BOO! Halloween is just around the corner, folks, and you know what that means:

  1. It’s time to do the Monster Mash, and
  2. Things are about to get very spooky.

Kids shouldn’t be the only ones having all of the holiday fun. Professional planners can get into the spirit by organizing a meeting or an event in a haunted venue. Give your attendees a healthy scare at these ghost-filled spots.

Omni Mount Washington Resort (Bretton Woods, New Hampshire)

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This luxury historical hotel offers seasonal Nordic and Alpine skiing, 30,000 sq. ft. of meeting space and 200 guest rooms. It’s the perfect set-up, as long as you avoid room 314. In this spooky room, visitors have reported strange occurrences such as the fireplace flickering on and off, and phantom ghost sounds. And apparently, the deceased widow of the hotel’s creator still roams the halls.

Sloss Furnaces (Birmingham, Alabama)

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Sloss Furnaces’ origins began in the early 1900s when James “Slag” Wormwood was foreman of the plant’s graveyard shift. He frequently forced his workers to endure dangerous conditions, which were so bad that 47 workers died. But karma looped back around in 1906 when he fell into a pool of melted iron ore. Since his death, reports of ghost sightings, burns and other unexplained injuries continue to marvel paranormal enthusiasts. Despite a grim backstory, the site is an interpretive museum of industry and hosts a variety of events, such as corporate functions and formals, in its six unique rental areas.

The Cuban Club (Tampa, Florida)

In the early 20th century, Cuban Club members enjoyed access to a medical clinic, a pharmacy, a theater, bowling lanes, a gym and a pool, all in the yellow-brick building. The hangout had a dark and spooky side, though. In the 1920s, an actor committed suicide on stage, an 8-year-old boy drowned in the pool and a board member shot another after an argument. According to “experts,” spirits linger in the three-story building. On the bright side, there five beautiful venue options grace the building.

Oakland Cemetery  (Atlanta)

Oakland Cemetery was founded in 1850 and serves as the resting place for well-known figures such as Bobby Jones, Margaret Mitchell and Maynard Jackson. The space is also a beautiful area for an event. Impressive sculpture and architecture, a botanical preserve with ancient oaks and magnolias, and other beauties keeps attracting people.

Hotel Monteleone (New Orleans)

The Hotel Monteleone is in central New Orleans, steps away from Jackson Square, the French Market, and the Riverwalk. In keeping with its voodoo roots, there have been reports of elevators randomly taking guests to the wrong floors, with cold hallways. The International Society of Paranormal Research claimed contact with several ghosts during a 2003 investigation, including a boy named Maurice Begere, who died in the hotel. It also has 24,000 sq. ft. of meeting space.

Airport Satisfaction Makes Getting to the Meeting Easier

Event planners know that getting there is half of the challenge, but a new report by J.D. Power says most people are finding that, despite more people in ever-growing terminals, flying is getting easier—and some airports are easier than others.

Overall passenger satisfaction with North American airports has reached an all-time high, as airports of every size have found creative ways to address the challenges of constant construction projects and increased passenger capacity demand, according to J.D. Power 2017 North America Airport Satisfaction Study, released Sept. 21. It found that overall customer satisfaction scores have reached an all-time high of 749 (on a 1,000-point scale). This is up 18 points from last year’s all-time high.

Shorter security check lines have helped thanks to more agents managing the screening. And self-service bag-check has streamlined luggage onboarding.

The solution to the problem of how to get the right people in the right seat at the right time has been a combination of technology and old-fashioned customer service. New apps direct drivers to available parking spots in crowded lots, text messages inform travelers of gate changes, and free Wi-Fi and new charging stations make the wait bearable for many if they can stay connected. And we have all read the stories about therapy dogs, ponies—and at least one therapy pig—brought in to calm everyone down.

The top five mega-airports in North America for 2017 are (ratings are on a scale of 0–1,000):

  • Orlando International Airport (MCO): 778
  • Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (DTW): 767
  • McCarran International Airport (Las Vegas, LAS): 765
  • Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX): 765
  • Denver International Airport (DEN): 763

The top five large airports in North America for 2017 are:

  • John Wayne Airport (Santa Ana, California, SNA) 796
  • Tampa International Airport (TPA): 795
  • Dallas Love Field (DAL): 790
  • Nashville International Airport (BNA): 788
  • Portland International Airport (Oregon, PDX) 783

The top five Medium Airports in North America for 2017 are:

  • Sacramento International Airport (SMF) 810
  • Indianapolis International Airport (IND): 807
  • Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport (ANC): 806
  • Jacksonville International Airport (JAX): 797
  • Palm Beach International Airport (PBI) 796

miami open for business

It can feel like a double whammy. A destination mobilizes forces after being warned that it might be in the sights of a big storm. Then, on the heels of breathing a sigh of relief when the worst passes by, those in the hospitality sector have the burden of overcoming lingering marketing effects of headlines scaring off potential visitors. Even as Hurricane Maria dominated headlines blowing through Puerto Rico on Thursday, Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau was working to get out a very different message: “We’re open for business!”

