Fire ravaging the Los Angeles area with some hotels closing
and others providing shelter.
Note: This story first appeared in Travel Weekly
LOS ANGELES – Some hotels in the Los Angeles area were
shuttered Wednesday, while others were offering assistance, as wildfires tore
through parts of Los Angeles County. California Governor Gavin Newsome declared
a state of emergency as the flames destroyed homes and businesses.
Hotels along Southern California's coast issued operational
updates amid the region's ongoing fires, with conditions varying from complete
closures in Malibu to properties in Santa Monica that remained open and were
sheltering evacuees.
The Malibu Beach Inn said on its website that it had
temporarily closed due to mandatory evacuations from the Palisades Fire. The
oceanfront property was directing guests to contact them via email or phone for
questions about reservations.
The Surfrider Malibu has also suspended operations, citing
high winds and the continuing threat of fires. The hotel said via Instagram
that it would remain closed until evacuation orders are lifted and officials
confirm it is safe to reopen.
Further south in Santa Monica, the situation as of midday
Jan. 8 appeared to be less severe. A spokesperson from the Fairmont Miramar
said that the hotel remained outside the mandated evacuation area, though it
was currently under an evacuation advisory. The hotel said it is receiving
real-time updates from the Santa Monica Fire Department and local authorities.
On Instagram, the Sandbourne Santa Monica, which is part of
Marriott's Autograph Collection, announced special rates for affected residents
and evacuees. The hotel is offering a rate to those who can present valid
identification showing a Palisades or Santa Monica address.
The Regent Santa Monica Beach also said it remained
operational and was able to provide shelter to those displaced by the fires.
Santa Monica Travel & Tourism
published a list of hotels that were offering discounts or waiving resort fees
for evacuated residents.
While there are no evacuation orders in Santa Monica, Santa
Monica Travel & Tourism is closely monitoring the Palisades Fire," it
said. "Residents and visitors are asked to avoid nonessential travel in
northern portions of the city to facilitate evacuations and assist first
responders."
According to TravelAge West, a sister publication to Travel
Weekly, other hotels and accommodations in the area were offering discounted or
free stays to displaced residents.
One of those hotels, Shutters on the Beach, said it has been
offering shelter to those displaced by the fires. As of January 8, the property
said it was at capacity.