CATALINA HUNGRY FOR TOURISM POST-FIRE AVALON LURES BACK VISITORS.Byline: KAREN ROBES robe n. 1. A long loose flowing outer garment, especially: a. An official garment worn on formal occasions to show office or rank, as by a judge or high church official. b. An academic gown. c. Staff Writer AVALON -- After a blaze last month scorched scorch v. scorched, scorch·ing, scorch·es v.tr. 1. To burn superficially so as to discolor or damage the texture of. See Synonyms at burn1. 2. 4,750 acres on Catalina Island Catalina Island: see Santa Catalina. , business leaders have begun an advertising blitz, including mass e-mails and live Web cams See Webcam. , to reassure and lure summer tourists back to the historic resort. Initial reports suggested the blaze could engulf en·gulf tr.v. en·gulfed, en·gulf·ing, en·gulfs To swallow up or overwhelm by or as if by overflowing and enclosing: The spring tide engulfed the beach houses. the island and Avalon -- the island's one city and main tourist destination A tourist destination is a city, town or other area the economy of which is dependent to a significant extent on the revenues accruing from tourism. It may contain one or more tourist attractions or visitor attractions and possibly some "tourist traps". . But the fire was contained before damaging Avalon and only left a dusting of ash on the seaside shops, restaurants and historic buildings. "The main thing is trying to undo this image that people have in their minds from three days of watching this on the news," said Wayne Griffin, president and CEO (1) (Chief Executive Officer) The highest individual in command of an organization. Typically the president of the company, the CEO reports to the Chairman of the Board. of the Catalina Island Chamber of Commerce and Visitors Bureau. "We've been getting calls asking about air quality, ash on the ground and smoke in the air and debris in the bay, none of which exists now," Griffin continued. "But for three days, we were on international television with tight shots of everything going up, when in fact they never really pulled back and gave you perspective on the community." In response, the chamber is launching a post-fire marketing plan that includes e-mailing 14,000 addresses in its consumer database and tapping tourist industry affiliates to relay the message that it's "business as usual" on Catalina. The chamber's Web site, www.CatalinaChamber.com, posts after-fire updates, pictures and live Web cams of the island. At the height of the fire, 479 buildings in Avalon were under mandatory evacuation and tourists were advised not to visit the island while firefighters worked to contain the blaze. Avalon lost about $2 million in tourism dollars, according to according to prep. 1. As stated or indicated by; on the authority of: according to historians. 2. In keeping with: according to instructions. 3. Griffin. Fighting the blaze cost the island about $5.2 million. Property damage to one home and six industrial storage buildings was estimated at $11.5 million. Candice Middleton, general manager for Villa Portofino, said the hotel/restaurant lost about $15,000 worth of business. "We had quite a few cancellations within that first week, but most called back when things were OK," Middleton said. Despite some fears that the fire would affect Memorial Day weekend -- the holiday that unofficially kicks off the summer season there -- visitor turnout remained strong. Staff writer Samantha Gonzaga contributed to this report. karen.robes(at)presstelegram.com (562) 499-1303. |
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