Caribbean resorts that weren't damaged by Hurricane Sandy are feeling the impact of the storm with low occupancies due to canceled flights from the U.S.
Jamaica draws 40% of its business from the Northeast gateways of Boston, New York, Philadelphia and Washington.
"It's our most important source market, in comparison to the Midwest, South and West Coast, and in recent years the Philadelphia gateway has been doing very well. The hurricane cut right through that area," said Evelyn Smith, president of the Jamaica Hotel and Tourist Association.
"Many of our member hotels reported low occupancies this week because guests could not travel to Jamaica due to canceled flights," Smith said.
The slowdown in guest arrivals will take some time to sort out as airports reopen and carriers try to accommodate thousands of stranded travelers.
Resorts in the Bahamas had been looking at an upswing in arrivals in the period after Election Day on Nov. 6 up through Thanksgiving.
"People affected by the storm will not be thinking of vacations," one hotelier said.
The storm also stranded many guests who were unable to leave the Caribbean once airports closed in the U.S.
Many Caribbean properties offered credits or refunds for guests whose resort stays were disrupted by the storm.
Sandals offered full credit for their guests at properties in Nassau and on Exuma. The credit entitles guests to return to the resorts for a future visit free of charge, according to Patrick Drake, general manager at Sandals Royal Bahamian in Nassau.
Cruise officials in the Bahamas estimated revenue losses of more than $700,000 in passenger spending on Oct. 18 and 19 when five cruise calls were canceled as Hurricane Sandy forced port closures in Nassau.
Follow Gay Nagle Myers on Twitter @gnmtravelweekly.