virna2015aprjun

9 / 62

employed by hotels, restaurants, and ancillary
tourism services.
Hotels and resorts, including timeshare
properties, were widely affected: Of the tourist-
quality accommodations in the area, approxi-
mately 68 percent are timeshare, according to
the Mexican Resort Development Association
website. The extent of damage
varied by property, with many reopening before
the month’s end. By October 7, about 9,000
rooms were open for business. By December,
approximately 10,000 of the approximately
15,000 rooms in Los Cabos were available to
visitors.
Odile also damaged Los Cabos International
Airport, halting inbound flights. During normal
operation, there are more than 250 flights per
week. Domestic inbound service resumed 18
days after the storm, and international flights
began operating five days later.
Repairing the Damage …
Much of the area’s ability to bounce back so rapidly has been attrib-
uted to cooperation between the private and public sectors, and the
hard work and dedication of those on the ground. “The recovery of
Baja California and its tourist destinations was quick, thanks to the
efforts of government agencies and the relentless will of the people of
Baja California Sur,” says Claudia Ruiz Massieu, Mexico’s secretary of
tourism.
At staff worked tirelessly to reopen four
of its five properties 15 days after Odile, says Ricardo Orozco, manag-
ing director of Solmar Hotels & Resorts. The fifth property, Hotel Quinta
del Sol in downtown Cabo San Lucas, remained open throughout,
serving as housing for employees whose homes were severely dam-
aged. It also hosted members of the Mexican Armed Forces and the
Federal Commission of Electricity while they worked on restoration
efforts, he says.
“The destination as a whole did not have power for several days
following the storm, which made communication incredibly difficult,”
says Orozco. “I was personally driving to the airport in San José del
Cabo, 45 minutes away, several times per day to obtain updates from
the state and local government about the availability of flights to take
our guests back to their homes.”
Damage to Solmar’s five properties encompassed pools, palapas
(open thatched-roof structures), and exteriors, Orozco says. In addi-
tion, much of the glass in guest rooms had to be replaced. All work
was funded by the hotel group and its founders and owners, the
Bulnes family.
… And Making Improvements
At n Cabo San Lucas, manage-
ment made the most of the need to repair damage, implementing
upgrades at the same time. “We not only restored everything, we also
made improvements to quality to multiple areas so that our members
and guest can experience a product that is completely updated and
fresh,” says Gabriel Macías Dueñas, president and CEO of Mexico
Grand Hotels. Thirty guest rooms were damaged at Hacienda
Encantada, affecting ceilings, paint, and windows. Hurricane shutters
installed throughout the resort minimized the storm’s impact.
In addition, approximately half of the property’s gardens and public
areas were damaged, due to fallen trees and landslides. Renovations
totaled approximately US$4 million, Macías Dueñas says, and the
resort reopened on October 11. “After Hurricane Odile hit us, we were
fortunate to have a fully committed team, composed of hotel staff
members and construction crew, to help us restore the property in less
than one month,” he says.
Preparation Pays Off
Effective advance planning ensured that all guests at
n Cabo San Lucas were safe, says Jon Fredricks,
president and CEO of Welk Resorts. Approximately 160 people were
staying at Sirena del Mar when Hurricane Odile made landfall. All were
asked to remain inside units, which are built solidly with concrete and
steel reinforcing rods. In addition, the property’s cistern was filled with
water and provisions were stocked. The day after the storm, vacationers
and employees on-site were able to enjoy a taco dinner and cold
drinks. “We had enough food to provide for guests, owners, and team
members for the first few days,” Fredricks says.
Following the hurricane, everyone was kept informed via video
updates and bulletins on the resort’s website. In repairing damage,
which encompassed significant reconstruction to approximately
one-third of the units, as well as work on the pool area, reception, and
other common areas, Fredricks says, Welk is also taking advantage of
the downtime by opening a new restaurant, Estrella.
Government Aid to the Rescue
Much of the quick rebuilding of infrastructure and key assistance to
both travelers and the Baja California Sur tourism industry can be
attributed to effective government preparation and response. To aid in
rebuilding efforts, the government announced tax breaks in early
October, authorizing deductions of “up to 100 percent of the investment
made” in the areas hit by Odile fromSeptember 15 to December 31, 2014.
No stranger to hurricanes, the Mexican government has disaster-
management plans in place to reduce adverse effects on the general
population and tourists, aiming to protect, inform, and take action with
quality and speed, says Ruiz Massieu. Government aid following
9
Before After
Solmar Hotels & Resorts worked rapidly to make
repairs in order to quickly reopen its properties
after Hurricane Odile.