How Does a Tour Operator Cope With A Hurricane?

Good advice to book with a Travel Agent and reputable Tour Operator. An Independent Traveller is very much on their own, but by booking with an Agent and Operator, they look after you all the way in case of emegency.

Here is the latest advice from Thomas Cook Signature at how they are coping with Hurricane Wilma.

The following update is issued following an FTO conference call held
at 11.00 today.

Cuba
Due to Wilma tracking further west than first predicted Cuba has now
been downgraded to a tropical storm warning and as such we are not
unduly concerned. However local weather conditions are reporting very
heavy rain fall and we will be monitoring this closely with regards to flooding.

Cuba Policy
Flights are continuing to operate as normal and brochure booking
conditions apply to all future travel.

Florida
It is too early to accurately predict where and when Wilma will reach
landfall but the best indicators show that this could be Saturday
night/Sunday morning in the far south, however recent forecasts show a
probability of this moving further north.

Florida Keys - evacuated.
* Thomas Cook Signature passengers currently in the Keys are being
assisted by representatives from our Florida office who are in the
process of booking alternative accommodation.
* Thomas Cook Signature passengers currently in Orlando and due to
depart for the Keys are being offered extensions to their
accommodation in the Orlando area.
* Thomas Cook Signature Passengers due to depart the UK up to Sunday
23 October have been contacted by our Call Centre to amend itineraries
where possible.

Rest of Florida
* Normal booking conditions apply.
* Local representatives are contacting all TCS passengers in resort
with hurricane warning letters.

Florida Policy
All FTO members have reported that they have not changed their travel
policy and that booking conditions will apply, this is with the
exception of the Keys. TCS are therefore aligned with other tour
operators in applying normal booking conditions for future travel.
Our airline partners have not changed their policies and are flying as
normal.

A Call Centre Incident Team has been set up to deal with incoming
calls from due to travel passengers.
We will continually monitor the situation and will issue a further
update on Friday.

Thomas Cook Signature