Beyond the obvious challenges that hurricanes present to the tourism sector, is the unique one as it relates to entertainment. Most tourists do not have first-hand experience with this type of weather phenomenon and are, therefore, more anxious and scared than those of us who have. When children are involved, the fear factor intensifies exponentially. Entertainment is, therefore, one of the strategies hotels use to distract and alleviate fear.

Tourists enjoy the tropical outdoors and spend the greater percentage of their vacation time outdoors on the beach, doing watersports activities or at the pool. As weather conditions associated with the approaching hurricane deteriorate, traditional forms of outdoor entertainment become affected and cancellations become necessary.

Therefore hotel guests begin to experience the effects of hurricanes before it actually hits the island. When the recreational elements of the vacation experience become curtailed, hotel operators are challenged to create unique ways to offset this, indoors.

Being indoors is never going to adequately match the entertainment value of a snorkel trip or a climb up Dunn’s River falls, but it does provide a bit of relief for tourists who would otherwise become bored.

Usually, the hotel’s entertainment department takes the lead in organising suitable activities such as karaoke parties, disco sessions, pool table tournaments, movies, talent contests, domino tournaments, scrabble competitions, table tennis games, fashion shows and a host of other such activities.

During the passage of the hurricane, guests are usually required to stay within their rooms and since the television systems are not usually operable at that time, the hotels provide guests with playing cards, chess, checkers etc, for entertainment.

Following the hurricane, the physical condition of both the properties and the attractions are affected, posing further entertainment challenges. Under these circumstances, the hospitality industry professionals have to apply imagination and strong creativity to squeeze out any entertainment opportunities available within the resources of their individual locations. It’s never easy, but the show must and does go on!