Manhattan hotels resist Sandy effect
New York hoteliers have insisted widespread devastation caused by Hurricane Sandy at the tail end of last year had no negative impact on bookings, with tourists rallying round to show their support.
Kazu Sato, director of international sales at the Hilton Manhattan, said the hotel was unaffected by the late October storm that caused extensive flood damage and power outages while also playing havoc with flight schedules.
"Disrupted flights meant some customers cancelled their bookings, but it also meant that others extended their stays," Sato told Travel Today at an NYC & Company event this week.
Cancellation of the New York Marathon at the eleventh hour also meant most of the participants had already arrived, with any vacant rooms filled by those displaced by damage at their homes, or at other affected hotels.
Marmara Hotel sales and guest relations manager, Neslihan Cafer-Montez, added visitors kept coming in the storm's wake, even though many had to adapt their sightseeing plans around the city's chaos and ongoing bad weather.
"They were all really supportive and we really appreciate that," she said.
A coordinated approach across the travel industry, with a strong social media element, had ensured travellers were all kept up to date with the latest news to avoid any confusion, according to NYC & Company vice president tourism development Makiko Matsuda Healy.
"The industry and the city itself really responded quickly and efficiently," she said. "As far as NYC was concerned, it got back up and running immediately."
The city's resilience was reflected in its visitor numbers, Healy added, which hit a new record of 52 million for the year.
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