by | May 10, 2013 · 6:44 am

Hospitality Industry Risk Solutions: Hotel Housekeeping Carts Are Now Smaller Leading To Increased Room Security, Less Employee Injuries And Reduction In Amenity And Towel Theft

 “Items are not exposed to people walking through hallways so theft of amenity items or towels is greatly reduced…there’s a safety issue, too…Housekeeping staff would park the larger carts outside and keep the door open while they cleaned…not so with the Hotel Housekeeping Safety & Securitysmaller version…the guest comes back and sees the door wide open (and would) think anyone can get in the room…”

“Linen closets (are now) situated closer to the rooms for easy access, eliminating the need for the larger carts. The housekeeping staff has been more productive with the smaller carts because they can move around more quickly, he says. They’re also less prone to injury as the larger carts were heavy to push around…”

Big, rolling housekeeping carts are disappearing from many hotel hallways, just like the floral polyester linens they used to carry. Hotels say they’re replacing cumbersome carts with smaller ones sometimes akin to golf caddie bags out? of necessity, in addition to convenience and even appearance.

Among those saying goodbye to the hall-blocking carts: The Staybridge Suites Times Square in New York, The Ritz-Carlton in Charlotte and the Renaissance Charlotte SouthPark Hotel.

Hotel general managers say there are a number of reasons why smaller is better.

  • Hotels don’t use duvets and bulky linens anymore, so there’s no need for large carts, they say. Plus, storage space is at a premium, and smaller carts don’t take up much space.
  • The bags are small enough to take into the room and leave the hallways clear and safe. They also don’t nick the walls of elevators and corridors like the large carts did.
  • But more important, the guests prefer them, says Rich Hotter, general manager of the Staybridge Suites Times Square.

For more:  http://www.usatoday.com/story/hotelcheckin/2013/05/10/hotels-housekeeping-carts/2146993/

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by | May 9, 2013 · 6:15 am

Hospitality Industry Property Risks: Texas Hotel Undergoing Renovations Suffers Fire Damage As “Hot Temperatures, Matresses Fuel Blaze”

Hotel Fire Investigation“…workers said they think mattresses might have fueled the blaze, but Dallas  Fire officials said they do not have an official cause of the fire…the fire was escalated to three alarms due to the size of the building and the hot and humid temperature inside…the renovated building was set to open as a new hotel in August 2013…”

A building being renovated into a new Homewood Suites was damaged after a  three alarm fire midday Wednesday. Officials with the hotel chain told FOX4 workers were installing dry wall and  flooring when the fire broke out on the fifth floor of the nine story building  shortly before noon.

Construction workers were in the building at the time and were evacuated. The  fire was put out by 12:30 p.m.

Fire officials said they believe the fire was accidental.

Management for the hotel told FOX4 they believe they will be able to make  repairs and still open on schedule.

Read more: http://www.myfoxdfw.com/story/22195836/fire-guts-part-of-downtown-dallas-building#ixzz2SnqpzXUa

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by | May 8, 2013 · 6:10 am

Hospitality Industry Health Risks: Nevada Restaurant Sued After “Salmonella Food Poisoning” Outbreak; “Inadequate Hand Washing, Handling Of Food With Bare Hands, Improper Food Storage” Violations Found

“…health inspectors were sent to the restaurant to investigate…they found multiple violations including: employees handling ready-to-eat food with bare hands, inadequate hand washing by foodhandlers; inadequate or missing cooling and heating logs for food; raw ground beef stored Salmonella Enteritidisover cooked chicken and raw seafood; fruit flies and small moths in the cooking area; and broken cooking thermometers and foods not being held at proper temperatures…”

A Pennsylvania woman has filed a lawsuit against the Firefly on Paradise, a Las Vegas restaurant. She is seeking compensation for allegedly contracting Salmonella food poisoning from the restaurant. She is being represented by Fred Pritzker, Brendan Flaherty and Ryan Osterholm, who are also representing several other people allegedly sickened in the outbreak.  Pritzker, Flaherty and Osterholm are part of PritzkerOlsen law firm’s Bad Bug Law Team.

The firm’s client is one of the 89 people sickened in a Salmonella outbreak associated with the Firefly. She and her husband were visiting Las Vegas in late April. On April 24, they ate dinner at Firefly on Paradise. Two days later, she developed symptoms that included nausea, fever, abdominal cramps and bloody diarrhea. She is still receiving medical treatment.

According to the complaint, those foods include but are not limited to: pork, calamari, garlic in oil, potatoes, tortilla empanada, lettuce, shrimp, mussels, claims, chicken and fish. The restaurant has been closed during the outbreak investigation to reduce the risk to public health.

