Springfield, Mo., Travel Industry Reaches Out to Hurricane Victims
SPRINGFIELD, MO, September 2, 2005. The Springfield, Mo. travel and tourism industry is praying for victims of hurricane Katrina and efforts are under way to help.
The Springfield Hotel-Motel Association on Wednesday began organizing hotel room donations from its members and asking area restaurants to provide food vouchers to the American Red Cross for storm victims who end up in Springfield. Several hotels and restaurants have responded to the requests for help, said Pam Prentice, president of the Springfield Hotel-Motel Association.
Tracy Kimberlin, executive director of the Springfield Convention & Visitors Bureau, said he's pleased to see the local travel and tourism industry reach out and hopes efforts continue after the immediate crisis is over.
"The effects of this storm will be felt for years," Kimberlin said. "The Gulf Coast's travel and tourism industry is a big part of the economy in that region. If conventions planned in that part of the country cancel or relocate, that will only prolong the problems."
Because canceling or relocating events will take away desperately-needed revenue from the Gulf Coast region, the Springfield CVB will urge meeting planners who contact the bureau seeking new locations to keep events where they were originally planned if possible.
If relocation is necessary because facilities are damaged or destroyed, the Springfield CVB will work hand-in-hand with bureaus in storm-affected areas to accommodate the groups and for at least six months provide its portion of hotel-motel taxes collected from relocated groups to the CVB in the original host city.
The Springfield CVB is encouraging other destination marketing organizations across the country to do the same.
"We know the most immediate needs are humanitarian and our thoughts and prayers go out to those affected by the storm," Kimberlin said. "We're also looking at the long-term impact of the hurricane damage. The loss of conventions, events and leisure travelers will be devastating for the Gulf Coast. We want to help other convention and visitor bureaus keep working so they can begin rebuilding the tourism industry."
Travel and tourism industry leaders in other parts of Missouri also are reaching out to peers in Mississippi, Louisiana and Alabama whose livelihoods have been hurt by hurricane Katrina.
The Missouri Association of Convention & Visitors Bureaus is providing $1,000 for each of its sister organizations in Mississippi, Alabama and Louisiana along with additional donations from CVBs across Missouri.
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