By Using Mike Bellusci
The hospitality industry is at the intersection of service and the environment. This makes it particularly vulnerable to natural disasters that are becoming more frequent and intense. Recent events in North Carolina Texas and New Mexico are stark reminders of the reality. These disasters can have devastating impacts on communities as well as the vital tourism sector.
In Texas, flash floods have claimed the lives of more than 100 people, and more than 160 are still missing, especially in the popular tourist destination, the Hill Country. In the summer resort village of Ruidoso in New Mexico, flash floods caused at least 200 damaged homes and three deaths. This number is expected to increase significantly after further assessment.
Be Prepared
Early forecasts can help track severe storms. A reputable restoration company will pre-position their equipment and staff in strategic locations. This includes staging generators and drying units near the projected path. Before landfall, teams should be briefed on the storm’s path and client properties must be prioritized.
Once access restrictions have been lifted, the first work to be done is to clear debris and install emergency boards in order stabilize structures at high risk. To prevent secondary losses, such as electrical hazards, mold growth or interior collapse, swift action is essential. Simultaneously coordination with insurance companies should begin to delineate damage from each storm, ensuring claim accuracy and speeding approvals for mitigation.
The hospitality industry needs to shift from reactive crisis management towards proactive readiness in the face of increased environmental volatility. For those without a disaster plan or a trusted contractor relationship, every hour of delay added thousands of dollars in avoidable damage… For those who partner with a mitigation and restorations firm before an event, recovery doesn’t start in the days after, it starts the moment the radar shifts. It’s the difference between managing risks and reacting to them. An emergency plan that is well-developed allows businesses to react quickly, minimising the impact of an incident, saving time and money and possibly even saving lives. An effective emergency plan is the first step in effective management.
A solid hotel disaster preparedness program is not an extravagance, but rather a business advantage.
A comprehensive disaster preparedness plan for hotels should include the following elements:
- Annually review your insurance policies and ensure you are aware of what is covered.
- Do you have adequate insurance coverage, FF&E, business interruption, law & ordinance?
- Know your insurance agent, the adjusters of their carriers and their first responders.
- Do you and your hotel staff have a disaster management plan? Included in this plan should be evacuation strategies and plans.
- Don’t rely on the agent or broker for a copy.
- Know the room types and how many of each, how many kings, queens, double queens etc…. have a detailed list of FF&E for every room, down to the alarm clocks on the nightstands. It will be crucial to negotiate the loss with the adjuster. The answer “I thought we had it” will not be covered.
- It is important to keep the heat on in all rooms, even those that are unoccupied, during periods of cold weather or “Polar Vortex” events.
- Make an annual video of rooms, this will be vital for FF&E recovery.
- As storms approach be sure to check for any hazards or blocked exits. Secure all outdoor tables, chairs and trash cans, as well as all pool-related equipment.
- Assessment of weather vulnerabilities and risks to the property
- Prepare a Master Service Agreement with a restoration firm that includes the number of keys and square footage, as well as any equipment needed in case of a disaster.
- Contact your contractor with whom you have an MSA at least once a year to review expectations, equipment requirements and, if applicable, price changes.
- Prepare a plan to protect the belongings of displaced residents.
- List the specific building materials that are required for each hotel brand.
- Make sure your MSA provider does not have a high level of commitment to other properties in your locality.
- Start the conversation with your MSA provider as soon as you start to see named storms that could affect your location.
- Prepare a Plan B: Implement back-up MSAs
Know the risks. Plan your strategy accordingly.
For those who do not have a disaster plan, or an established contractor relationship with whom they can trust, each hour delay could add up to thousands of dollars of avoidable damages. Clients are forced to relocate. Operation is halted. Insurance processes are in a stalemate. The worst part is that buildings worth restoring could be lost.
For those who have partnered with a reputable restoration company prior to storms and are prepared, the recovery process shouldn’t begin in the days following the storm, but should start the moment that the radar shifts. The difference between managing the risk and reacting to it is that you start immediately when your radar shifts.
Mike Bellusci is the VP of Operations at Jenkins Restoration, a firm that specializes on fire, water, and storm damage repair.
This is an article that has been contributed. Hotel BusinessThe article is written by a member of the industry. The bylined person’s thoughts are expressed.
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