Global Business Travel Association research models large hurricane hitting U.S. East Coast. business Travel could see losses of up to 500,000 trips and $600 million.
ALEXANDRIA, VA. – Hurricane Sandy is threatening the East Coast with forecasters calling the twin threat of winter storm fronts and hurricane conditions a “Frankenstorm.” Heavy rain, extreme tides, high winds and possible snow are expected to barrel peaking Tuesday and linger through Halloween. Global Business Travel Association (GBTA) research can provide a picture of what the impact a storm of this magnitude could have on business travel.
GBTA recently quantified the impact of major weather events on business travel. The research used GBTA’s Business Travel Quarterly (BTQ) methodology to determine how a theoretical Category-3 hurricane on the East Coast would impact the business travel industry, and the results can be applied to any significant weather event that leads to widespread shutdowns and canceled travel plans, such as Hurricane Sandy.
Disruptions in business travel can have wide-ranging repercussions. In the GBTA model, business travel could lose as much as 514,000 trips and $606 million in spending due to storm related cancellations.
The report also predicts that:
- Interrupted business trips could result in a total GDP loss of about $675 million
- Potential lost federal, state and local tax revenues of $176 million
The eleven East Coast states in the path of the scenario storm could suffer an average business travel spending loss as high as $58 million per day.
Sandy is about 385 miles south-southeast of New York City and the center of the storm is expected to be near the mid-Atlantic coast on Monday night. It was expected to hook inland during the day, colliding with a wintry storm moving in from the west and cold air streaming down from the Arctic.
From Washington to Boston, big cities and small towns were buttoned up against the onslaught of Sandy, with forecasters warning that the New York area could get the worst of it – an 11-foot wall of water.
Airlines canceled more than 7,200 flights and Amtrak began suspending train service across the Northeast. New York, Philadelphia, Washington and Baltimore moved to shut down their subways, buses and trains and said schools would be closed on Monday. Boston also called off school. And all non-essential government offices closed in the nation’s capital.
Lynden Pindling International Airport in Nassau, Bahamas Open
Hurricane Sandy continues its exit from Bahamian waters. In Nassau/Paradise Island the Lynden Pindling International Airport opened Thursday afternoon, as have hotels, restaurants and entertainment venues accommodating many guests including those who began arriving Thursday night.
The airports across other islands are also expected to re-open throughout the day Saturday pending weather conditions and safety inspections. Currently open are airports on Inagua, Mayaguana, Acklins, Crooked Island, San Salvador, Exuma, Bimini, Andros, Marsh Harbour Airport on Abaco, and Governor’s Harbour and North Eleuthera, on Eleuthera. The airport on Grand Bahama Island is expected to re-open on Sunday, Oct. 28.
The port on Nassau is now open, and Grand Bahama Island is expected to re-open on Sunday, Oct. 28.
Those with plans to travel to The Bahamas Oct. 27-28, 2012 are advised to check in directly with their air carriers, hotels and cruise lines regarding reservations. Air carriers have resumed service into Nassau, but may have made changes to departure times or other details. Contact airlines directly for updates.
Damage assessments are not complete, but initial reports indicate a quick return to business for hotels and cruise ships in primary tourism centers of Nassau/Paradise Island, Grand Bahama Island and Exuma. Weather has not allowed direct inspection of the impact on southern islands like Cat Island, Long Island as well as The Abacos and Eleuthera. There are preliminary reports of impacts along the coastlines, trees down and moderate roof damage to smaller structures, but no major structural damage is reported at this time.
“It appears that major engines of our tourism economy, like Atlantis on Paradise Island, the Sheraton, Hilton, Breezes and Sandals on Exuma and the resorts of the Lucaya area on Grand Bahama Island and other hotels across the islands, seem poised to return to business immediately which is good news. We will get teams out in the field to fully inspect and evaluate the impact of Sandy, but we are encouraged by the early reports we have received. Clearly you will see some dramatic images like boats washed ashore or missing shingles or fallen trees, but these are things we would expect,” said the Minister of Tourism, Hon. Obediah Wilchcombe. There is an unconfirmed report of one fatality possibly related to Hurricane Sandy involving a resident of Nassau who fell from his roof Thursday evening.
All visitors and potential visitors are advised to follow the progress of Hurricane Sandy closely and avail themselves of the Bahamas Hotel Association hurricane cancellation policy.
Theodore is the Co-Founder and Managing Editor of TravelDailyNews Media Network; his responsibilities include business development and planning for TravelDailyNews long-term opportunities.
