New Ways to Ease Hurricane Jitters?

With summer comes the hurricane season in the Caribbean and the Atlantic, and this year--after two seasons of above-average hurricane activity--there are moves afoot to reassure nervous vacationers.

The Bahamas Hotel Assn. has adopted a policy urging its 80 members to either refund advance deposits and payments, or credit them to a future stay, if a potential visitor cancels a trip due to hurricane conditions. The policy would apply only if the trip is canceled before arrival, a spokeswoman explained.

It remains to be seen how many hotels will implement the policy, although the spokeswoman said “many” expressed support for it.

If a hurricane hits during the visit, hotels are urged to offer “all possible courtesies,” such as reduced room rates, but are not being urged to provide refunds.

Two major Caribbean resort chains already offer “hurricane insurance” to guests, without extra charge. Sandals Resorts International, which runs 10 resorts, promises a complete “replacement vacation,” including air fare, if a hurricane hits during any part of a visitor’s stay. The vacation must be rescheduled within a year, and there are other restrictions. SuperClubs, with nine resorts, will refund the cost of disrupted nights only, plus provide a voucher for use during the same month the following year. Air fare is not included in SuperClubs refunds.

The huge Caribbean Hotel Assn., which represents 1,135 hotels and about 35 national and territorial agencies, is trying to find an insurance company that would underwrite the risk of providing hurricane insurance to guests at member hotels, but “we’re not there yet,” Executive Vice President John Bell said last week.