For more:  http://foodpoisoningbulletin.com/2013/salmonella-lawyers-file-lawsuit-against-firefly-restaurant-in-las-vegas/

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by | May 7, 2013 · 6:18 am

Hospitality Industry Property Risks: New Jersey Restaurant Fire Started With “Motor On Top Of Walk-In Cooler”; Floor Collapses And Dining Room Destroyed By Smoke Damage

“…the preliminary investigation indicates the fire might have started with a motor on top of a walk in cooler but this is still under Restaurant Fireinvestigation…the outside structure is still standing but the bar fell into the basement and the dining room was destroyed by smoke damage…”

The Ridgewod Restaurant was severely damaged in an early morning fire, police said. Firefighters and police were called to the restaurant on Brooklyn Stanhope Road at 2:23 a.m. on Saturday by the owners, who said that they had left the business after closing to go out and when they returned they found smoke cinside, according to Lt. Thomas Kmetz, a police department spokesman.

Police arrived to find kitchen door was hot to the touch and they could heard popping noises coming from inside, Kmetz said. The fire department arrived on the scene and found that there was smoke coming out of every possible area of the building that it could get out of, Kmetz said.

Firefighters extinguished the fire but the middle floor where the bar used to be collapsed into the basement and the dining room was destroyed by smoke damage, Kmetz said.

The Hopatcong, Roxbury, Netcong, Mount Arlington and Stanhope fire departments all responded to the blaze.  The restaurant specializes in Portugese and Italian cuisine.

For more:  http://www.dailyrecord.com/article/20130506/NJNEWS/305060057/Hopatcong-restaurant-severely-damaged-fire

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by | May 6, 2013 · 5:32 am

Hospitality Industry Legal Risks: New Mexico Restaurant Sued By Family Of Man Killed After “Leaving While Intoxicated”; Lawsuit Claims Corporate Policy Of “Driving Up Liquor Sales”

“…The lawsuit says the restaurant’s employees shouldn’t have served Varela the 20-ounce “Brewtus” beers and should have Alcohol Drink Responsiblystopped him from leaving while intoxicated…It also accused Applebee’s corporate leadership of encouraging its restaurants to drive up liquor sales, especially late at night, a policy it says “created a dangerous situation…”

The estate of a man who was struck and killed by a truck filed a lawsuit against the Taos restaurant that served him several 20-ounce beers, saying he was over served before he walked out of the restaurant and into the street where he was killed. The Albuquerque Journal reports Julian Varela, 49, had a blood alcohol level four times the legal limit for driving when he left the Applebee’s Neighborhood Grill and Bar on Dec. 29, 2011.

He was killed by a teen driver who wasn’t cited in the incident. The lawsuit names the 17-year-old as a defendant, saying he was negligent.

An attorney for Varela’s estate wouldn’t say where they got the internal emails and records those accusations are based on. The lawsuit references police reports from 2008 to 2011 that list 90 incidents, and the chain’s own log entries of gunshots, fights, assaults and other incidents at the restaurant.

It seeks punitive and other damages.

For more:  http://www.azcentral.com/news/free/20130501new-mexico-applebees-sued-over-drunk-pedestrians-death.html

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by | May 5, 2013 · 7:27 am

Hospitality Industry Legal Risks: Ohio Motel Sued For $25,000 By Guest For “Bed Bug” Bites Requiring Medical Treatment; Staff Should Have Recognized Signs Of Infestation

“…in the morning, she claims she had bed bug bites, which were severe enough she required medical treatment. The bugs also reportedly infested the luggage she had with her. When she arrived home, the bed bugs reportedly infested her home…(the Bed Bugs in Hotel Roomsplaintiff) contends the staff should have been trained to recognize the signs of bed bugs, identified the problem, reported it to management and called in proper pest control measures to eradicate the creatures. She also believes she should have been alerted of the unsafe conditions of the room…”

A lawsuit was filed in Columbiana County Common Pleas Court this week seeking damages from bed bugs allegedly discovered last summer by a guest at Barnett’s Motel on U.S. Route 62 west of Salem. Jacki Covert, of Antiock, Ill., claims she rented room 110 on June 24, 2012 and spent a night at the motel.

According to the lawsuit, Hemiptera, which are also known as bed bugs, suck blood and rapidly reproduce. The bugs can be difficult to control, even in the cleanest facilities. The bugs shed their skin as they grow, leaving behind proof of their existence on sheets, pillow cases, couches, chairs, carpets and floors throughout the room.

She is seeking in excess of $25,000 in relief.

