Skip to content

Search

Latest Stories

Hurricane Ian devastates Florida, impacts Carolinas

AAHOA is reaching out to assist members in the state affected by the storm

Hurricane Ian devastates Florida, impacts Carolinas

HURRICANE IAN PLOWED across Cuba and strengthened into a Category 4 storm Wednesday with its sites on central Florida, where it would kill more than 70 people before moving on to the Carolinas. Part of what made Ian so deadly was its unpredictability, as south Florida hotelier Jan Gautam witnessed.

Gautam, president and CEO of IHRMC Hotels & Resorts in Orlando, said Ian hit with Category 1 force wind in the Kissimmee and Orlando area, damaging seven of his properties. That came as a surprise to many of his guests who had fled the Tampa area where Ian had been expected to hit.


“This particular hurricane was supposed to hit Tampa Bay and we were not expecting it to come towards us in Orlando,” Gautam said. “Suddenly, at the last moment the route was changed and most of the people from the Tampa area were staying in Orlando, so hotels in Orlando were completely full. These were the people who came from central Florida and we were actually beaten up badly.”

Record-setting destruction

Ian brought massive flooding from its storm surge in Florida, where 47 deaths were confirmed as of Saturday, according to the Associated Press. Most of those deaths were from drowning. By Sunday, reports were that the death toll in Florida had reason to at least 76, according to CNN.

Also as of Saturday, the state had deployed more than 1,000 Florida National Guard members to perform search and rescue missions, according to Gov. Ron DeSantis’ office. A total of 5,000 Florida guardsmen had been activated for hurricane response along with nearly 2,000 Guardsmen from neighboring states.

ENEWS 10 05 22 Hurricane Ian grounded boat Members of the Indiana Task Force 1 Search and Rescue team walk past a boat washed ashore by Hurricane Ian as they look for anyone needing help. Photo courtesy of Joe Raedle with Getty Images

More than 42,000 linemen were responding to more than 1.6 million reported power outages. The Florida Division of Emergency Management had set up points of distribution, dispatching 200 trucks of food, water and ice for affected residence.

Gautam said water damage from leaks through windows and damaged sections of roof were the primary issue with his hotels, which include brands from Wyndham Hotels & Resorts, Marriott International and Hilton. He doesn’t have an estimate on the costs of damage yet.

“It’s too early to say because the water keeps moving around in the building and at the same time we’re still evaluating all the properties but it’s hard to say what kind of damage,” he said. “The problem right now is a lot of people can’t come to work because of the water. The roads are not even clear yet. There’s four to five feet of water on the roads and it’s getting hard for people to actually come out from their homes and it’s hard for people to go to their homes, whether their homes are safe or not they don’t even know.”

The Florida Department of Economic Opportunity and the State Emergency Response Team have activated the Business Damage Assessment Survey to gather data on damage to businesses in the state.

“The business damage assessment survey assists DEO and its federal, state, and local partners in those efforts,” said Dane Eagle, DEO secretary. “I encourage businesses impacted by Hurricane Ian to complete the Business Damage Assessment Survey at FloridaDisaster.biz.”

ENEWS 10 05 22 Hurricane Ian Florida waves Waves in Lake Monroe hit the Sanford riverwalk as strong winds and rain continue from Hurricane Ian on Sept. 29 in Sanford, Florida. Photo courtesy Gerardo Mora with Getty Images

Ian strengthened into a hurricane again after passing over Florida and slamming into North and South Carolina on Friday, killing four people in North Carolina, according to AP. About 280,000 people statewide in that state were without power at one point Saturday morning. Ian continued up the East Coast but had weakened into a tropical rainstorm by Sunday.

AAHOA looking out for its members

AAHOA is reaching out to its members in Florida to determine what assistance they need, said Laura Lee Blake, the association’s president and CEO, in a statement. AAHOA members own 65 percent of hotels in Florida, she said.

“Numerous of our members have seen their hotels, and main livelihoods, destroyed, damaged, and impacted. The reopening and rebuilding of the hotels will be a first and crucial step in the recovery process for Florida, especially since first responders, essential workers, builders, and contractors, will need lodging as they provide assistance and rebuild damaged communities,” Blake said. “AAHOA leadership is currently on the ground in Florida, assisting our members and reaching out to authorities to offer assistance as needed. Our organization has connected with several relief organizations including BAPS Charities, along with other groups focused on aiding those who need food, water, and related supplies. Our members stand ready to volunteer for these organizations and assist where necessary.”

