Hurricane!

From an Ernst & Young report on hospitality, this bit on the impact of hurricanes on tourism.

The hurricanes that made landfall in the United States during 2005 have been by far the most costly natural catastrophes in the country’s history. The wrath of Hurricanes Katrina, Rita and Wilma left no industry untouched and caused extraordinary industrial and commercial property damage, which will likely result in an unprecedented number of insurance claims and lawsuits -- estimates indicate insured losses exceed $60 billion. Oil rigs and refineries were initially hit hard as Hurricane Katrina reportedly affected production at more than 50 oil and natural-gas platforms in the Gulf of Mexico. This fueled an immediate increase in gasoline and airfare costs, due to higher jet fuel prices. While the sticker shock at the pump has subsided (for the most part) as gas prices have declined, the impact of the active hurricane season on tourism in the Gulf Coast, especially in New Orleans, has been far-reaching, beyond the physical damage to local hotels, amenities, and tourist attractions.