PENSACOLA HURRICANE IVAN UPDATES

NEWS RELEASES from the Pensacola Bay Area Convention & Visitors Bureau, www.visitpensacola.com

Pensacola Update No. 1
September 21, 2004

Hotels filled, Pensacola Seafood Festival cancelled,
Pensacola Interstate Fair to go on as planned


PENSACOLA, Fla.— The evacuation of barrier islands and low-lying coastal areas along with the influx of emergency and relief workers due to Hurricane Ivan has filled hotels to capacity. People traveling to Pensacola to assist in recovery efforts or check on family or property should call the hotels first to check availability. Most will be full for another two to three weeks. Since hotel telephone systems rely on electricity, callers are advised to use the hotels’ fax numbers, which are now serving as the main voice lines at most operational hotels.

About 30 percent of Pensacola's hotels are on Pensacola Beach and Perdido Key, areas where only residents are being allowed to return to assess damage. Updates on the status of hotels, attractions, and activities will be provided on an ongoing basis and will be posted at www.visitpensacola.com.

In a city known for its festivals and free events, organizers are assessing the situation to determine the status of their events. So far, the Pensacola Seafood Festival scheduled for Sept. 24-26 has been cancelled. However, the Pensacola Interstate Fair scheduled for Oct. 21-31 will go on as planned. For information on the Fair, call (850) 944-4500.

“The safety of our residents and visitors is our primary concern at this point,” said Ed Schroeder, vice president of tourism for the Pensacola Area Chamber of Commerce. “We are so grateful for the help and assistance that has arrived from across the U.S. and Canada.”

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Pensacola Update No. 2:
Sept. 22, 2004

National Museum of Naval Aviation sustained minor damage,
to re-open when NAS Pensacola provides access to public

PENSACOLA, Fla.--The National Museum of Naval Aviation, one of Pensacola's and Florida's top attractions, sustained only minor damage from Hurricane Ivan, including a leaking skylight panel and damage to some outdoor static aircraft displays, according to retired Marine Col. Denis "Deej" Kiely, director of membership and public relations for the Naval Aviation Museum Foundation.

"We're optimistic," he said, adding that the museum would be open once public access to the base is provided. No timetable has been set for public access to the base at this point.

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Pensacola Update No. 3:
September 23, 2004


Pensacola Regional Airport to re-open Friday, September 24;
Electric service to be restored by tonight to 75 percent of customers who lost power

PENSACOLA, Fla.—Pensacola Regional Airport will re-open Fri., Sept. 24 to commercial airline traffic after being closed due to recovery from Hurricane Ivan. Passengers are strongly advised to confirm the status of their flights directly with the airlines and to arrive two hours before departure. See www.flypensacola.com for additional airport information.

Gulf Power Co. estimates that by 5 p.m. Thursday it will have restored power to 75 percent of the customers -- 271,969 homes and businesses -- who lost electric service in Hurricane Ivan. The company continues to expect to have power restored to 95 percent of its customers who can take power within its original three-week estimate.

The Pensacola Bay Area Convention & Visitors Bureau promotes tourism to the region on a national scale and provides assistance and resources to visitors when they arrive as well. For more information, call (800) 874-1234, or visit www.visitpensacola.com. Click on “Hurricane Ivan Updates” to monitor recovery progress.

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Pensacola Update No. 4
September 23, 2004

Pensacola Visitor Center damaged, will be closed for repairs
Contact information to remain the same

The Pensacola Bay Area Convention & Visitors Bureau's (CVB) visitor information center and administrative offices at the foot of the Pensacola Bay Bridge (1401 E. Gregory St.) received significant damage from Hurricane Ivan and the structure will be closed for repairs for the next three to five months. The CVB is trying to obtain a temporary office on site from which to distribute maps, brochures, and other information to visitors in person. Phone numbers and email addresses remain the same and the CVB staff will be working from the offices of the Pensacola Area Chamber of Commerce at 117 W. Garden St., Pensacola, 32502. Phone numbers are still 800-874-1234 or 850-474-1234 and email addresses and web site, visitpensacola.com, remain the same.

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