Category Archives: Training

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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by | January 27, 2012 · 6:59 am

Hospitality Industry Online Risks: Minnesota Hotel Manager Assists Police In Arrest Of Man Running "Online Escort Service At Hotel"

A 34-year-old Columbia Heights man is charged with promoting the prostitution of a 17-year-old girl – after a hotel manager found information about the man’s escort service online.

Samuel Cozart was charged Thursday in Ramsey County. According to the complaint, Cozart approached a man in the Days Inn Hotel in Roseville on Tuesday and asked where he could get fake identification for a girl staying with him.

The man happened to be the boyfriend of a hotel employee. So he told the hotel manager, who went online to investigate. The complaint says the manager found information about an escort service it seemed Cozart was running, and went to police.

Cozart’s attorney was in court Thursday and did not immediately return a phone message seeking comment.

For more:  http://www.keyc.tv/story/16610438/hotel-manager-leads-police-to-prostitution-arrest

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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 | · 1:02 am

Hospitality Industry Employee Risks: Texas Hotel Sued By Former Restaurant Manager For "Retaliation" After Family Leave Of Absense

“… the company denies that Wike was fired in retaliation for taking time off under the FMLA…”

Back in November, the former restaurant manager for the Overton Hotel filed a labor lawsuit, claiming she was fired in violation of the Family and Medical Leave Act. On Wednesday, the management company for the Overton, 1859 Historic Hotels Ltd., responded.

Kerri Wike claims she never had a bad job review prior to taking leave to care for her mother in the summer of last year. She claims that when she came back to work on Sept. 1, she was given the choice to resign or be fired.

The Overton says, “All actions taken by the Defendant were in good faith, were made in conformance with applicable law, were taken based on reasonable grounds for believing that its actions were not in violation of law, and were for legitimate, nonretaliatory reasons.”

For more:  http://www.kcbd.com/story/16603000/overton-hotel-responds-to-lawsuit-by-former-manager

Other than denying retaliation, the Overton’s response is not specific as to why Wike was fired.

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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 16, 2012 · 7:13 am

Hospitality Inudustry Insurance Risks: Restaurants Are Adding New "Business Innovations" That May Not Be Covered By Existing Insurance Coverages

“…Many (restaurants) are turning to innovations to grow their business. While that can be a plus for their balance sheets, it can also open the door to unexpected liabilities that their insurance policies were not designed to cover…”

Agents can head off this scenario and build a strong consultative relationship with their restaurant customers by asking key questions at renewal time. Here are some of the trends that could put restaurants at risk and the questions agents should ask their restaurant customers :

  1. Mobility. Has the restaurant added new services, such as delivery of meals using hired drivers with their own cars?
  2. Branch out businesses. Has the restaurant started a new line of business, such as catering?
  3. Trendy foods. Has the restaurant introduced new menu offerings as part of the strategy for attracting more customers, such as locally sourced foods, an emphasis on organic ingredients or assurances about non-allergenic ingredients?
  4. Additional payment methods. Is the restaurant accepting new methods of payment, such as online credit charges or smartphone purchasing?

All too often, the lack of appropriate coverage only becomes evident when a mishap occurs and a claim is filed. After someone has already threatened to sue for damages is usually a bad time for restaurant owners to discover they should have consulted with their insurance agent about their insurance needs before changing their business model.

For more:  http://www.propertycasualty360.com/2012/01/12/4-trends-that-can-put-restaurants-at-risk

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Filed under Claims, Food Illnesses, Guest Issues, Insurance, Labor Issues, Liability, Management And Ownership, Training

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by | January 9, 2012 · 6:13 am

Hospitality Industry Legal Risks: Ten Indiana Hotels Named In "Overtime Lawsuit" Involving Housekeepers And Food Service Staff

 “…to get all the rooms cleaned, she didn’t take lunch breaks or worked past the end of her shift…she estimates she is owed $5,200 for unpaid work over the past two years…”

 “…intends to ask the court to make the lawsuit a class action open to more than 1,000 local hotel employees who worked for Hospitality Staffing during the past three years…”

An attorney representing 14 Indianapolis hourly hotel workers plans to file a lawsuit today alleging their employers failed to pay them for overtime. Ten Indianapolis hotels, including some of the city’s largest, and the staffing company for which the employees worked, Hospitality Staffing Solutions, are named in the prepared complaint. Jeffrey A. Macey, an Indianapolis attorney for the workers, said he plans to file the 24-page document today in U.S. District Court in Indianapolis.