Large groups are already going forward with meetings as planned. On September 17, IMN, a global company that organizes institutional finance and investment conferences, went ahead with its four-day event at Fountainebleau Miami Beach, just as it has for the last nine years. CEO Julius Hill said he considered cancelling or postponing as he watched news reports. But after conversations with Fontainebleau management, who assured him all 2,000 hourly staffers would be on site to ensure a smooth event—and urging from Mayor Philip Levine—he decided the meeting was a go. He added a philanthropic item to the agenda. “In addition to fundraising for local relief efforts, we’re pleased to be making a difference on the ground, supporting the workers who are the lifeblood of Miami Beach’s tourism and hospitality industry,” Hill said in a release.

Sunnyvale, California-based Ruckus Wireless held its annual event, Big Dogs, at Loews Miami Beach Hotel September 18-20. More than 400 people made the trip. “There is no better time to come to Miami Beach than now—the city is back in business,” said Ruckus Chief Commercial Officer Ian Whiting in a release. “As expected, the hotel staff welcomed us with open arms and provided phenomenal service, making our event a huge success.”

In the Caribbean, a dedicated travel update web site has been created to give real-time updates and connect people with charities active in the area. As of today, 26 destinations are listed as open for business, with another 12 affected. St. Kitts notes it was fortunate to escape major damage from the passage of Hurricane Maria, and that after initial assessments the island is resuming normal operations. “All hotels in St. Kitts are fully operational,” the release announced. St. Kitts’ Robert L. Bradshaw International Airport (SKB) reopened earlier this week and is receiving flights, and two cruise ships are expected in the coming days.

Another Caribbean hotel eager to get word out about its “all-clear” status is Eden Roc at Cap Cana in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic. “The property did not suffer any damage and is resuming its regular operations. Punta Cana International Airport (PUJ) is also back up and running,” it said in a release.

profbox box

Getting a mystery gift at your doorstep each month sounds like a SUPER nice luxury, doesn’t it? Well, that’s precisely why an abundance of subscription boxes have been popping up. And they’re pretty tactful. Avoiding a one-size-fits-all approach, they target an array of niche markets. There’s a box for Korean beauty trends (Memebox), mermaid fanatics (Filthy Mermaid) and many more. So who’s showing some love for meeting and event planners?

Cue Profbox—a subscription designed entirely by and for professional planners. Brittany Ryan, a full-time corporate planner based in Dallas, Texas, is the brains behind the operation. On the Profbox website, Ryan writes “I wanted to create Profboxes as a way to regularly celebrate all of the hard work we put into our events and careers.”

Adding, “Although I find my career very rewarding, as I’m sure many of you do too, it can often be a rather ‘thankless’ job. Many times, clients or managers don’t ever see all the ‘fires’ that we put out behind the scenes. Stress and late nights usually just ‘come with the territory.’ I love my job and wouldn’t trade it, but don’t you think we deserve our own party in a box?!”

Amen, sister! Many professional planners are long overdue for some self-love and indulgence.

october profbox

October Profbox

The October Profbox includes: a sea salt dark chocolate bar, eucalyptus wipes, mini planter desk accessory, workout hand towel, lip balm and a cocktail mixer—neatly packaged in a teal box. Ryan promises the contents will always be, “all community-oriented, high-quality products.”

The monthly box contains 4 to 6 premium products. Each curated item aims to ease all planner-specific hurdles. The collection is based on five fundamental categories: organize, mobilize, social, energize and harmonize. Not to mention, planners may discover new vendors.

Profbox costs $44.95 a month. One time purchase options include 3-, 6-, and 12-month plans and offer discounts. The subscription may also be gifted.

Are We One Step Closer to Every Air Traveler’s Dream: No-Sweat Security Check?

The announcement that the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has approved new baggage scanners that could make gliding through security fast and easy—even for those without PreCheck status—had a lot of travelers Tweeting for joy this week.