For more:  http://www.salemnews.net/page/content.detail/id/565283/Woman-sues-Barnett-s-Motel-over-alleged-bedbug-infestation.html?nav=5061

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by | May 4, 2013 · 6:25 am

Hospitality Industry Insurance Risks: Hotels Must Purchase “Additional Terrorism Clause” To Have Losses Covered When Government Classifies Bombing Incidents “Acts Of Terror”

“…(after September 11 attacks) “acts of terror”  were excluded from (regular insurance) policies. They made it an optional add-on that businesses Acts of Terror Insurance Coveragehad to purchase separately to have damage covered that resulted from officially declared acts of terrorism, meaning the government’s categorization of the incident will determine who pays for what…”

The hotels located on or near Boylston Street are still trying to get their feet back under them after the tragedy in Boston, reeling from the lack of business associated with the incident’s aftermath. Hotels are looking to their insurance companies to cover their losses, but, interestingly enough, the payout depends upon whether or not the government officially declares the marathon bombings an “act of terror.”

 According to ABC News, President Obama called the bombings an “act of terror,” but the treasury secretary, attorney general, and secretary of state have yet to speak on the designation, and have set no time frame in which to do so.

“If there is no terror finding, damages would be covered in general under regular property-and-casualty policies,” Robert Hartwig, president of the trade group Insurance Information Institute, told ABC News. If it’s declared an “act of terror,” however, only those who purchased the additional terrorism clause would have their losses covered by insurance.

For more:  http://www.hotelchatter.com/story/2013/5/2/114339/2751/hotels/%22Terrorism_Insurance%22_a_Hot_Debate_as_Boston_Hotels_Still_Struggle_

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by | May 2, 2013 · 4:26 pm

P3 Hospitality Industry Risk Report: “Improving Hotel Security After Boston” Presented By Petra Risk Solutions’ Director Of Risk Management Todd Seiders (Video)

[vimeo http://www.vimeo.com/65324022 w=500&h=281]

In the wake of the Boston Marathon bombings, it’s time to re-examine our security efforts and update our attitudes and training. Petra Risk Solutions’ Director of Risk Management, Todd Seiders , offers a P3 Hospitality Risk Update – ‘Improving Hotel Security after Boston’. 

P3P3 (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 | · 5:28 am

Hospitality Industry Property Risks: Michigan Restaurant Electrical Fire Caused By “Kitchen Materials Improperly Stored”; Heat Causes Pipes To Burst And Extensive Water Damage

“…the cause was improper storage of materials from the kitchen in an area not intended for storage…the heat caused pipes to burst, so there is Restaurant Firewater and smoke damage to the entire building…Normally the cleanup contractors can get things cleaned up if they can get in there right away, but the major issue will be damage to the electrical system…”

An early morning electrical fire has closed Culver’s restaurant on 9th street for at least a few weeks, general manager Jennie Atteberry said Tuesday morning. Texas Township fire chief Mike Corfman said his department was dispatched at 4:32 a.m. Tuesday when a delivery man noticed a haze at the  restaurant and  called 911.

When firefighters arrived they found heavy smoke coming from the utility room, he said.

It took only 10 minutes to put out the fire, which was contained to the utility room. There were no injuries in the fire.

For more:  http://www.mlive.com/news/kalamazoo/index.ssf/2013/04/electrical_fire_closes_culvert.html

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by | May 1, 2013 · 6:33 am

Hospitality Industry Privacy Risks: Texas Hotel Employee Arrested For “Attempted Improper Photography And Visual Recording”; Cell Phone Placed In Ceiling Above Guest Room Shower

“…Police say a guest reported hearing an alarm-type sound coming from the bathroom area of her hotel room while she was in the shower…she hotel room privacyfound a small pinhole with a camera lens behind it in the ceiling. After moving the tiles, she discovered the cell phone…Hotel security removed the camera from the ceiling and noted that it was powered on…The room’s electric lock showed that (the defendant) had entered the room the day prior with the key assigned to him….”

A housekeeper at the Hyatt Regency hotel located at 208 Barton Springs is charged with misdemeanor attempted improper photography and visual recording. Blue Moo Too, 30, is charged after his cell phone was found hidden in a ceiling tile above the shower of one of the hotel rooms.

Video on the phone showed a man placing it in the bathroom ceiling and wiping away his footprints from the bathtub. The hotel’s executive housekeeper identified the man as her employee, Too, a housekeeper at the hotel.

Too was booked into Travis County Jail on April 12 with a $25,000 bail. He has since bonded out. Police say they didn’t find evidence of any other victims on his cell phone. His computer is still being looked at. At this time, the former housekeeper is facing up to one year in jail and a fine of no more than $4,000.

For more: http://www.kvue.com/news/Hyatt-hotel-worker-charged-with-improper-photography-203045331.html

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