Site name: Kevin Regan’s Testimony before the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs URL: hsgac.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseActionFiles.View&FileStore_id9f505192-a 70d-4105-b814-1c0ed11715f8 Background information: Testimony of Kevin T. Regan, Regional Vice President of Operations, Southeastern United States and Caribbean, Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc., before the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs United States Senate, Hearing November 16, 2005, “Hurricane Katrina: What Can Government Learn from the Private Sector’s Response?”

Exercises: Read the entire transcript of Mr. Regan’s testimony. Mr. Regan emphasizes throughout his presentation that the keys to successful crisis management are planning, leadership, teamwork, and communication.

a. Describe how these four components were evident throughout the description of how Starwood managed the crisis caused by Hurricane Katrina.

b. What lessons can hotel managers learned from his testimony?

c. Lead a class discussion on the importance of training staff for crisis situations, whether they are the result of a severe storm, earthquake, terrorist activity, or fire.