When Hurricane Ida made landfall as the strongest storm to hit Louisiana on Aug. 29, 2021—the same day Hurricane Katrina slammed the Gulf Coast 16 years prior—David Piscola and his team at Hilton New Orleans Riverside were ready.
The hotel shut down reservations and shifted into triage mode. 5,000 flashlights, 9,000 gallons of water, pre-cut plywood, generators and other essential supplies were gathered. Standing agreements with local fire and police departments, as well as contracts with waste management and restoration companies, were already in place.
