Recovery: Hurricane Sandy

It has been four months since Hurricane Sandy swept through the East Coast, and recovery damages are high.  However, destination management companies are working hard to revive the tourism industry and make sure America knows that they are open for business.

Atlantic City:

After unforgettable images of the ocean surging over the broken portions of the boardwalk, 41% of Americans believed the Atlantic City Boardwalk to be completely destroyed by the storm. However, pictures can be misleading. Only a small, weaker piece of the boardwalk had broken and was quickly restored.

Atlantic City’s casino resorts were open and back in business five days after the hurricane, but images and publicity like this led to cancellation of 90 meetings.

The Atlantic City Convention & Visitors Authority wants you to know that Atlantic City is ready for visitors! Check out special discounts and deals for meeting planners, and don’t count it out when looking towards meetings this spring.

Jersey Shore:

Although many houses were destroyed in the storms that hit Jersey Shore, most of the tourist areas such as downtown were very well protected and had little to no damage.  There are still several beautiful properties in Jersey Shore ready for visitors!

Although Jersey Shore did take a hit with a loss in rental homes on the shore, the Jersey Shore Convention & Visitor Bureau is optimistic that by peak season (summer), they will have made a full recovery and be ready and better than ever for leisure visitors!

New York City:

New York City quickly recovered from the storm, with 98% of its hotel s and tourist attractions opened back up within two weeks. Although Ellis island and Statue of Liberty are still closed due to damage, most of Lower Manhattan and the rest of NYC is still in full swing, with as many attractions as ever for tourists to explore. You can check with NYC & Company for a full update of properties and attractions available for meeting planners and leisure travelers alike.

Long Island:

Although Long Island lost 95,000 homes and businesses in the storm, the tourism and economic  sector remained relatively unaffected. Only one popular group resort closed, and the rest of the attractions survived the storm.

Long Island did suffer significant beach erosion, but most damage was on resident-only beaches rather than tourist areas. The Long Island Convention & Visitors and Sports Commission have been proactively scheduling press conferences around the world to reassure visitors and clients that venues are operating as usual.