Category Archives: Maintenance

by | January 30, 2012 · 9:07 am

Hospitality Industry Legal Risks: Hotel Owners And Management Will Face Numerous Compliance And Regulatory Issues In 2012

“The biggest issue hotel managers face in the coming year vis-à-vis the law is compliance with the myriad applicable statutes, rules and duties owed…”

A hotel faces potential legal consequences for all of the following:

  • negligence in the maintenance of its premises
  • failure to comply with the Fair Labor Standards Act (minimum pay, overtime pay, equal pay, child labor)
  • discrimination against employees based on minority status
  • denial of services to guests perceived as illegal discrimination
  • contending with internet reviews, disagreements with a franchisor
  • overstepping bounds with unions
  • misapplying tip pools
  • eradicating bed bugs and other pests
  • dram shop violations
  • food issues
  • security concerns
  • insufficient insurance
  • trademark and copyright violations
  • securing and maintaining necessary business licenses
  • tax obligations
  • sanitation issues in spas
  • contract disagreements with suppliers
  • guests’ rights to privacy
  • SEC mandates
  • Managing employees to ensure compliance with all of the above, and much more.

For more:  http://www.hospitalitynet.org/news/154000320/4054640.html

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by | January 29, 2012 · 7:10 am

Hospitality Industry Safety Risks: Texas Restaurants Receive "Dividends" Back From Workers Compensation Insurance Program For Maintaining "Successful Safety Programs"

“…dividends come back to restaurants participating in the TRA’s workers comp insurance program… creates incentives for the restaurants to have a safety program and to work with the insurance company and the employees to maintain a safer workplace….”

“Every year we get back … a little over half of our premium that we paid. So, it’s a big return of an expense,” says Lindskog whose company has been in the program since 2004. “A lot of people don’t want workers comp insurance because it’s expensive. But if you get half of it back, it makes it much more cost effective for your restaurant.”

Texas Mutual is the leading provider of workers comp insurance in the state. It was created by the Texas Legislature in 1991 when major reforms on workers comp became effective. Its board of directors is composed of individuals from companies it insures as well as those appointed by the governor of Texas.

For more:  http://www.bizjournals.com/sanantonio/news/2012/01/25/san-antonio-restaurants-score-rebate.html?page=2

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Filed under Claims, Health, Injuries, Labor Issues, Liability, Maintenance, Management And Ownership, Risk Management, Training

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by | January 26, 2012 · 11:53 am

Hospitality Industry Health Risks: "High-End New York Hotels" Found To Have Bed Bugs

The Ritz is just the latest swanky hotel to report finding the blood-suckers in one of its rooms. Guests have previously complained about bedbugs at the Waldorf-Astoria.

Bedbugs have been spotted at the luxury Ritz-Carlton New York, reports The New York Times. A guest reported the pesky discovery to the front desk Sunday, and hotel management subsequently called an exterminator to rid the room of the creepy crawlers.

Guests in rooms next to the infested area, as well as those above and below it, were transferred to other accommodations and hotel workers received bedbug training, reports the Times.

Scott Geraghty, the hotel’s general manager, told the paper the problem had been remedied.

“Bedbugs are inevitable,” Geraghty said. “They’re brought in by guests and come in on luggage or things of that matter.”

For more:  http://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/Bedbug-Ritz-Carlton-Hotel-New-York-City-Infest-138120308.html

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by | January 25, 2012 · 1:38 am

Hospitality Industry Property Risks: Texas Hotel's Insurance Company Sues "Irresponsible Hotel Guests" For Causing Fire Sprinklers To Flood 39 Rooms On Four Floors

“…the defendants damaged the hotel by hanging clothes on a fire sprinkler head mounted to the wall…the hanger broke the glass tube component in the sprinkler, which caused it to activate and release enough water to flood 39 rooms on four floors, a workout room and four corridors…”

An insurance company is suing over claims irresponsible hotel guests in River Oaks activated a sprinkler system, causing 39 rooms to flood. Lexington Insurance, on behalf of RLJ Development, filed a lawsuit on Monday, Jan. 23 in the Harris County District Court against Al J. Mizrahie, doing business as Belladonna U.S.A., and others, citing negligence.

Carpets, padding, drywall, baseboards, bedding, furniture and fixtures were damaged during the incident, the plaintiff claims.

For more:  http://ultimatemontrose.com/stories/315610-guests-accused-of-flooding-39-rooms-at-river-oaks-hampton-inn

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by | January 24, 2012 · 1:25 am

Hospitality Industry Legal Risks: Texas Hotel Sued For "Negligence" In "Slip-And-Fall" Accident

“…According to the brief, Rodriguez fell, while holding his son, when he slipped on algae growing on a walkway at the hotel…”

A Harris County man is suing over claims he was hurt while staying at a Spring-area extended-stay hotel.
Roy Rodriguez filed a lawsuit on Jan. 20 in Harris County District Court against Sun Suites of Green’s Point, and others, citing negligence.

Rodriguez says he suffered injuries as a guest at Sun Suites Extended Stay Hotel, located at 12010 Kuykendahl Road in Spring. Rodriguez is seeking damages and court costs. He is being represented in the case by Houston attorney Mehran “Mike” Talabi.

