Suppliers from the Caribbean have been spreading the word that while September's Hurricane Georges did some damage, things are back to normal.
In Puerto Rico, for example, most hotels suffered only cosmetic damage, says Rick Newman, president, Puerto Rico Hotel & Tourism Association. "Some of the hotels are using the down time to do renovations. So we'll bounce back with a more modern product," he adds.
Travel expert Arthur Frommer went to Puerto Rico and saw for himself that there were no visible signs of hurricane damage. He subsequently offered to become a spokesperson for the Puerto Rico Convention Bureau. Tourism officials took him up on the offer, and television spots began airing in mid-October.
A rundown on other destinations:
* Antigua and Barbuda--Most hotels have reopened; all expect to be open by December.
* U.S. Virgin Islands--Hotels on St. Thomas, St. John, and St. Croix reported little or no damage. All hotels are open as of November 15.
* Nevis--The Four Seasons Nevis will reopen December 15.
* Turks and Caicos Islands--completely unaffected by Georges
* Dominican Republic--About 13 hotels were damaged by the hurricane, but all will reopen by December 20.
* St. Maarten--The Millennium Beach Resort will reopen January 15, 1999.
* Puerto Rico--Many hotels have already reopened; the Radisson Normandie will reopen in January 1999; the Hyatt Regency Cerromar Beach Resort & Casino will reopen December 15. Visit www.puertoricoweather.com for updated information.