Southern US meeting market recovers quickly from natural disasters
The Southern US has recently had more than its share of natural disasters with tornados and high-water levels on the Mississippi River but how has the meeting market weathered the storm?
Areas such as the Memphis CVB have quickly gotten word out that major meeting venues, hotels and roadways are operating normally.
“Ninety-eight percent of our community is dry, water-free and open for business,” said Kevin Kane, CEO of the Memphis CVB, in a statement.
He added the airport and conference and convention facilities are operating at capacity.
Some downriver cities in Mississippi such as Tunica were impacted with temporary closings, but most gaming areas remained intact, according to CVB officials.
The closure of some gaming casinos in Mississippi will have economic impacts but most were temporary. Meeting officials are predicting that by now most casinos should be back in business.
In Alabama, where hotels and tourist attractions survived 23 tornadoes in the northern half of the state, it appears to be back to business as usual.
In Birmingham, the major convention center there escaped damage and no convention or trade shows were cancelled, according to a spokesman.
By David Wilkening
David
Vegas’s Billion-Dollar Secrets – What They Don’t Want Tourists to Know
Visit Florida’s New CEO Bryan Griffin Shares His Vision for State Tourism with Graham
Chicago’s Tourism Renaissance: Graham Interviews Kristin Reynolds of Choose Chicago
Graham Talks with Cassandra McCauley of MMGY NextFactor About the Latest Industry Research
Destination International’s Andreas Weissenborn: Research, Advocacy, and Destination Impact
Graham and Don Welsh Discuss the Success of Destinations International’s Annual Conference
Graham and CEO Andre Kiwitz on Ventura Travel’s UK Move and Recruitment for the Role
Brett Laiken and Graham Discuss Florida’s Tourism Momentum and Global Appeal
Graham and Elliot Ferguson on Positioning DC as a Cultural and Inclusive Global Destination
Graham Talks to Fraser Last About His England-to-Ireland Trek for Mental Health Awareness
Kathy Nelson Tells Graham About the Honour of Hosting the World Cup and Kansas City’s Future
Graham McKenzie on Sir Richie Richardson’s Dual Passion for Golf and His Homeland, Antigua
ADS PRO 
Phocuswright reveals the world's largest travel markets in volume in 2025
Cyclone in Sri Lanka had limited effect on tourism in contrary to media reports
Higher departure tax and visa cost, e-arrival card: Japan unleashes the fiscal weapon against tourists
Singapore to forbid entry to undesirable travelers with new no-boarding directive
Euromonitor International unveils world’s top 100 city destinations for 2025