By Julie Johnsson | Online travel agency Orbitz is offering to refund lodging costs for
Florida travelers with standalone hotel reservations if a beach at their
destination is closed due to the Gulf of Mexico oil spill.

The “Open Beach Guarantee,” rolled out Monday by Chicago-based Orbitz
Worldwide, is one of the first broad initiatives aimed at addressing the
steep drop-off in tourism to the gulf region as a result of the BP
environmental disaster.

The guarantee applies to about 100 coastal hotels in Florida, but may be
expanded to other states, and is aimed providing some assurance to
travelers hesitant to vacation along Florida’s coasts, said Orbitz
spokesman Brian Hoyt.

“The communities there are definitely hurting,” Hoyt said. “Our goal is to provide greater transparency for consumers.”

Under the guarantee, customers who make a standalone hotel booking at a participating hotel on Orbitz.com for travel between June 14 and July 31, 2010 are eligible for a full refund on their hotel stay if a government agency closes a beach within 20 miles of the property or declares it dangerous.

The special offer does not apply to air fare or to hotels booked as part of a package deal. Hoyt said that’s because regional residents making short road trips account for the vast majority of tourism to the affected region during  the summer months. Orbitz will re-evaluate the program and may consider broadening it at summer’s end, he added.

Orbitz also created a page on its website where travelers can find the latest information on the oil spill and its impact on the gulf region: www.orbitz.com/oil.