Phoenix-- The leadership of the International Association ofSpecial Investigative Units (IASIU) meeting here said yesterdaythat the group's conference scheduled for next year in New Orleansis still a possibility.

The organization's next annual seminar is currently booked forSept. 7-10, 2006 at the Hyatt Regency in New Orleans, whichsustained major damage from Hurricane Katrina.

Views of the hotel located near the Superdome, with its windowsblasted out and curtains waving in the wind, were shown frequentlyduring television news coverage at the height of the storm.

John McHale, IASIU counsel and meeting planner, said that whilethe association is scouting secondary locations, the Hyatt in NewOrleans "has first shot" at hosting the meeting, which this yearhas drawn more than 1,000 attendees.

Mr. McHale said no final decision has been made and "we need togive [the Hyatt] an opportunity to get ready."

He said currently all meetings at the Hyatt have been cancelleduntil March 31. While the damage was extensive, Mr. McHale notedthat the hotel before the storm hit had scheduled a majorrefurbishing to begin Dec. 1.

Catherine Gicker, IASIU vice president, said that before thisyear's conference began, only 16 people had canceled theirreservations after the hurricane.