity’s $1 million dollar donation.

Many travel agents, suppliers and those involved in the travel industry in Texas are dealing with massive issues not only getting in touch with clients, but may be directly affected themselves, or have lost their homes. Many travel agents as well as sales reps for tour operators and travel suppliers work from home offices.

TRAVEL INDUSTRY HEEDS THE CALL TO HELP

Airlines immediately allowed passengers flying to and out of specific airports in Texas to alter their dates free of charge. Normal change fees from $100 and up have been waived. More than 7,000 flights at the time of writing have been cancelled.

United Airlines, a recipient of substantial negative publicity this year, deserves kudos for helping out in a way that benefits victims and its frequent flyers. It will provide up to three million bonus miles to Mileage Plus members who donate to official hurricane relief organizations. It starts with donations of $50-$99 where members can earn 250 bonus miles and continues upward.

AirBnB is offering free “urgent accommodations” for Hurricane Harvey evacuees who can stay in San Antonio, Austin and Dallas. AirBnB has also set up an option for Texas based hosts to list their properties and rooms for those that can’t return to their homes. The support really is on the host’s part and not AirBnB but at least they have the resources to help facilitate the process.

Many hotels in Texas are offering free or deeply discounted accommodation. U-Haul is offering 30 days of free self-storage for affected residents.

The Port of Galveston where many cruise lines make a stop or depart from has resumed operations. Travel agents have had to comfort clients and co-ordinate changes for thousands of cruise passengers who were on cruises or about to take cruises. It proves yet again the value of using a travel agent.

TOURISM CARES

Tourism Cares (www.tourismcares.org) is a non-profit organization based in Massachusetts that unites the travel and tourism industry. It is focused on volunteering and charitable giving to tourism destinations especially after a natural disaster. It is made up of small and leading tourism related companies from travel organizations like ASTA, IATA, NTA, ACTA and airlines, tour operators, travel technology companies and hotels. They have been involved in past natural disasters in Hurricanes Katrina and Sandy, the 2015 Nepal Earthquake and the Southeast Asia Tsunami.

The organization sent out a press release offering tips and suggestions on how the travel industry can assist Texas communities impacted by Hurricane Harvey.

Here is a summary of Tourism Cares tips:

• Give to more than one charity with each reflecting different goals.
• Give to recovery as well as relief. Don’t forget after all the media coverage and TV coverage subsides the recovery phase is just as important and needs volunteers and donations.
• Fund local organizations too. The national organizations get many donations and coverage but also research smaller ones as well that have a direct impact on local communities.
• Save some of your giving for later. Whatever you plan to give allocate a portion to give later such as year-end holiday giving. This recovery will take years for communities to rebuild and the needs will be different in a few months.

Diversify your giving to a variety of national, state and local organizations and allocate your donation to both short-term and long-term efforts.

Mike Rea, CEO of Tourism Cares emphasized in a recent press release, “The immediate needs are dire and demand immediate response – that is always clear. Yet at this moment it’s also important to consider how your donations can help the longer term recovery of the tourism destinations we know and love.”

We can all make a difference in the recovery effort. It can be a cash donation, volunteering with your expertise on the recovery effort, or it can simply by being there to offer comfort via phone, email or social media to those affected by this tragic natural disaster. The recovery for Texas will be long and hard. When Texas gets back on its feet again many Canadians will be returning there for both leisure and business. We too have had our share of natural disasters here in Canada and can appreciate the immense pain and suffering going on in Texas.

Texans are tough and are showing their resilience. The travel industry will play a vital role in the state’s economic recovery. It’s in all our best interests to help out any way we can and see them recover from this disaster.