For more: http://www.ultimatespringtx.com/stories/315167-courts-spring-hotel-named-in-slip-and-fall-suit

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by | January 23, 2012 · 8:06 am

Hospitality Industry Property Risks: Texas Hotel Completes Installation Of "Shatter-Resistant" Window Panes That Can Withstand "Hurricane-Force Winds And Even Bomb Blasts"

Glass panels were removed from balconies on the 37-story, $300 million building in mid-2011 after eight panels shattered on three separate occasions in June, raining glass into the hotel´s pool area and onto adjacent streets.

Final repairs will soon begin on balconies at the W Austin Hotel and Residences, with workers set to install about 1,000 panes of specially engineered glass that can withstand hurricane-force winds and even bomb blasts, according to its manufacturer.

  • SentryGlas, a product from DuPont, was determined to be the right choice, Armstrong told the American-Statesman.
  • The contractors, not Stratus, will pick up the tab for the $2.5 million project, Armstrong said. About $500,000 has already been spent removing the original glass, as well as providing security guards and protective walkways while that work was under way.
  • SentryGlas has an interlayer that holds together shattered panes, according to Harvey. But, he said, its interlayer is much, much tougher than typical laminated glass — 100 times stiffer and five times stronger.
  • Instead of brackets on the sides, the glass will now be inset with stainless steel mounts at the top and bottom of each panel.

For more: http://www.glassonweb.com/news/index/14953/

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by | January 22, 2012 · 8:39 pm

Hospitality Industry Property Risks: Wisconsin Hotel "Stairwell Pipe Bursts" On Seventh Floor Damaging Eight Rooms

“… a pipe broke in a stairwell. Water poured out for at least ten minutes and ended up in the basement of the hotel.  Eight guest rooms had water logged carpets which will have to be torn out…”

The Pfister Hotel is dealing with a mess after a pipe burst and several rooms flooded Saturday. Clean up crews spent the day at the historic hotel in downtown Milwaukee Saturday.

Fans were brought in to help dry out other areas. The hotel itself is still open.  But the burst pipe foiled Tammy Spoek’s day at the hotel’s spa.  “I was down at the spa and i was hearing that there was water. Water’s coming from the ceilings. So she came to me and said Tammy, I’m really sorry but we’re going to have to cancel your appointment,” Tammy said.

Spoek says it appeared the pipe broke somewhere near the seventh floor.

Hotel management says they believe the burst pipe is due to the cold temperatures the last few days.

The Pfister’s computer system apparently went down.  But the hotel and its restaurants did remain open.

For more:  http://www.620wtmj.com/news/local/137827354.html

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by | January 21, 2012 · 1:56 am

Hospitality Industry Property Risks: Missouri Hotel Fire Started By "Overloaded Electrical Cord"; 80-Year Old Building "Still Had Original Wiring"

The fire is believed to be electrical, but Noah said he doesn’t expect to determine the exact cause of the fire because the room “flashed over” during the fire. This can produce heat as high as 930 degrees.

“The building was built in 1927, and it still has the original wiring in the building,” Orgeron said. “We ask them not to, but you can’t be in everyone’s room all the time. People do break the rules.”

The fire at the Missouri Hotel started in the room of a resident who was using multiple electrical appliances, an official said. Fire marshal Philip Noah said a 48-year-old woman in room 221 had a box fan, stereo and cell phone charger plugged into an electrical cord.

Being able to pinpoint it becomes very difficult,” Noah said. “Really it would take an lectrical engineer”.

For more: http://www.news-leader.com/article/20120120/NEWS01/301200068/0/blogs/?odyssey=nav%7Chead

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by | January 17, 2012 · 1:40 am

P3 Hospitality Industry Risk Report: “Hotel Power Outage Checklist” Presented By Director Of Risk Management Todd Seiders Of Petra Risk Solutions (Video)

[vimeo http://www.vimeo.com/52513104 w=500&h=281]

Petra Risk Solutions’ Director of Risk Management, Todd Seiders , offers a P3 Hospitality Risk Report – ‘Hotel Power Outage Checklist’. 

P3 (Petra Plus Process) is the Risk Management Division of Petra Risk Solutions – America’s largest independent insurance brokerage devoted exclusively to the hospitality marketplace.

 For more information on Petra and P3 visit petrarisksolutions.com or call 800.466.8951.

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by | January 15, 2012 · 1:05 am

Hospitality Industry Legal Risks: Texas Hotel Sued By Family Of Housekeeper Who Died Falling Down Service Elevator Shaft; State Required Inspection Two-Weeks Overdue

“…Gloria Rodriguez, 65, had been an employee at the Crockett Hotel for 12 years when she fell six stories down the service elevator shaft Dec. 28. The elevator’s state-required annual inspection was more than two weeks overdue at the time…”

The family of a Crockett Hotel housekeeper who plunged to her death down an open elevator shaft last month has filed a wrongful death lawsuit.

Named in the suit are New Jersey-based Otis Elevator Company and 1859-Historic Hotels Ltd., a Galveston-based company that owns the Crockett Hotel and the nearby Menger Hotel in downtown San Antonio.

“Based upon current information, it is believed that she attempted to get on the elevator but when the doors opened there was no elevator, causing her to fall,” Houston-based attorney James Hada wrote in the suit, filed Wednesday.

Read more: http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/local_news/article/Wrongful-death-suit-filed-for-fatal-elevator-2519149.php#ixzz1jSJFD4KN

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