Florida hotels are taking an active role helping Hurricane Ian victims and the recovery. That includes free rooms and food for emergency response personnel and for those requiring medical care, while others are donating $20 of every paid room night to the recovery effort.
Also, credit card companies are waiving administration and fees for donations.
Hotels Helping With Recovery and Victim Support
TradeWinds Island Resorts, which operates the Island Grand and RumFish Beach Resort, is implementing a new “Shore to Shore” giveback program supporting response and recovery activities for communities impacted by Hurricane Ian.
Through Dec.22, TradeWinds will donate $20 per room, per night to the Florida Disaster Fund, the State of Florida’s official private fund established to assist Florida’s communities as they recover during times of emergency or disaster.
Guests booking a room through the program will be offered 25 percent off best available rates. With rates as low as $179, guests have the opportunity to relax, regroup, and give back.
The TradeWinds Island Resorts are located directly on the white sands of the Gulf of Mexico on St. Pete Beach in Florida. For more information on the TradeWinds Shore to Shore initiative, call 877-669-7058 and mention code SHORE22.
Luminary Hotel in Fort Myers, which was hit hard by the story, has reopened and is already welcoming guests back to its dining outlets with limited menus and hours.
However, guest rooms are reserved for emergency response personnel working to restore the area’s power and infrastructure as quickly as possible.
Luminary reportedly is assessing the recently opened Caloosa Sound Amphitheater and its technical infrastructure.
Ticket sales have been paused for the three remaining shows in the Rockin’ on the River Free Concert Series still scheduled. More information is expected soon for these remaining concerts
- Pablo Cruise on Oct. 30;
- Lorrie Morgan on Nov. 21; and
- Big Bad Voodoo Daddy on Dec. 12
Luminary is part of the Marriott Autograph Collection of hotels and resorts.
Throughout the state’s response to Hurricane Ian, Visit Florida has worked closely with authorities and travel brands throughout the state, to connect displaced residents with resources for finding suitable short- and long-term accommodations.
Visit Florida learned of 23 families that evacuated from their homes in Lee County while their newborns were in NICU care, were urgently in need of temporary housing in Broward County as their infants were being transferred to nearby hospitals.
Thanks to the Broward hospitality industry, Visit Florida was able to secure accommodations for every single family in need of assistance.
The donated rooms, spanning across 19 hotels in Broward County, will be provided to the families free of charge while their babies receive life-saving medical care from Broward Health, Joe Dimaggio, Memorial Miromar, and Memorial West Hospital.
Florida Hotels Donating Rooms to the Recovery Effort Include:
- Bahia Mar,
- Conrad Fort Lauderdale Beach,
- Costa Hollywood,
- Diplomat Beach Resort,
- Embassy Suites Fort Lauderdale 17th Street,
- Four Seasons Ft. Lauderdale.
- Fort Lauderdale Marriott Harbor Beach Resort & Spa,
- Hilton Garden Ft. Lauderdale Airport.
- Hollywood Beach Marriott Hotel,
- Maren Curio Collection by Hilton.,
- Margaritaville Hollywood Beach Resort,
- Marriott Ft. Lauderdale Airport,
- Renaissance Fort Lau
Remember those names, and support them in return by booking one of those generous hotels and resorts on your next visit.
Florida Disaster Fund and Charities
So far, the Florida Disaster Fund raised nearly $35 million in donations to support communities impacted by Hurricane Ian.
To ensure every dollar goes directly to Floridians in need, Volunteer Florida, Visa, MasterCard, American Express and Paypal’s Braintree have waived all administrative and credit card fees for contributions made to the Florida Disaster Fund.
To make a contribution to the relief fund which will help those affected by Hurricane Ian, visit www.FloridaDisasterFund.org or by texting DISASTER to 20222.
Visitors with questions or concerns about their Florida vacation should go to www.visitflorida.com for real-time information from local travel sources to make the most informed travel planning decisions possible.
Statements by Visit Florida and Hotel Executives
“Our hearts go out to the entire Fort Myers, Naples and Southwest Florida communities impacted by Hurricane Ian and we remain supportive in the recovery efforts,” said Joe Collier, president and Founder of Mainsail Lodging & Development, which owns the Luminary Hotel. “We’re extremely grateful for our team’s hard work in getting back up and running so quickly.”
“Being a coastal community, we empathize with our neighbors to the south and understand the hardships so many are dealing with right now,” said Bob LaCasse, managing director, TradeWinds Island Resorts. “This new initiative is our way of helping, from our shore to their shore.”
“We are humbled to be able to help Floridians recover from the devastating impact of Hurricane Ian,” said Dana Young, Visit Florida president and CEO. “This incredible act of generosity from our hotel partners ensures that some of Florida’s most vulnerable residents are still able to get critical medical care despite being displaced by the storm. We sincerely thank these hotels for their donations to Florida’s NICU families and making such a positive impact on our state.”
This article is based on research by the travel trade publication Insider Travel Report.
Copyright (C) Evelyn Kanter
ecoXplorer Evelyn Kanter is a journalist with 20+ years of experience as a newspaper and magazine writer, radio & TV news producer & reporter, and author of guidebooks and smartphone apps – all focusing on travel, automotive, the environment and your rights as a consumer.
Contact me at evelyn@ecoxplorer.com.
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