Naresh “Nash” Patel, AAHOA chairman from 2004 to 2005, is based in Pensacola which was not affected by the storm. His hotels are full now, and Patel said Saturday he was planning to head south to lend a hand.

“I’m actually heading down to the affected areas this week. I’m not only a hotel owner but also a general contractor,” Patel said. “We’re heading out there just to see if we can help anybody out and do what needs to be done. Also, some of our colleagues like Rahul [Patel, AAHOA’s director for the Florida region,] are putting together a town hall meeting from AAHOA in that area just to get everybody together, making sure that they don’t get taken advantage of because a lot of people at times like this, people are desperate to make decisions quickly. We want to caution them that those decisions should be the right decision. Do your due diligence.”

Just over a year ago, Hurricane Ida devastated parts of the U.S. Gulf coast and unleashed even deadlier flooding in the Northeast.

More for you

Peachtree Group's Residence Inn by Marriott under construction in downtown San Antonio, topping out milestone reached, June 2025

Peachtree tops out San Antonio Residence Inn

Peachtree Hotel to Open in Summer 2026 with 117 Extended-Stay Rooms

PEACHTREE GROUP HELD a “topping out” for its Residence Inn by Marriott in downtown San Antonio, Texas, marking completion of the structural phase of the 10-story, 117-room hotel. The property, co-developed with Austin-based Merritt Development Group, is scheduled to open in summer 2026.

The extended-stay hotel will be owned by Peachtree and managed by its hospitality management division, the company said in a statement.

Keep ReadingShow less
Air India plane crash 2025
Photo by Sam PANTHAKY / AFP

Air India reducing flights after deadly crash

AIR INDIA WILL reduce international service on widebody aircraft by 15 percent through at least mid-July, according to media reports. The decision comes less than a week after the June 12 crash of an Air India airliner carrying 230 passengers and 12 crew members in Ahmedabad, India, that killed 246 but left one survivor among the passengers.

The airline said the reduced service due to the safety inspection of aircraft and ongoing geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, which have disrupted operations, resulting in 83 flight cancellations over the past six days, according to ABC News. Passengers can either reschedule their flights at no additional cost or receive a full refund.

Keep ReadingShow less
hihotels executive team honored for long-term service and loyalty in hospitality

Hihotels recognizes eight company leaders

EIGHT LEADERS OF hihotels by Hospitality International, Inc. are being recognized by the company for their combined 121 years of service. The company was established in 1982 as an alternative to other, established brands.

The honorees include Paul Vakharia, hihotels’ senior director of franchise development for the Northeast Region who has been with the company for 25 years. Chhaya Patel, franchise development coordinator, also has been with the company for 25 years.

Keep ReadingShow less
ICE Raid Resumes in Hotels & Farms After DHS Reversal
Photo by Mario Tama/Getty Images

Reuters: ICE resumes hotel immigration raids

ICE Reverses Decision to Pause Raids on Key Industries

U.S. IMMIGRATION OFFICIALS have reversed enforcement limits at hotels, farms, restaurants and food processing plants days after issuing them, following conflicting statements by President Donald Trump, according to Reuters. ICE leadership told field office heads on Monday it would withdraw last week's directive that paused raids on those businesses.

ICE officials were told a daily quota of 3,000 arrests—10 times the average last year under former President Joe Biden—would remain in effect, two former officials said in the report. ICE field office heads raised concerns they could not meet the quota without raids at the previously exempted businesses, Reuters reported, citing a source.

However, it was not clear why the directive was reversed.

Keep ReadingShow less
San Francisco museum to open Indo-American hotelier exhibit in 2026 honoring Indian American pioneers
Photo courtesy of Beth LaBerge/KQED

Tenderloin Museum plans Indian hotelier exhibit

What is the Indo-American Hotelier Exhibit in San Francisco?

THE TENDERLOIN MUSEUM in San Francisco is launching the Indo-American Hotelier History Exhibit, the first permanent U.S. exhibition of its kind. The exhibit, opening in 2026 as part of the museum’s expansion, will document Indian immigrants’ role in the U.S. hospitality industry, beginning in San Francisco’s Tenderloin.

It will document the role of Indian immigrants in the U.S. hospitality industry, beginning in San Francisco’s Tenderloin, AAHOA said in a statement.

Keep ReadingShow less