As the influx of evacuees from the county’s fire-ravaged area inundates hotels, inns and evacuation centers throughout the Peninsula area, the local hospitality industry has had to make some changes to normal operating policy to accommodate as many evacuees as possible.
Almost all the hotels and inns in the area have filled to capacity or can no longer accept any more reservations, said Eric Dahle, front desk manager of the Harbor Island Hilton Hotel on Harbor Island Drive. The popular hotel has also had to change some other policies to accommodate evacuees.
“We’ve taken pets, which we usually don’t,” Dahle said. “In these circumstances it’s really been tough. There have also been a lot of people we had to turn away.”
Dahle said the hotel has tried to accommodate about 40 to 50 evacuees by calling guests with reservations and asking them to give up their rooms.
About 20 evacuees who checked in Monday were able to stay at least until Tuesday after several guests combined rooms with other guests or cancelled their reservations altogether at the request of the hotel’s management, he said.
The Kona Kai Resort on Shelter Island Drive has taken in more than 30 fleeing families since Monday.
The families were made aware they would have to find other accommodations on Wednesday because of previously reserved rooms, said general manager Jeff Foster.
The resort also reduced its rate from the normal $249 to $99.
Other hotels are also changing their normal rates to help victims.
The Vagabond Inn on Scott Street has changed its rates to a daily or weekly rate, allowing for adjustments, said Johnna Thomas, front desk receptionist.
“We’re not charging extra to meet their needs. If they take it for five days and leave early they can go without that extra charge,” Thomas said.
There are no vacancies at the Vagabond Inn because it has reached capacity, she said.
The Ocean Beach Hotel on Newport Avenue has had about eight rooms taken up by nervous evacuees with a nearly constant stream of phone calls since Monday, said Luis Gutierrez, front desk host.
They also are at full capacity and cannot accept any more reservations.
Residents seeking shelter from fire-ravaged areas will have a hard time finding rooms for rent in the area, according to Gutierrez.