NASSAU, The Bahamas -- The Bahamas Hotel Association reinstated its
hurricane policy allowing those prevented from traveling to use
deposits or payments toward future stays at the same hotel or to
receive a full refund if they cannot rebook.
The policy will be administered voluntarily and states that
guests stranded by a hurricane will be offered "all possible
courtesies and charged the lowest possible rates."
According to John Delavoe, executive secretary of the BHA in
Nassau, the association reinstated the policy because the threat of
hurricanes affected reservations in 1996.
Delavoe said many travelers and agents are unaware that the
archipelago covers 760 miles, and a storm in one part of the chain
may not effect the entire region.
Last year, hurricanes Bertha, Fran and Lilly passed over the
islands.
Bertha and Lilly damaged several Out Islands, according to
officials at the Bahamas Department of Meteorology in Nassau.