“Liquids may soon be allowed in your carry-on!” posted Corniche Travel @Corniche_Travel hours after the news broke. “Faster TSA baggage scanners 1 step closer to reality,” RT’d Scott Norris @weninchina.

Yes, it’s true. New, 3-D scanners recently certified by TSA would allow security monitors to manipulate images of the insides of backpacks and suitcases to see all angles, thereby making it possible to leave laptops and jumbo-size shampoo bottles in your carry-on, without filling bins and repacking on the other side. They are similar to hospital computed tomography (CT) scanners, but include an algorithm to identify possible weapons and flag them for closer inspection. That means that in addition to decreasing wait time in line by as much as 30 percent, they could also make flying safer by narrowing the focus of manual searches.

Similar technology has long been in place for checked bags, so incorporating it for carry-ons seems a logical next step.

Touchless Fingerprint and Facial Scanning, Too

Department of Homeland Security is also testing touch-free fingerprint scanners that would take the place of a boarding pass and passport or driver’s license. Screened TSA Precheck members are using the technology at Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson Airport (ATL) and Denver International Airport (DEN). Biometric scanning is being heralded as both faster and more reliable than scanning paper documents.

Meanwhile, JetBlue and Delta are testing technology that could make your face your ticket to fly. Special camera stations match images to passport photos and give the thumbs up to board, no paper or bar code needed.

All this technology is still being beta-tested on selected routes and locations, but anything that frees up the bottleneck on the conveyor belt while keeping people safe will be welcomed in the airport and online.

Strap on your lederhosen and fill up your beer boots—Oktoberfest has officially arrived! Since the event started in early 19th century Munich, Oktoberfest has exploded into the world’s biggest “people’s festival,” or Volksfest. It begins in mid-September and parties on through the first Sunday in October.

Americans have embraced this cultural celebration brought to the new world by the country’s single largest ethnic group—but with a Yankee spin, of course. Have you tried the born-in-Denver sport of Keg Bowling?

Don’t let the copious amount of beer fool you, though. It’s more than just a drink-a-thon for college kids. People of all ages can enjoy the flavorful food, animated festivities and traditional tunes. More specifically, meeting and event planners can host in one of these cities and truly give attendees something to get excited about. The exuberant spirit of Oktoberfest really is contagious. Plus, who can refuse indulging in a good Bratwurst and Pilsner to the humming of Alphorns?

WalletHub released a survey that examined the 100 largest U.S. cities to find the very best Oktoberfest destination. Based on 23 indicators of Oktoberfest-friendliness, here are the places to be if you’re looking for a wunderbar celebration. Prost!

Source: WalletHub

Overall Ranks

  1. Cincinnati, Ohio
  2. New York, N.Y.
  3. Portland, Ore.
  4. Philadelphia, Pa.
  5. Denver, Colo.
  6. Louis, Miss.
  7. Madison, Wis.
  8. Orlando, Fla.
  9. Pittsburgh, Pa.
  10. Columbus, Ohio

Most Oktoberfest Festivals & Parties per Capita

  1. Washington, D.C.
  2. Tulsa, Okla. (tie)
  3. Detroit, Mich.
  4. San Francisco, Calif.
  5. Boise, Idaho

Although it’s a little late to catch the festivities this year, collect information for next. Here are specific festival recommendations for your planning!

Munich on the East River (New York, N.Y.)

September 29 – October 8

A massive tent is set-up along the East River for the biggest Oktoberfest celebration in the Big Apple.  The festival was created by Sylvester Schneider, a Native German who performs with his band, Mösl Franzi and the Ja Ja Ja’s, each year.

Nashville Oktoberfest (Tenn.)

October 5 – 8

Nashville dips into in German culture for inspiration during their annual festival, which features German music, Biergardens, a Weiner dog race and—drumroll please—the world’s longest beer slip ‘n slide.

Frankenmuth Oktoberfest (Mich.)

September 14 – 17

Frankenmuth is also known as Michigan’s Little Bavaria, as it was first founded as a Bavarian mission colony for Lutherans in 1845. The town still exudes classic German style, especially during Oktoberfest. And fun fact: this one’s officially sanctioned by the mayor of Munich. So you know it’s pretty darn authentic.

Oktoberfest by the Bay (San Francisco, Calif.)

September 22-23

Oktoberfest by the Bay gives San Francisco the opportunity to display one of its major talents, costumes. Be prepared to witness thousands of laderhousens, dirdls, flower crowns and alpine hats on Pier 48 in the Mission Bay district.

