Hotels Around DIA Ready For Influx Due To Hurricane Sandy
DENVER (CBS4) - Although there weren't many delays and cancelations on the arrival and departures boards at Denver International Airport on Saturday, the airlines are expecting to see them throughout the coming week because of Hurricane Sandy.
Most passengers got to where they needed to go Saturday, but by evening that could change. Hotels and motels near the airport say they are ready to take in an influx of guests where they can.
A company called Airport Accommodations acts as the middle man. It gets a room inventory from more than 50 motels and hotels and lets both the airport and the airlines know. That way any stranded passengers who don't feel like sleeping at their airport can have a room for the night.
The airport uses the middle man so that airlines don't favor certain hotels, and in turn hotel employees don't go to the airport to solicit passengers, But even the airport cannot forecast when airlines might run into trouble.
"There are a lot of things that are forecast that never come to pass, and so many people are traveling because of business, they are trying to travel in front of a storm, behind a storm, or whatever," Richard Baker with Super 8 Motel said. "So if something does not happen, then the regular schedule is followed and honored. So it really doesn't mean anything until we get a call."
The airport recommends trying to check a flight before heading to the airport to see if there are any changes.
Although no one can predict the specifics right now, the airline industry is bracing for the obstacles of canceled and delayed flights all next week.
