GALVESTON, TEXAS: Business is returning to normal at Moody Gardens Hotel, Spa and Convention Center on Galveston Island following Hurricane Ike. The hotel and convention center sustained only minimal damage during the storm and have since reopened for business.
The 428-room luxury hotel and a full suite of amenities, including Shearn’s and the Terrace Restaurants, the Spa at Moody Gardens, business center, state-of-the-art fitness center, room service and high-speed internet access, are available for guests. Hotel General Manager Garvin O’Neil has been very pleased with the rapid restoration of hotel amenities. “We’ve restored full internet access to all of our guest rooms and business center and our full-service audio/visual resources are available as well. While we’re still awaiting the full restoration of phone service, we’ve implemented a provisional system for reservations and client/guest communications.”
Moody Gardens already has welcomed new hotel guests and will host its first post-Ike business group the second week of October. With nearly 100,000 square feet of combined meeting and convention space unaffected by Ike, planned hotel events and holiday festivities will take place as originally scheduled.
Hotel GM Garvin O’Neil, a small group of hotel staff, 50 fire and rescue workers and 30 Galveston residents weathered the storm in the hotel. “We’re very grateful that we were able to shelter a number of residents and first responders and thankful that the property came through the storm with only minor damage,” O’Neil said.
Island-wide, the recovery effort is continuing. Moody Gardens has served as a staging area and housing center for Centerpoint Energy workers following the storm and also set aside the Moody Ballroom as a dining area, serving over 1,000 meals a day to employees from Centerpoint Energy, Georgia Power, other work crews and first responders as they worked around the clock to restore power to Galveston and aid in the recovery efforts.
Moody Gardens’ attractions also are coming back online. The Aquarium Pyramid, Ridefilm Theater and the Colonel Paddlewheel Boat opened to the public on Friday October 3. The Discovery Museum featuring the Bones Exhibit Inside You is scheduled to open on October 10. The 4D Special FX Theater is expected to re-open in November followed by the IMAX 3D Theater. The Rainforest Pyramid is expected to open in 3 to 9 months.
Moody Gardens Hotel, Spa and Convention Center is a full-service resort nestled among 242 acres of lush tropical gardens on historic Galveston Island. The resort complex features a luxury hotel, 103,000 square feet of flexible meeting space, and onsite attractions that offer hours of added entertainment. For additional information, visit www.moodygardenshotel.com.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
Hotel Reservation Line: 888-388-8484
For Group Business Inquiries & Questions:
Jamie Weir – 281-704-3175 or jweir@moodygardens.com
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