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COPYRIGHT 2005 The Dallas Morning News
Byline: Suzanne Marta
Oct. 27--ALLEN -- At the Amerihost Inn, they're stocking extra soap and shampoo in the rooms and ordering more milk to serve families who have fled the hurricane-ravaged Gulf Coast.
The operators of Dallas-based Motel 6 and Studio 6 are budgeting for extra wear and tear, because full-time residents are tougher on things than business travelers.
For hotels across North Texas, hurricanes Katrina and Rita have filled thousands of rooms, boosting occupancy levels and injecting unanticipated revenue into the market.
But the extra business has also forced them to adapt in a variety of ways.
Managers have learned to play new and unfamiliar roles -- offering informal counseling, shuttle services around town and coordinating community groups offering food, clothing and other basic necessities.
Hoteliers say hosting evacuees has helped them to form better bonds with their staff and ties to the community -- something that could translate into more business.
"It really put us on the map with the local community," said Mohamed Elmougy, whose...
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