Gulf Coast Oil Spill Watch: June 10th

by Leigh Caldwell on

It’s Day 52 of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. Here’s a look at the latest news about how the spill is affecting travelers:

Tar balls have arrived on the beaches in Perdido Key, Florida. The Pensacola News-Journal reports that a mile-long stretch of the beach was covered with greasy clumps about the size of peas.

Want to help? Alabama’s governor tells WAFF TV that it’s as simple as renting a condo or eating a seafood dinner.

The Tennesean reports that renting that Gulf Coast condo could be a great deal, as last-minute Gulf Coast lodging deals are plentiful.

But those lodging deals don’t extend into Central Florida, according to the Orlando Sentinel. Orlando-area hotels say oil-spill discounts could be viewed as “cashing in” on coastal hotels’ misfortune.

And what of the predictions that oil will spread all the way up the Atlantic Coast this summer, or that it will travel west and reach Texas beaches? The Houston Chronicle says to “take them with a grain of salt water.”

[Image credit: Flickr user lsqcp]

New hotel in Rome made of garbage from Europe’s beaches

by Melanie Nayer on

That’s right – this hotel is, quite literally, garbage.

In an effort to raise awareness about the trashy state of Europe’s beaches, Rome erected a hotel covered with over 26,000 pounds of debris. The building, located on Capocotta Beach, is aptly named “Save the Beach Hotel” and is spear-headed by Corona. According to the website, the Save the Beach Hotel is a reminder to people about how filthy their beaches have become.

The website states:

“Our Corona Save the Beach campaign builds on the project by launching its own initiative to help preserve Europe’s beaches. Teaming up with environmental artist HA Schult, best known for his extraordinary ‘Trash Men’, we have created a pop-up hotel in the centre of Rome made almost entirely from rubbish collected from beaches across Europe. Our first visitor at the hotel was supermodel and eco-warrior Helena Christensen, as well as competition winners from Italy, Spain and the UK staying the night.”

It’s fascinating the amount of filth that can be discovered on a beach, and turned into a standing hotel. Corona plans to make this impression on other coastal cities around the world, and you can vote for the next endangered beach that the organization will clean up by clicking here.

Ok, Florida… how about it? While BP works to stop the oil spill, maybe we can build the world’s first crude oil hotel?

Florida hotels fend off concerns about oil spill; offer volunteer programs for cleanup efforts

by Melanie Nayer on

As news of the Gulf of Mexico oil spill continues, Florida businesses are working to reassure travelers it’s safe to visit the Sunshine State.

Environmentalists, scientists and engineers are working on solutions to stop the spill, and now Florida hotels are jumping in to help rebuild the disastrous effects the spill has had on tourism to the area. While the BP oil spill has been somewhat contained to a section of the coast, the entire state of Florida has weathered the storm of panic from travelers. Lemon Tree Inn, for example, has had cancellations due to the oil spill but the hotel’s location in Naples, Fla. is no where near the oil spill.

So, what’s the reality of the spill? There’s no denying that the oil spill is a huge environmental issue, but the good news is that many of Florida’s beaches aren’t affected, which means travelers should think twice before canceling their vacation plans.

Hotels in the Florida Keys like Ocean Key Resort and Little Palm Island Resort are using their Facebook pages to update travelers and guests on the status of nearby beaches. Little Palm, for example, has posted photos of their beaches on Big Pine Key, and even included snapshots of guests swimming and kayaking in the water. Representatives from Lemon Tree Inn tell me that if the oil hits, the hotel will create a volunteer package for guests to help the cleanup efforts.

Meanwhile, some Florida hotels are already hosting volunteer packages to aid in the cleanup efforts. Morgans Hotel Group in South Beach is offering 25 percent off to guests who volunteer with the oil spill cleanup efforts. Contribute at least 20 hours to a local environmental group working with the oil spill and you’ll get 25 percent off at South Beach Mondrian, Delano and Shore Club. All volunteers who book under this package will also experience their discounted stay green-style in a carbon balanced room. Mondrian Delano & Shore Club have purchased renewable energy from EarthEra® who will carbon balance every room booked under this special. Every penny spent with EarthEra® is used to build more renewable energy facilities across the nation.

Want to help? To volunteer call 866.448.5816.

America’s Top 10 Beaches: Coopers Beach in Southampton, NY takes the top spot in 2010

by Leigh Caldwell on

Coopers Beach, Southampton’s stretch of white sand on New York’s Long Island, has been named 2010’s best beach in the America by Dr. Stephen Leatherman.

“New York has world-class beaches, but I don’t think a lot of people in the United States know about them,” said Stephen Leatherman, director of Florida International University’s Laboratory for Coastal Research.

Leatherman cited the fine sand, availability of parking and amenities, and Southampton’s long history as a beach community in his announcement.

Leatherman, aka “Dr. Beach,” announced his Top 10 picks for this year just in time for Memorial Day weekend, as has been his tradition since 1991. The coastal scientist says he uses more than 50 criteria — including water quality, temperature, sand quality, cleanliness, safety and environmental management.

Dr. Beach listed two Florida beaches this year — Siesta Key Beach and Cape Florida State Park — despite the oil spill still leaking in the Gulf of Mexico.

He told the Associated Press that Cape Florida State Park, near Key Biscayne, “doesn’t get the wave activity” that would encourage tar balls to wash ashore. As for Siesta Key, in Sarasota, Leatherman said he studied currents and does not believe the oil will reach the shores in Southwest Florida.

%Gallery-93850%Here are Dr. Beach’s Top 10 Beaches in America for 2010:

  • 1. Coopers Beach in Southampton, New York
  • 2. Siesta Key Beach in Sarasota, Florida
  • 3. Coronado Beach in San Diego, California
  • 4. Cape Hatteras on North Carolina’s Outer Banks
  • 5. Main Beach in East Hampton, New York
  • 6. Kahanamoku Beach in Waikiki, Oahu, Hawaii
  • 7. Coast Guard Beach in Cape Cod, Massachusetts
  • 8. Beachwalker Park in Kiawah Island, South Carolina
  • 9. Hamoa Beach in Maui, Hawaii
  • 10. Cape Florida State Park in Key Biscayne, Florida

%Poll-47218%

Will the oil spill change Gulf Coast tourism?

by Grant Martin on

With the massive BP Transocean Halliburton Deep Water Horizon oil slick slowly heading for the Louisiana Gulf Coast, many are starting to wonder what the impact will be on the tourism industry. In a region already heavily reliant on Caribbean waters to sustain much of the economy, many worry that any negative effect on tourism dollars could spell disaster. And that’s why many operators are doing whatever they can to encourage visitors to come. As the All Things Considered story below details, some resorts are even offering “oil spill guarantees” to promise visitors that their vacations won’t be ruined by the disaster.

Has the oil spill affected your vacation? Will it prevent you from visiting any of the Gulf Coast region? Let us know in the comments below!

Meantime, keep up with the the spill map and beached oil locations over at the NOAA.


[Photo: Flickr | di_the_huntress]