Oktoberfest Zinzinnati (Cincinnati, Ohio)

September 15-17

Samuel Adams presents Oktoberfest Zinzinnati—the largest in America. The festival is massive, amounting to more than 500,000 attendees every year. The German heritage of Southwest Ohio is celebrated with authentic food, drinks and music. Organizers also mixed in a few Americanized activities, including the Chicken Dance and Running of the Wieners (as shown above).

In a major step that will affect event organizers and participants, IMEX is in the process of a technology upgrade that can be likened to the evolution of a Mercedes Benz from a 1970s model to a modern S-Class.

The upgrade is being done through a collaboration with RefTech, which provides cloud-based registration and appointment-setting software for conferences and exhibitions. RefTech has a long history of using sophisticated technology to make organizers’ task easier and less stressful by combining its considerable event experience, technical and IT expertise, and knowledge of how a business needs to operate.

Simon Clayton, chief ideas officer for RefTech, spoke with Smart Meetings about the event- management system upgrade.

 In what ways has RefTech collaborated with IMEX?

Simon Clayton, chief ideas officer for RefTech

RefTech has worked with IMEX since 2001, when we created the original bespoke web and organizing systems for the very first IMEX show, in Frankfurt in 2003. IMEX use our systems to manage all online interaction with visitors, hosted buyers and exhibitors—including all registrations, the management of hosted buyer travel and schedules, and the exhibitor booth directory.

The original RefTech systems have powered every IMEX show in both Frankfurt and America [Las Vegas] ever since, but over 70,000 developer hours have been invested to ensure constant evolution. IMEX has grown, evolved its processes, and listened and adapted to the growing and changing needs of its audiences—visitors, hosted buyers and exhibitors—and so, its organizing platform has evolved hugely, too.

What are some of the main things that you are helping to upgrade?

Despite the constant development, the original bespoke systems that we started in 2001 are starting to show their age. IMEX had the choice of having a new system custom built completely from scratch, or using the RefTech web-based event management system called EventReference as the powerful “engine,” and then for us to build the custom modules around it. We’ve been creating event management tools for almost 20 years, and we have applied all this knowledge and experience to EventReference, so the move was a no-brainer for them, as it is the best possible option.The whole web systems behind IMEX Frankfurt and IMEX America are being moved on to EventReference.

 How will the move to EventReference affect users?

Users won’t see a huge change—we have been making incremental improvements to make the system slicker and easier to use, but still have a familiar look and feel. I would compare it to the evolution of a Mercedes Benz; a 1970s model may be different to a modern S Class, but it will still have the controls in the same places, and a very recognizable look and feel.

We have been finessing the interface, refining processes, and making things nicer to use and easier to complete. If you placed the new and old systems side by side, there would not be a huge difference at first glance; this was a very important consideration, because every single person attending IMEX in any capacity will be using EventReference to register, manage and plan their visit. As users dig deeper, they will become aware of changes and improvements to the system.

Are you working on any unusually progressive things that could become standards for the meetings and events industry?

IMEX is the most technologically advanced exhibition in this industry; it has always been a progressive event organizer and the leader in its field by a long, long way. The rest of the industry already has a lot to catch up on, so this move simply cements its position.

Phase 1 is simply to replace the existing systems without causing any fuss or upset from visitors and exhibitors. Just replacing and refining the systems is a huge undertaking and one that is not being taken lightly. We are building a solid foundation that will be seamlessly accepted by the IMEX audience; a steady platform that can take more innovation over the coming years as the audience requirements change.

Do you have specific timetables for completing the upgrades?

The preshow audience engagement at IMEX is paramount to its success, and our technology enables this process. Once people are on site, their use of the technology dwindles and the human interaction starts. With this in mind, the transfer to EventReference is already underway and will be complete for the end of this year so that testing can commence. The system will go live in the spring of 2018 to enable preshow engagement, buyer travel arrangements, appointment booking and exhibitor marketing for the 2018 event.

IMEX America 2017 in Las Vegas is right around the corner (Oct. 10–12), and once again, sustainability will be a primary focus, as we noted in the IMEX Supplement in our September issue. So, Smart Meetings interviewed Dale Hudson, knowledge and event director for IMEX, about the importance of sustainability and the new features that will be added to the event this year.

Why are sustainability and green practices important to the meetings and events industry?
As a global industry that specializes in gathering people together to foster new ideas, drive innovation and enjoy and respect the unique destinations we visit, it’s important that we also think about ways to reduce the environmental footprint we create when we come in and out of a city. We are in a great position as an industry to apply the surplus of creativity and knowledge we have to drive positive change in planning and hosting greener meetings.  IMEX itself has worked hard to try to serve as a living example of how a green meeting operates and to share those learnings with attendees.

