Portman Travel sales boss reports from New York

Richard Ware, Portman Travel vice president strategic sales, flew to New York for a quick meeting on Monday but remains stranded in the city. He spoke to TravelMole this morning from his hotel in Manhattan.

"I came here for a 24-hour trip but it looks like I'll be here for five days. I'm at the Hilton Garden Inn Hotel between Times Square and Central Park in Upper Manhattan. Lower Manhattan has been hit much worse and they say it's the worst flooding in its history.

"The worse of its has passed, but it's still wet and windy here and the sky is lead black, but we haven't had as much damage up here. We still have power, but around 2 million residents in lower Manhattan are without power.

"A few blocks from here a crane has been bent backwards. It was being used to build the tallest apartment block in New York and now it's just hanging. They've evacuated the area two blocks square around it because they don't know if it's going to fall down. It's quite scary to think what would happen if it collapsed.

"Portman has been great keeping me updated, and unlike on September 11, we have social media now which is really helping to keep people updated. I have been kept very well informed about my flight and accommodation.

"The technology has changed so much since 9/11 and now you really can communicate with your customers 24/7. I've also been able to keep in touch with my wife and two daughters, who were worried sick."

"The only issue for me right now is that everything is shut - even the hotel restaurant - as there isn't enough staff. The supermarket and shops are closed so just getting a bottle of water isn't easy.

"I think flights will probably start back up again tomorrow and then hopefully by Thursday it will be back to normal. Fingers crossed."

Tuesday, October 30, 2012