Wilma at Cancun Center, Conventions & Exhibitions.
Wilma at Cancun Center,
Conventions & Exhibitions.
Cancun, Mexico (October 31st, 2005)- Just one week after hurricane Wilma left the Mexican Caribbean, Cancun Center opened back its doors to host events within its facilities.
The most powerful hurricane that has ever hit Cancun –Mexico’s main tourist destination and the 10th world congress and convention host city-, left severe damages for more than USD $727 million.
In October 24th, the morning arrived with the worst possible scenario. Wilma hit the northeast of Quintana Roo, surrounding Cancun with its most devastating forces: along 60 hours, from Thursday 20th to Sunday 23rd, this powerful hurricane embraced the area with maximum sustained winds of 240 km/hour and high peaks of 320 km/hour.
Cancun Center, at the heart of Cancun’s Hotel Zone and in the middle of the Caribbean Sea and the Nichupte Lagoon, usually finds its location as an advantage. Ironically, this time the advantage turned out to be a disadvantage, since the venue was exposed to the sea and wind direct forces.
On Sunday afternoon, Cancun Center counted the damages: 1. Nobody suffered physical injuries and just a few of us reported relevant damages to our patrimony; 2. our building suffered several superficial damages on windows and ceilings in the first two levels, but there was no structural damage to the four-level venue.
There were minor affectations to the air conditioning and the electrical infrastructure in the first two levels, and water filtrations in the Ground Floor and the offices. Not a single equipment of our kitchens was affected,
Three out of eighteen meeting rooms and areas were not damaged at all: Coba, Xcaret and Isla Mujeres; just seven areas had broken windows; nine areas reported different levels of ceiling damages. The most important water filtration was located at the Ground Floor, with a 5 cm flood that didn’t affect the marble floor.
One week after the event, all our services are normally working; electricity, air conditioning, voice and data net services (telephones and Internet, wireless included), drainage, current water, restrooms, offices and catering.
The rehabilitation services include the following: renovation of windows, ceilings, carpets and electrical infrastructure, as well as a waterproof coat for the ceiling. These actions will be over accordingly to the following calendar:
Cancun’s City and Hotel Zone have received a decided support from the Federal, State and Municipal authorities. Health services, residential electricity, public lightning, cleaning, security, transportation and food & beverage supplies are being restored with proper order and in a record time.
Several specific actions have been announced, in order to accomplish our goal: to restore 80% of the Hotel Zone and to be back in operations for next December.
Mr. Vicente Fox, Mexico’s President, has called the insurance companies to promptly attend their Quintana Roo’s clients. There’s an estimation of USD $91 million for the restoration of the hotel infrastructure of Cancun and the Riviera Maya.
The 28 km of Cancun’s Hotel Zone will be repaired with a special fund of USD $1 million. Aside, Mexico’s Government has assigned USD $45 million for different credits, in order to support the recovery of medium, small and micro enterprises.
Federal authorities have also announced special tax exemptions and incentives that will relief the area entrepreneurs, and will allow them to recover and invest in the improvement of their properties. Cancun’s smooth and white sand is a big concern; therefore, USD $18 million will be used in the beaches retrieval.
The Cancun Convention and Visitors Bureau has already published the hotels re-opening calendar, as follows:
By the first November weekend, a total of 5,000 hotel rooms will be open; at the end of November, more than 7,500 and by December, 16,000 hotel rooms will be ready.
With these specific reconstruction actions, but mainly due to the spirit and the desire to move on of the Cancun people, 2006 perspectives are very positive. We are certain that Cancun will continue as Mexico’s number one destination; our visitors will get to know a revamped and improved Cancun.
Since the best of Cancun: ¡is still standing!
