The executive directors of both the U.S. Equestrian Federation and the U.S. Eventing Association are still waiting for definitive word on the status of both their annual meetings this winter since both had been scheduled for New Orleans. For now, their advice is not to book your flights.

The USEA meeting is scheduled for Dec. 1-4, and their hotel, The Crowne Plaza Astor on Canal St. in the French Quarter, has reportedly suffered damage that wasn\’t serious. In fact, Executive Director Jo Whitehouse said it was used as a shelter before the mandatory evacuation began just under two weeks after Hurricane Katrina struck.

But they haven\’t been able to speak with a local hotel representative, only with representatives from the national office. Consequently, said Whitehouse, they\’re unsure of their contract status. That\’s a serious issue because convention contracts only allow the hotel to cancel the reservation without penalties to the organization.

“We are looking at alternatives, though, possibly Atlanta or Charlotte, and maybe Nashville,” said Whitehouse, who suspected that the logistics of getting to New Orleans and moving around would make it untenable, even if the hotel were serviceable. The USEA\’s leaders want to keep the convention in the host area, Area III.

Lori Rawls, the USEF\’s executive director, expected to know by Sept. 16 whether their convention, scheduled for Jan. 11-15, is moving. She said their hotel, the Marriot, also on Canal St., sustained severe wind damage. “I know that, within a week, our representative there had already moved to Texas and was working for another hotel,” said Rawls.

She said they were expecting to be relieved of their contract obligations and were working with the Marriot staff to find another hotel in another city.