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Hurricane Odile included airlifts (32,653 passengers were transported in

the first four days), establishing temporary shelters in 18 hotels for 30,000

tourists, and coordinating communications between international visitors

and their embassies or consulates.

Another government entity, the Green Angels Corporation, coordinated

emergency activities, responded to travelers’ roadside-assistance

requests, and provided information on the weather, shelters, and driving

conditions on a 24-hour basis, Ruiz Massieu says.

Banking business was also promptly restored, she says, and the

government worked “closely with the private sector to ensure the

reopening of 14 supermarkets in Los Cabos.”

Both Macías Dueñas and Orozco have high praise for the govern-

ment’s response to the storm, as well as steps to promote the des-

tination in its aftermath. In particular, Macías Dueñas pointed to

support via immediate bank credits of up to US$5 million at low rates.

Relief efforts reached Cabo very quickly, Orozco says. “The local, state,

and federal governments have done an outstanding job in the recovery

process, as well as with promoting Cabo following Hurricane Odile,” he

says. “The entire tourism community in Cabo pulled together and

worked around the clock to get flights back up and running.”

Among government’s tourism promotions, a standout is the

launch of a US$5 million destination-marketing campaign in October,

Los Cabos #Unstoppable, which includes tele-

vision, print, radio, and social media outreach.

A website, unstoppablecabo.com, was created

collaboratively by the

Mexico Tourism Board

and the

Los Cabos Tourism Board t

o provide

up-to-date information. The industry is bolster-

ing the cause through its own communications

as well, Macías Dueñas says: “We are reinforc-

ing this same campaign through our different

promotion channels and letting travelers know

that Los Cabos is open for business.”

Positive Takeaways

The effects of Odile are pushed further into the past

with each day, yet lessons learned promise to

remain well into the future, building on disaster-

management plans for both the government and

the local tourism industry. Shaped by the experi-

ence after Hurricane Odile, the Mexican govern-

ment’s action plan “was enhanced to strengthen the

federal government’s ability to provide disaster relief

by establishing strategies for coordinated and effec-

tive actions to be taken at a federal level,” Ruiz

Massieu says. Among the changes: Permanent rep-

resentatives from government agencies will be des-

ignated to oversee implementation of established

protocol, and regional storage centers will be created for equipment to aid

in quick response time.

As for the resorts, “Key areas were identified to improve protection

against hurricanes,” Macías Dueñas says. Also, some building materials

were reinforced and changes were made to the hurricane plans to max-

imize efficiency. “One very positive aspect in particular was the commit-

ment and dedication of our team, which is what got us through this

difficult period,” he adds. “We were able to restore the property in record

time because of them.”

Another positive that came out of a disaster situation has been

the outpouring of support for resort employees affected by the storm.

For example, Solmar Hotels & Resorts’ nonprofit organization, the

Solmar Foundation, has provided assistance via donations to more

than 200 Solmar employees “who lost nearly everything in the storm,”

says Orozco. “It’s been amazing to see how loyal and supportive our

members and guests have been through this process; they truly feel as

if our hotels are their homes and our staff, their family.”

See page 2 for currency conversions.

LOS CABOS, MEXICO

RESORTDEVELOPER.COM

10

APRIL – JUNE 2015

vacation industry review

Government aid following Hurricane Odile

included airlifts (32,653 passengers were

transported in the first four days), establishing

temporary shelters in 18 hotels for 30,000

tourists, and coordinating communications

between international visitors and their

embassies or consulates.

Grand Solmar Land’s End Resort & Spa Cabo San Lucas

was back in business shortly after Hurricane Odile.