How the Travel Industry Can Help North Carolina, Other Destinations Impacted by Hurricane Helene

One week after being struck by Hurricane Helene, the Southeast continues struggling to recover from the impacts.

There continue to be power outages, impassable roads and more, according to the latest news reports. The death toll related to the hurricane, which struck Florida and the Gulf Coast, impacting six states before it was over, has risen to 200.

That means Helene has officially become the deadliest hurricane to hit the United States mainland since Hurricane Katrina back in 2005, according to news reports.

In Western North Carolina alone, at least 55 people have been confirmed dead and the damage there, which impacted 25 counties, is estimated to be in the tens of billions of dollars.

“The devastation is vast in our mountain region with some communities hit harder than others,” Visit North Carolina Executive Director Wit Tuttell explained to TravelPulse. “The effects are still being revealed along with welcome news about people being rescued and cared for, power being restored, and roads being cleared to reach even the most remote areas.”

To keep travelers abreast of the situation on the ground in North Carolina in the wake of Hurricane Helene, Visit North Carolina is regularly updating the Travel Advisory page on its website. The page provides guidance and links to information about roads and other evolving conditions.

There’s also a state-run call center, 1-800-VISIT-NC, that’s ready to help visitors adjust travel plans as needed. Tuttell asked that travelers who are planning to come to the state make sure they know what’s happening on the ground before arriving.

“We would like for travelers to make safety their top priority and to know what’s happening in the places they plan to visit,” continued Tuttell.

But that wasn’t Tuttell’s only message. He also stressed that not all of North Carolina has been impacted by this natural disaster.

“We also want travelers to know that as bad as things might be in some Western North Carolina locations, our Piedmont and coastal destinations are ready as ever to welcome visitors,” he said.

Travel Industry Rushes to Provide Support

As it has done for so many other natural disasters, travel industry leaders and companies have jumped in to help where they can in response to Hurricane Helene.

HotelPlanner, the world’s largest group travel site, swiftly activated its support network to aid affected cities along the storm's path.

“We reached out to all our supporting hotel partners ahead of the storm, to request their available room inventory to ensure we could immediately assist essential travelers and displaced citizens once it was safe to do so,” Tim Gunstone, chief communications officer for HotelPlannner, told TravelPulse.

Prior to Hurricane Helene's landfall, HotelPlanner distributed inventory management links to its partner hotels in regions in the hurricane's path. The links allowed hotel sales managers to securely provide their available room counts once the storm had passed and their properties were deemed safe for occupancy, Gunstone explained.

“By streamlining the process, we ensured that our hotel partners could efficiently reopen their doors to those in need” he added.

As the recovery begins, HotelPlanner said it is ready to accommodate essential travelers, displaced citizens, and restoration crews.

"Our priority is to provide secure and comfortable lodging for those assisting with the recovery efforts and those who have been displaced by the storm’s impact,” said Gunstone.

Hurricane Helene impacted Florida and much of the Gulf Coast.

American Airlines, meanwhile, is providing its AAdvantage members who want to help hurricane victims with an avenue to do so. Customers can make donations through American’s dedicated Red Cross website: redcross.org/aa. Those who make contributions will earn AAdvantage bonus miles as a token of appreciation from the airline for their generosity, according to a statement issued by the airline.

Already, some $2 million has been raised for victims of Hurricane Helene through this initiative.

In addition, American Airlines is donating 10 million AAdvantage miles to Airlink, a nonprofit humanitarian organization that brings critical aid to communities in crisis. The miles are meant to help Airlink connect emergency responders and relief workers to the most urgent needs in the impacted region.

"We are proud to join forces with Airlink and the Red Cross to deliver critical aid to those affected by Hurricane Helene," Ron DeFeo, chief marketing and communications officer for American Airlines, said in a statement. "We are committed to helping communities in times of need."

Additional Ways to Help

There are still other ways the travel industry can help as well, says Mark Kessler, president and COO of Kessler Collection’s Design and Development. A southern hospitality brand, Kessler Collection has properties across the southeast including Greenville, Asheville, Charleston, Savannah, and more.

“The travel industry plays a critical role in supporting hurricane-impacted areas, not just in terms of immediate recovery, but in long-term rebuilding efforts,” Kessler told TravelPulse.

• Offer Shelter and Resources
  Many hotels, especially those that were not severely damaged, can open their doors to relief workers, displaced residents, and even first responders, says Kessler. “Providing discounted or free accommodations to those on the front lines of recovery efforts is a practical and impactful way for hotels to contribute,” he explained.
• Leverage Industry Partnerships
  The travel industry is interconnected, with airlines, hotels, and tour operators often working together. This network can be leveraged to provide donations or coordinate relief efforts,  Kessler continued.
  
  "Kessler Collection immediately led efforts with our employees, sister properties in Charlotte and Greenville, and several key vendors and suppliers, to identify needs and distribute resources, and we encourage others in the industry to do the same,” Kessler said. “Whether it’s partnering with nonprofits, offering logistics support, or hosting local fundraising events, these collective efforts make a significant impact.”
• Advise Limited Travel to Impacted Areas
  Although tourism is often the backbone of local economies, it is important to prioritize and conserve resources for locals who live in impacted communities, suggested Kessler. 
  
  “If there is an influx of traveling to these areas for leisure and non-emergency purposes, this can cause a disturbance in organizations that are immediately looking to repair these areas,” Kessler said.
  How individuals can help
  
  

If you’re searching for ways to help on your own, here are some of the options suggested by travel industry insiders.

• DO Support the Local Economy
  One of the best things travelers can do is visit these destinations when it's safe to do so. "Spending money at local businesses—restaurants, shops, tours—helps these communities recover faster," says Kessler. "However, it’s critical to follow the guidance of local authorities and only travel once the area is ready to welcome visitors again."
• DO Contribute to Relief Funds
  If you're not in a position to visit, contributing to local or national relief funds is another excellent way to help. "Many organizations on the ground are providing food, water, and medical aid, and financial support is always needed to sustain these efforts," Kessler continued.
• DON’T Overwhelm Local Resources
  It's equally important to avoid traveling to an area too soon after a disaster, as this can strain local infrastructure that's already struggling to recover. "Hospitals, roads, and utilities may still be under stress, and visitors may unintentionally divert critical resources. Waiting for the all-clear ensures your visit is helpful, not harmful," said Kessler.

For those who would like to help North Carolina specifically, the options include the North Carolina Disaster Relief Fund and also the NC Hospitality Workers Relief Fund, managed by the N.C. Restaurant and Lodging Association Foundation.

Yet another option is the Southern Smoke Foundation’s relief fund, which is offering emergency assistance to workers in the food and beverage industry.

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