Companies and organizations across the travel industry are promoting and providing relief and recovery assistance for those
affected by Hurricane Harvey, which has taken a serious toll on the people and
properties of southeastern Texas.
Enterprise Holdings last week initiated the process of
moving several thousand vehicles into the Houston area to meet the increase in
demand for cars both from residents whose cars were damaged and from emergency
personnel. The company said it will bring more cars to the area to further aid
recovery efforts. The company's Enterprise Rent-A-Car Foundation is also
donating $1 million to the American Red Cross.
Hertz Global Holdings, too, is bringing an undisclosed
number of vehicles into the area to serve customers, insurance companies, FEMA
and other emergency personnel.
For storm victims needing a hotel stay, Texas Governor Greg
Abbott suspended local and state hotel occupancy taxes from Aug. 25 through
Sept. 8.
Both United Airlines and American Airlines
offered their loyalty member points in exchange for donations made to aid and
relief organizations. United offered bonus miles for donations made to Airlink,
American Red Cross, Americares, Greater Houston Community Foundation and
OperationUSA, and is matching the first $200,000 in contributions. American
Airlines is offering miles in exchange for donations made to the American Red
Cross.
On Sunday, Aug. 27., Southwest Airlines flew almost 500
people who were in or near Houston Hobby Airport to Dallas' Love Fied.
Hotel companies have also been offering assistance. Karisma
Hotels offered temporary free extended hotel stays at El Dorado Spa Resorts,
Generations Riviera Maya, and Hidden Beach by Karisma for guests whose flights
were canceled because of airport closures from the storm.
Hilton donated $1 million to the
American Red Cross to aid storm victims. Marriott International and the J. Willard & Alice S. Marriott Foundation each contributed $250,000 to the American Red Cross. Both Marriott and Hiltondeveloped
programs that give their customers the opportunity to convert their
points into donation dollars for storm victims. Hyatt Hotels activated a
donation page that allows customers to donate to the American Red Cross.
For its part, Carnival Corp. and its related brands and
philanthropic entities are donating $2 million towards relief efforts in Texas.
Guests on certain Carnival Cruise Line sailings will have the option to make a
donation when they check in for their cruise.
In light of all the aid efforts, nonprofit organization
Tourism Cares issued a statement to the travel industry reminding it
to also keep longer-term recovery and the impact the storm will ultimately have
on tourism in mind as it looks at how to spend donation dollars.
"The immediate needs are dire and demand immediate
response -- that is always clear. Yet at this moment it's also important to
consider how your donations can help the longer term recovery of the tourism
destinations we know and love," stated Tourism Cares.
The organization offered these tips to those who want to
help: give to more than one charity; spread funding to organizations with
different goals; give to recovery as well as relief because the urgent relief
phase often gets the bulk of attention but recovery is often far longer, harder
and more expensive; fund local organizations, too; and save some of your giving
for much later when the picture of what the local needs are has evolved.
Tourism Cares used its platform to recommend several vetted
organizations to those in the industry who feel inclined to help, including
Central Texas Red Cross, Southern Baptist Disaster Relief, Save the Children,
Driscoll Children's Hospital, Greater Houston Community Foundation, and The
Center for Disaster Philanthropy.
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Tom Stieghorst contributed to this report.