Wealthy businessman moves refugees to upscale hotel

6 September 2005

SAN DIEGO (AP) - Nearly 80 Hurricane Katrina refugees are enjoying a bit of luxury at one of the city's most posh hotels.

The group spent Monday night free of charge in the Manchester Grand Hyatt San Diego, a giant waterfront hotel where rooms typically begin at $200 a night. It's a big step up from the high school gymnasium where the evacuees spent the previous night.

Businessman David Perez brought the families Sunday from Baton Rouge, La., to San Diego on a chartered Boeing 737. On Labor Day, Perez treated them to a barbecue dinner before they checked into their hotel rooms.

Perez, an oil-and-gas exploration company executive, offered to pay for the 30 rooms but the hotel donated four nights, meals included, said hotel general manager Ted Kanatas.

"Only a few came down for breakfast this morning," Kanatas said Tuesday. "I'm sure they're all just sleeping in."

Perez, 42, planned to return to Louisiana Tuesday with three planes stocked with supplies, according to The San Diego Union-Tribune. The North County Times reported that he would return from Baton Rouge with more evacuees.

Perez said he was frustrated by the sluggish pace of recovery efforts being coordinated by the Federal Emergency Management Agency. "I could act quicker," he said.

Perez, chairman and chief operating officer of Surge Global Energy Inc., didn't respond to a phone message at his office Tuesday. Fred Kelly, the company's chief executive officer, said he was unaware of Perez's whereabouts.

The American Red Cross dismantled its shelter at Kearny High School on Monday after Perez picked the refugees up in shuttle buses and agreed to care for them, said Gayle Falkenthal, a spokeswoman for the organization.

"From here, it's in Mr. Perez's capable hands," she said.

It was unclear where the evacuees would stay when their stay at the Hyatt ends. Kanatas, the general manager, said the hotel was full after Thursday.