Attacks disrupt business

June Casagrande and Lolita Harper

NEWPORT-MESA -- The effects of Tuesday’s tragic attacks are having a

ripple effect in area business, hitting everything from hotels and

restaurants to financial services and travel agencies.

In contrast to the booked-solid hotels in New York City that are

making headlines around the country, accommodations near John Wayne

Airport are in eerily plentiful supply. The silent skies above John Wayne

have left the Newport Beach Marriott Resort & Tennis Club at just 50%

occupancy -- a significant drop from its anticipated 80% rate.

“A large, international group canceled because they couldn’t get

here,” said Clark Albright, director of marketing at the hotel.

Many of the people staying at the hotel Wednesday were stuck waiting

for flights to resume.

“A lot of them are anxious to get home to their families, but they’re

not able to get out of here,” he said.

Large groups have canceled parties at restaurants and catered events

too.

“It’s too soon to know whether day-to-day business is going to be

seriously impacted,” said Clayton Shurley, owner of Clayton Shurley’s

Real BBQ. “Some of my pre-booked parties have been pushed back, and in my

catering business some people have postponed parties until next month.”

The shutdown of air traffic hasn’t grounded just passengers. For

businesses such as Roy’s of Newport Beach, the end of airplane flights

has meant a halt of shipments of fresh fish.

At least three times a week, the restaurant receives via Federal

Express shipments totaling several hundred pounds of ahi, Hawaiian

swordfish, mahi mahi and other delicacies. When he realized this lifeline

was about to be cut off, chef Chris Garnier bought all the Hawaiian fish

in stock from the restaurant’s local seafood purveyor, as well as produce

such as pineapples.

Some of the businesses hardest hit by the tragedy are financial

services, such as Merrill Lynch, which saw its World Trade Center

headquarters destroyed in Tuesday’s attack.

Four commercial airliners were hijacked early Tuesday. Two hit the

trade center’s towers, causing them to collapse. The third plane crashed

into the Pentagon, and the fourth crashed in a rural part of

Pennsylvania.

Merrill Lynch offices in Newport Beach, Fashion Island and Costa Mesa

operated with skeleton crews Tuesday, but had returned to business as

usual by Wednesday.

Travel agents have seen their businesses come to a screeching halt as

a result of the nationwide freeze on passenger flights. Fears fueled by

images of hijacked planes crashing into the New York skyscrapers are also

hitting home.

“A lot of people are going to be afraid to get on a plane,” said

Margaret Amos, manager of Newport Mesa Travel Connection. “There’s hardly

a family in the country that won’t be affected by this.”