Most of the 14 workers making the allegations were housekeepers or food service staff.

For more:  http://www.indystar.com/article/20120109/LOCAL18/201090328/10-Indianapolis-hotels-named-lawsuit-alleging-workers-weren-t-paid-overtime?odyssey=tab%7Ctopnews%7Ctext%7CIndyStar.com

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by | January 1, 2012 · 8:25 am

Hospitality Industry Property Risks: Wisconsin Hotel Guests Hospitalized From "Carbon Monoxide Leak" As Swimming Pool Heating System Malfunctions

“…carbon monoxide levels of 800 parts per million were detected in the swimming pool area and 957 parts per million in a mechanical room where a heating system apparently malfunctioned, causing the leak…”

“…Levels of 9 parts per million usually will prompt officials to evacuate a building…”

As many as 16 people at a hotel near Lambeau Field were hospitalized Friday night after becoming ill from an apparent carbon monoxide leak, officials said. Battalion Chief Ed Jarosz of the Green Bay Fire Department said at least two of the victims were children who became ill in the swimming pool area at the Hilton Garden Inn, 1015 Lombardi Ave.

Two children were transported by ambulance, and 14 others were taken to a hospital by private vehicles, Jarosz said.

Children had been playing in the swimming pool area about 45 minutes before they began feeling sick, he said.

For more:  http://www.greenbaypressgazette.com/article/20120101/GPG0101/201010565/Carbon-monoxide-leak-at-Hilton-Garden-Inn-in-Green-Bay-sends-16-to-hospital

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Filed under Guest Issues, Health, Injuries, Insurance, Maintenance, Management And Ownership, Pool And Spa, Risk Management, Training

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by | December 31, 2011 · 2:59 am

P3 Hospitality Industry Risk Report: "Hotel Cold Weather Checklist" Presented By Risk Manager Joe Fisco Of Petra Risk Solutions (Video)

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zMr9bfhZ3Z4]

Petra Risk Solutions’ Risk Manager, Joe Fisco, offers a P3 Hospitality Risk Report – ‘Hotel Cold Weather 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 | December 25, 2011 · 9:22 am

Hospitality Industry Alcohol Risks: Hotels And Restaurants Hosting "Office Parties And Charity Events" Need To Insure Against "Liquor Liability"

“…office parties and charity events…can provide opportunities for professionals to mingle casually with their co-workers and clients and can help boost employee morale…(but) they can also prove to be a liability for businesses that serve alcohol…”

“…when business owners host a holiday party and serve alcohol as part of the festivities, liquor liability would most likely be covered by their commercial general liability (CGL) policy…”

 “…In addition to a CGL policy, businesses should also consider purchasing an Employment Practices Liability Insurance (EPLI) policy. An EPLI policy will protect a business from discrimination, sexual harassment, emotional distress, and other workplace-related issues…”

  • Forty-four states plus the District of Columbia have enacted liquor liability laws
  • These laws make it possible for a plaintiff to hold those who serve alcohol to an intoxicated or underage person responsible for any damage or injury caused by these same individuals after they leave the party
  • Most of these laws also offer an injured person, such as the victim of a drunk driver, a method to sue the person who served the alcohol
  • There are circumstances under these same state laws where criminal charges may also apply
  • Liquor liability laws were intended originally to apply to taverns, bars, and other establishments selling and serving alcohol

However, the liability laws have expanded over time to include “social hosts” (such as those holding a holiday party in their home or business) in some states giving them some exposure to the risk of liability for serving alcohol.

“If you are throwing an office party where alcohol is served, you have a responsibility to make sure that your employees are capable of driving safely.”

For more:  http://insurancenewsnet.com/article.aspx?id=319206

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