Florida Keys Tourism Industry Plans for Hurricane Season

Organized by the Lodging Association of the Florida Keys, a workshop for the tourism industry has been scheduled for May 25 at Key Colony Beach City Hall in the Middle Keys, in which the lead presenter at the one-day-long gathering will be National Hurricane Center Director Max Mayfield.

The workshop is divided in sessions: The morning gathering is to feature Mayfield´s outlook on the 2006 hurricane season as well as speakers from Monroe County Emergency Management, the National Weather Service office in Key West, experts in risk and insurance as well as a planned discussion on possible legal ramifications of not evacuating guests and employees during a mandatory evacuation.

The afternoon session will feature a special program, developed by the University of Florida, to provide pertinent educational information to enhance the understanding and professionalism of the Florida Keys lodging industry, property general managers and engineering staffs in addressing responsibilities related to hurricane preparedness and storm damage control.

Certainly, we were blessed in 2004 when four hurricanes hit other parts of Florida, but bypassed the Keys, said Peter Ilchuk, president of the Lodging Association. Still, preparation is paramount during hurricane season and these sessions are to provide invaluable information to secure property as well as protect guests and staff.