North Coast hotels are receiving a large number of the tourists whose vacation plans in Punta Cana and Bavaro hotels were thwarted by Hurricane Jeanne. The president of the Association of Hotels of Puerto Plata, Jesus Almanzar, told El Caribe that occupancy in September, normally the slowest month for the area’s hotels, is at 80%. Puerto Plata’s hotel industry hopes that word of mouth from the unexpected visitors may promote and increase travel to the area in future months. Almanzar reported that the Puerto Plata area mainly suffered damage to landscaping, its trees, and to its thatched-roof beach gazebos, which are promptly being repaired.