Cassowary Coast Regional Council

Cassowary Coast accommodation providers who can demonstrate they are well-prepared for extreme weather events may soon have a marketing edge, according to disaster management experts.

Measures introduced to protect guests from weather-related disasters such as tsunamis and cyclones have already become a marketing feature for a number of major resorts and hotels in south-east Asia, according to Cassowary Coast Regional Council Disaster Manager, Carola Washbourne.

Ms Washbourne was a guest speaker at last Wednesday’s (14th October) Accommodation Providers Disaster Preparedness Workshop, organised by the council, in collaboration with a number of government agencies and businesses, including Emergency Management Queensland, the Queensland Police Service and the Building Services Authority.

Held at Mission Beach, the workshop attracted tourism industry professionals from as far afield as Bedarra Island.

Guest speakers at the event looked at key issues confronting accommodation providers during and immediately after a disaster, then outlined a range of strategies and tactics designed to help them deal with those issues and enhance their ability to keep their businesses afloat.

Mission Beach-based regional and community development consultant, Tracey Wilson, discussed the importance of developing a business continuity plan to minimise disruptions to business operations.

She “walked” workshop participants through the necessary steps to implement such a plan, including the production of a risk management plan, business impact analysis, incident response and recovery plans.

Ms Wilson also offered practical advice on how to assemble a business-related emergency kit to enable a business to continue operating off-site, in the event of damage to normal business premises.

“You need to include documents such as contact lists for customers and suppliers, emergency services and utility providers,” she said. “Other essential documents include a copy of your building site plan, insurance details and the latest stock and equipment inventory.

“Make sure you also pack computer back-up disks, spare keys, a mobile phone with credit available and charger, and a disposable camera to photograph damaged items for insurance purposes.”

Tully-based general insurance broker, Karen Hardy, tackled “the burning issue” of maintaining adequate levels of commercial insurance protection. She also identified potential ‘minefields’ in insurance policies, such as delay clauses and general exclusions.

“Know your policy,” she stressed. “Sit down, go through it, if you don’t understand something – ask. It’s too late after the event.”

Several guest speakers, including Council Tourism Coordinator, Sheila Lawler, emphasised the value of networking in times of disaster.

“Networking with other businesses, key suppliers and service providers, as well as visitor information centres and tourism organisations can help to minimise disruption and financial loss, maximise resources, hasten the recovery process and present a positive united profile of the region,” she said.

The workshop highlighted the importance of communication, including communication plans designed to enhance the safety and peace-of-mind of in-house guests, those planning to leave and guests scheduled to arrive in the wake of a natural disaster.

“Guests should be provided with appropriate information, including evacuation procedures,” Ms Lawler said. “They need to be kept informed and advised what to do.

“You need to make guests feel more confident. If they have been badly frightened, they will probably never come back.”

District Disaster Coordinator for the Innisfail region, Inspector David Tucker, provided common-sense advice on security measures and also stressed the importance of maintaining adequate guest records to assist emergency workers.

However, self-reliance was the recurring theme throughout the workshop. Inspector Tucker and the other guest speakers all contributed to a disaster preparation list of essential items and equipment designed to enhance the ability of workshop participants to fend for themselves in the immediate aftermath of a disaster.

“Following a major disaster, you may very likely have to cope on your own for three to seven days, because resources will be so stretched,” observed CCRC Disaster Manager, Carola Washbourne.

“The more you can do for yourself, the better off you will be.”

For further information on the workshop contact Carola Washbourne on 07 4043 9180.