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Hurricane Odile included airlifts (32,653 passengers were transported in
the first four days), establishing temporary shelters in 18 hotels for 30,000
tourists, and coordinating communications between international visitors
and their embassies or consulates.
Another government entity, the Green Angels Corporation, coordinated
emergency activities, responded to travelers’ roadside-assistance
requests, and provided information on the weather, shelters, and driving
conditions on a 24-hour basis, Ruiz Massieu says.
Banking business was also promptly restored, she says, and the
government worked “closely with the private sector to ensure the
reopening of 14 supermarkets in Los Cabos.”
Both Macías Dueñas and Orozco have high praise for the govern-
ment’s response to the storm, as well as steps to promote the des-
tination in its aftermath. In particular, Macías Dueñas pointed to
support via immediate bank credits of up to US$5 million at low rates.
Relief efforts reached Cabo very quickly, Orozco says. “The local, state,
and federal governments have done an outstanding job in the recovery
process, as well as with promoting Cabo following Hurricane Odile,” he
says. “The entire tourism community in Cabo pulled together and
worked around the clock to get flights back up and running.”
Among government’s tourism promotions, a standout is the
launch of a US$5 million destination-marketing campaign in October,
Los Cabos #Unstoppable, which includes tele-
vision, print, radio, and social media outreach.
A website, unstoppablecabo.com, was created
collaboratively by the
and the o provide
up-to-date information. The industry is bolster-
ing the cause through its own communications
as well, Macías Dueñas says: “We are reinforc-
ing this same campaign through our different
promotion channels and letting travelers know
that Los Cabos is open for business.”
Positive Takeaways
The effects of Odile are pushed further into the past
with each day, yet lessons learned promise to
remain well into the future, building on disaster-
management plans for both the government and
the local tourism industry. Shaped by the experi-
ence after Hurricane Odile, the Mexican govern-
ment’s action plan “was enhanced to strengthen the
federal government’s ability to provide disaster relief
by establishing strategies for coordinated and effec-
tive actions to be taken at a federal level,” Ruiz
Massieu says. Among the changes: Permanent rep-
resentatives from government agencies will be des-
ignated to oversee implementation of established
protocol, and regional storage centers will be created for equipment to aid
in quick response time.
As for the resorts, “Key areas were identified to improve protection
against hurricanes,” Macías Dueñas says. Also, some building materials
were reinforced and changes were made to the hurricane plans to max-
imize efficiency. “One very positive aspect in particular was the commit-
ment and dedication of our team, which is what got us through this
difficult period,” he adds. “We were able to restore the property in record
time because of them.”
Another positive that came out of a disaster situation has been
the outpouring of support for resort employees affected by the storm.
For example, Solmar Hotels & Resorts’ nonprofit organization, the
Solmar Foundation, has provided assistance via donations to more
than 200 Solmar employees “who lost nearly everything in the storm,”
says Orozco. “It’s been amazing to see how loyal and supportive our
members and guests have been through this process; they truly feel as
if our hotels are their homes and our staff, their family.”
See page 2 for currency conversions.
LOS CABOS, MEXICO RESORTDEVELOPER.COM
10
APRIL – JUNE 2015 vacation industry review
Government aid following Hurricane Odile
included airlifts (32,653 passengers were
transported in the first four days), establishing
temporary shelters in 18 hotels for 30,000
tourists, and coordinating communications
between international visitors and their
embassies or consulates.
Grand Solmar Land’s End Resort & Spa Cabo San Lucas
was back in business shortly after Hurricane Odile.