By Rob Cook, NH Business Review
The New Hampshire business community is stepping up to offer the Red Jacket Mountain View Resort in North Conway any support it can muster following a devastating fire that destroyed 75 rooms at the landmark hotel.
Mike Somers, CEO of the NH Lodging and Restaurant Association, told NH Business Review Monday his organization will help the resort’s employees as soon as possible.
“The biggest way we can help is the New Hampshire Hospitality Employee Relief Fund. It allows us to support displaced workers through a grant process,” Somers said. According to Buzzfile.com, the Red Jacket employs 99 full-time and part-time employees.
Somers explained the resort’s business interruption insurance and facility insurance will help the Red Jacket rebuild the property over time. But to have this happen when the state is emerging from the Covid-19 pandemic and right at the beginning of the 2022 spring and summer tourism season is devastating for any tourism business.
He has seen some interruptions during his 14 years at the helm of the association, “but this frankly is on a level we have not seen in many, many years.”
“What is not clear yet is, will they be able to operate the rest of the rooms this season?” Somers said. In addition to the 75 rooms that were lost, it is not known yet if other portions of the resort can be fully operated depending on the level of smoke and water damage they might have sustained.
On an emotional level, seeing the Red Jacket resort ablaze was upsetting for many New Hampshire families and visitors. Somers remembers bringing his children to the Red Jacket during February school vacation so they could enjoy the Kahuna Laguna indoor water park.
