Hurricane Helene struck Cancun yesterday, unleashing heavy rains and strong winds that led to widespread flight cancellations and changes to cruise itineraries, culminating in the postponement of the annual Travel Market Conference.
Initially forming as a tropical storm, Helene quickly intensified on its path toward Florida, where it is projected to make landfall as the most significant hurricane to impact the U.S. in over a year. A state of emergency has been declared in 41 of Florida’s 67 counties in anticipation of the storm’s arrival.
The Travel Market Conference, scheduled for September 26-29 on Marco Island, was expected to draw 1,000 travel advisors from across Canada and the U.S. for three days of professional development and networking. Organizers announced the decision to postpone the event late Tuesday, citing concerns over the severe weather.
“After much careful consideration, we’ve made the very disappointing decision to postpone this year’s Travel Market conference,” the organizers stated in an email. “With travel already disrupted and many attendees expected to arrive Thursday, we felt it was best to reschedule. We look forward to sharing details about next year’s event soon.”
Hotels and resorts are implementing stringent protocols to ensure the safety of guests and staff. “We’ve returned to business as usual for us at Sandos Resorts,” said Juan Carlos, BDM, in an interview with TravelPulse Canada. “Our storm and hurricane protocols are in place, prioritizing the safety of everyone involved.”
Hurricane Helene is forecasted to reach Florida’s Big Bend Area Thursday night as a Category 4 hurricane before moving inland toward Atlanta, Georgia, on Friday.
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