 What progress do you feel the industry has made, and what additional progress needs to be made?
The industry has made excellent progress in becoming more aware and educated on the impact of meetings, and is moving more aggressively into taking concrete steps to create more sustainable meetings. This is being seen around recycling and waste management, transportation, using greener venues and services, farm-to-table catering, etc.

As with any developing trend however, more work can always be done to make sustainability part of the very fabric of every host’s mission and business goals—not just at the planner level—so that resources and budgets are available to help. That will only continue to grow as additional companies and organizations become increasingly sustainability- and CSR-oriented, and as their customers and clients demand and expect it.

From our own experience, the hardest challenge has been to create real ownership and momentum throughout the whole supply chain. Everyone involved in meeting delivery needs to have both processes in place and to care about the outcome. Sometimes, the care and passion is there among the individuals involved, but organizations can be harder to mobilize. We’ve learned that having a “champion” in every single business partner we work with is key to success.

Longer-term, hope lies with upcoming, younger generations. Our work with students and young professionals (through our Future Leaders Forums) shows that “thinking green” is second nature to these younger planners. In fact, they start from green; and that’s great for the industry, great for them and great for the planet.

Has sustainability been a part of IMEX America since it began? What are its main sustainability initiatives and how do you measure success?
Having launched the IMEX shows in Frankfurt, a very green city, we wanted to take that spirit of sustainability to IMEX America when we expanded to Las Vegas. After getting a lay of the land with the first show in 2011, we created a plan starting in 2012. Working with our Sustainability Partners, MeetGreen, we set out to measure our performance Level 1 of the APEX/ASTM Environmentally Sustainable Event standards. That meant measuring the waste, water and energy footprint generated by IMEX America; educating all participants on the steps they can take to minimize their event footprint during the show; and giving back to the Las Vegas community.

Our commitment to these areas is stronger than ever, and MeetGreen has been our partner in all this, as well as the Sands Expo and The Venetian/The Palazzo, which has a vigorous sustainability program called Sands Cares. We also collaborate closely with vendors that work on the show down to the contract level on green expectations and, finally, we work hard to get exhibitors and attendees involved.

Measuring and tracking is a big piece of our efforts and we publish annual reports to share how we’re doing, and perhaps give people ideas for their own program elements or benchmarks.

What do event participants feel about IMEX’s sustainability practices? Are they asking for any additional initiatives?
They have been very receptive and involved over the years in terms of education, participation and knowledge-sharing around sustainability, so we keep adding and trying more new and different things. As with all elements we do at the show, we also look to trends and participant feedback to help guide what people are most interested in.

Are any new sustainability practices and initiatives planned for 2017 IMEX America?
Indeed, this year we are literally rolling out the “green carpet” with all aisle carpet being 100 percent recycled for the first time. It will be recycled yet again after the show.

Also, larger, paper-only badges mean no need for plastic covers, while IMEX’s decision to no longer print a show catalog will save approximately 20 tons of paper.

We are also doing our #greencaffeine initiative, asking everyone coming to the show to bring their favorite travel mug from home for coffee refills at certain Sands Expo coffee outlets. We also have added a program with Spread the Word Nevada, a children’s literacy non­profit. For this, all attendees are being asked to bring one book to the IMEX Sustainability and CSR Showcase booth.  Donations will be given to a longtime IMEX America CSR community partner, the Shade Tree Shelter. Both adults’ and children’s books are welcomed.

Be sure to stop by booth A3213 at IMEX America 2017 to say hello to your friends at Smart Meetings!

hurricane bahama

As Hurricane Irma, which is now being called one of the most powerful storms ever, makes its way to Florida with reports of 175 mph winds, Caribbean properties are evaluating conditions on an hour-by-hour basis.

Officials in St. Martin reported that 95 percent of the island was destroyed, including extensive damage to the iconic Princess Juliana Airport (SXM). Sonesta Ocean Point Resort has cancelled reservations for the rest of the year to address damage, and most other properties are at least temporarily down while damage is being assessed.

Jose Izquierdo, executive director of Puerto Rico Tourism Company, reported that Puerto Rico Convention Center and most hotels are fully operational, ready to welcome guests and accepting reservations. He said that most damages are restricted to debris, which is being removed. While the island suffered power outages, many of the hospitality and essential services have power generators for emergencies. The Luis Munoz Marin International Airport (SJU) is up and running on generators and reporting no structural damage. No groups or site visits have been canceled, he said in a press release on Friday.

