The North Carolina Department of Transportation responded quickly by setting up detours around the affected areas that provided safe travel to Wilmington.” “Most flooding occurred in rural areas about an hour inland. “We were very fortunate to be welcoming visitors shortly after the storm passed,” said Connie Nelson, communications and public relations director for the Wilmington and Beaches CVB.
In fact, on Oct.10, the day after the hurricane moved away from North Carolina and out to sea, Wilmington hosted some 125 conventioneers of the North Carolina Chapter of the American Public Works Association. Located just inland at the southern end of North Carolina’s coast, historic Wilmington, its downtown running nearly two miles along the Cape Fear River and encompassing the coastal towns of Carolina Beach, Kure Beach and Wrightsville Beach, felt no significant impact from Matthew. How did the coastal Carolinas fare? Remarkably, several group destinations experienced minimal business interruption, and while more impactful for others, all reported a generally swift return to business and recovery of lost opportunities, with new hotels and “grand” future developments contributing to a buoyant overall outlook. Citing comparable impact to 2012’s Hurricane Sandy, STR projected higher overall losses “once you factor in future lost business as a result of the extensive damage and renovations that many hotels will require prior to reopening.” In terms of business impact, leading hospitality industry analytics firm STR estimated some $50 million in net hotel room revenue loss in Florida, Georgia, the Carolinas and Virginia.
Still, the coastal Carolinas and their neighbors incurred coastal and inland flooding, beach erosion and significant infrastructure and property damage from heavy rainfall and wind gusts.
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