The University of the West Indies
The Disaster Risk Reduction Centre

‘OPEN FOR BUSINESS’ A Model Post-Disaster Crisis Communication Strategy & Procedural Guide for Small Tourism Enterprises

This procedural guide documents the recommended steps that can be taken by small tourism enterprises in the event of hazard impact, disaster or other form of business disruption. The overarching goal is to position the business to recover from a disruption or crisis as quickly as possible.  It provides the following:

  • A proactive communications strategy to keep all stakeholders (internal and external) fully informed about the emergency, disaster or other disruption that is affecting the business
  • Broad tools for use with other external audiences and key messages for controlling the flow of sensitive information that will allow for continuity of operations 
  • Model guidance that can be adapted to suit the specific context of each STE
  • Procedures that are critical to the post-event processes that guide business continuity efforts

Special thanks to members of The UWI Disaster Risk Reduction Centre’s Communications for Community Resilience Technical Working Group for their contribution to the development of this resource.

  • Evangeline Inniss-Springer, Director, Disaster Risk Reduction Centre, The University of the West Indies
  • Kimesha Cumberbatch, Project Support Consultant, Disaster Risk Reduction Centre, The University of the West Indies
  • Philomena Robertson, Communications Specialist, Grenada 
  • Deika Morrison, Honorary Research Fellow, Institute for Sustainable Development, The University of the West Indies
  • Sheniah Armstrong-Jones, Deputy Director, Department of Disaster Management, The Virgin Islands
  • Clive Murray, Community Resilience Specialist, Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency
  • June Barbour, Communications Manager, Institute for Sustainable Development, The University of the West Indies
  • Deborah Grant, Owner/Director, Chattel House Audio Tours, Barbados
  • Shari Best, Executive Assistant, Mount Irvine Resort, Tobago
  • Sachkia Barnes, Communications Strategist/ Chief of Ideas, Barnes PR, The Virgin Islands

Recognition is given to the Organization of American States (OAS) for providing the funding to support the development of this procedural guide as part of the Building the Resilience of Small Tourism Enterprises in the Caribbean to Disasters initiative.  Special thanks to CHTA, CTO, CDEMA and the Project Steering Committee for their support.