The hurricane damage to New Orleans, which is reroutinginsurance industry conference plans, has made a casualty of the2006 IASIU meeting that was originally booked for the CrescentCity.

The International Association of Special Investigation Units21st Annual Seminar and Expo on insurance fraud that will takeplace Sept. 10-13 is now on for La Quinta, Calif. It had beenbooked for the New Orleans Hyatt.

Last September, IASIU officials said they were hopeful theycould hold their gathering in New Orleans, but later they learneddifferently.

“We were booked at the Hyatt and they cancelled events for thewhole year, their damages were so bad,” explained John McHale,IASIU meeting planner and counsel.

He said the hotel initially had thought it could get back inservice sooner. “Hopefully, we will be able some day to rebook,”said Mr. McHale. The conference annually draws about 1,000people.

Television news coverage at the height of Katrina includedfrequent views of the Hyatt, which is located near the Superdome,with large numbers of windows blown out and drapes flapping in thegusts from the storm.