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 
TAP Air Portugal to operate 29 flights due to strike on December 11
Qatar Airways offers flexible payment options for European travellers
Airlines suspend Madagascar services following unrest and army revolt
Strike action set to cause travel chaos at Brussels airports
Digital Travel Reporter of the Mirror totally seduced by HotelPlanner AI Travel Agent