On Thursday, Grand Hyatt Baha Mar in Nassau evacuated guests and closed the resort as a precaution. Next door, Melia Nassau Beach was accommodating guests who were not able to get flights off the island, but were making preparations for a predicted 20-foot storm surge that could hit with the destructive wind and rain.

Atlantis Paradise Island Bahamas reported that it would not be evacuating. A statement released on Friday reported that the property is “outside the cone of probability with respect to the center of the storm and should only experience tropical storm level winds and rain.” A representative added that management would continue to monitor alerts from the National Hurricane Center and take every precaution until the storm passes.

South Florida was the predicted next stop and forecasters say landfall could happen in the Keys by Sunday morning as a category 4 storm. Florida Governor Rick Scott was telling all Floridians to be prepared to evacuate.

Visit Orlando released a statement praising the area’s “extraordinary infrastructure of major public and private entities working together to protect the health and safety of our residents and visitors alike” and suggesting resident and visitors closely monitor storm progress and conditions can change quickly. SeaWorld Parks and Entertainment Orlando, Legoland Florida Theme Park and Water Park and Walt Disney World Resort planned to close on Sunday and Monday, although a statement said that Walt Disney World Resort hotels would remain open.

George Aguel, president and CEO of Visit Orlando reported that the hospitality industry there has stepped up to assist evacuees, “Our members represent more than 80 percent of the region’s hotel inventory and are a critical part of our emergency response system. Thank you to all of our members who have responded so quickly to calls for help, and also for generously increasing your flexibility for evacuees. Several member hotels have relaxed policies on allowing pets, changing or cancelling reservations and even adding wait lists.”

National Hurricane Center advised that in Irma’s wake, Jose was sustaining winds of 150 mph and moving in behind Irma with predicted landfall in the northern Lesser Antilles as soon as Saturday.

As Houston residents seek refuge from Tropical Hurricane Harvey, assistance from the city’s most popular meetings venue, George R. Brown Convention Center, is playing a major role.

Thousands of people have been taken to the center after being plucked from rooftops by rescuers and scooped up by volunteers in boats. The Red Cross initially set up 5,000 cots for evacuees in the 1.9 million-square-foot center. But as of Tuesday morning, 9,021 evacuees had checked into the downtown center, with nearly half of them sleeping on the tile floor.

The conditions are imperfect, and many of the evacuees are struggling to come to terms with losing all of their belongings to Harvey’s relentless rains. But the convention center is a safe refuge, and has electricity, warm water, an emergency area and a large food station serving warm meals.

Crowd control has been going smoothly and meals are being served on a regular basis, said Tom McCasland, director of the city’s Housing and Community Development Department. The Red Cross expects to have enough food to feed 20,000 people, and pets are welcome.

“Our doors remain open,” McCasland said, adding that as evacuees continue to come in, another shelter will soon open.

Convention centers in neighboring communities are pitching in to help, as well. Greater Columbus Convention Center in Ohio is working with its general services contractor, Fern, to gather everything from baby formula and diapers to socks, towels and toothpaste for delivery to George R. Brown Convention Center.

Lessons Learned from Katrina

A lot has changed since these facilities were pressed into use 12 years ago during the Hurricane Katrina tragedy in New Orleans. George R. Brown Convention Center helped approximately 7,000 evacuees in 2005, once NRG Astrodome was filled to full capacity, but it was not the primary refuge.

During and in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, thousands of evacuees were directed to Ernest N. Morial Convention Center in New Orleans. They expected that they would receive assistance and safe shelter, but no resources were available for several days. They were without power, water, food, medical supplies and proper sanitation. Only minimal and occasional law enforcement presence was on site, resulting in crimes and gang violence. Several people died at the center, largely due to violence, dehydration and lack of medication.

“Being prepared for the event—proper staging, proper staffing and making folks have a structured process—that’s really the most important part,” Reno Wilkins, a Houston official told The New York Times on Monday.

Wilkins, who previously worked in emergency management in New Jersey, said a sense of safety was essential to maintain order in a stressful. In Houston, the Red Cross is overseeing operations as volunteers roam the main corridor, passing a lost and found area, television cameras and a medical station stocked with oxygen tanks. Dozens of Houston police officers walked the floor.

“We’ve learned from some of the other major disasters like Katrina, you know, these are the things that we need to make sure we have in place to protect people,” Wilkins said.