Tag Archives: Hospitality Lawyer

by Ida | March 13, 2015 · 9:55 am

Hospitality Industry Legal Update: “Marijuana: An Emerging Coverage Risk”

The federal government has greeted legalization by the states with benevolent indifference. The Controlled Substance Act categorizes marijuana as contraband for any purpose, including medical use, designating it a Schedule 1 drug along with heroin and LSD. The manufacture, distribution, or possession of marijuana remains a federal crime for which, if prosecuted, state legalization laws cannot be used as a defense.

The emerging legal marijuana economy will see explosive growth in the coming years. Insurers should be prepared to adopt policies that spell out coverage for legally grown marijuana plants and medical marijuana property. The cannabis industry is expected to grow to nearly $15 billion over the next four years. In states where manufacture, sale and use is legal for recreational purposes, legalization will have a profound impact on not only personal lines insurance, but also commercial coverage, workersâ€™ comp, product liability, healthcare insurance and more.

Currently, 27 states have either decriminalized or legalized marijuana use in some form. Four states: Alaska, Colorado, Oregon and Washington, and the District of Columbia allow recreational use. In addition, recreational marijuana initiatives are expected to appear on the 2016 ballots in Arizona, California, Maine, Massachusetts and Nevada. According to a recent Gallop poll, 51% of Americans now support full legalization. In 2014, Oregonians voted to legalize marijuana by a 56 to 44% margin. More Oregonians voted to legalize cannabis than voted to retain their incumbent Democratic governor or senator in the same election.

For more:Â http://bit.ly/1Mybsbq

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Filed under Crime, Hotel Industry, Insurance, Management And Ownership, Risk Management

Tagged as Arrest, Coverage Risk, Employees, Federal Law, Guest Safety, Health Hazards, Hospitality, Hospitality Industry, Hospitality Lawyer, Hospitality Risk Solutions, Hotel Employees, Hotel Guest, Hotel Industry, Hotel Safety, Hotel Security, Hotel Staff, hotel workers, Hotels, Housekeepers, Injuries, Insurable interest, Insurance, Lawsuits, Legal Issues, Legal Marijuana, Legal Risks, legalization, Liability, Managing Risk, Marijuana, Mature, Medical Marijuana, Motels, P3, Petra Risk Solutions, possession of marijuana, Restaurant Employees, Restaurants, Risk Management, Risk Management Update, Security, State Law

by Ida | March 12, 2015 · 10:01 am

Hospitality Industry Technology Update: “Hoteliers Readying for Wearable Tech”

The Apple Watch will be available in early 2015. In the meantime, Starwood Hotels has developed a Bluetooth-enabled smartphone app that allows customers to unlock their rooms with a simple swipe. The company upgraded 30,000 room locks across nearly 150 hotels, and in November the app went live at Starwoodâ€™s Aloft, Element and W brands.

Technology giant Apple made a splash with a 9 March keynote address providing more detail about the much-anticipated release of its new venture in wearable tech, which will be available for purchase on 24 April.

Several hotel companies are getting in front of that launch date with news of their own tailor-made apps for the device.

Accor announced an iOS app for Apple Watch shortly after Appleâ€™s webcast presentation. Available in 10 languages, the app will promotes top hotels and destinations and allows users to manage bookings on Accorhotels.

Marriott International, meanwhile, announced it would be the first global hotel company to accept Apple Pay, which allows guests to use their iPhone 6, iPhone 6 Plus or Apple Watch to pay at check-in as opposed to via cash or credit card. The phased introduction this summer in the United States will include brands in popular locations, such as The Ritz-Carlton, Edition, Renaissance Hotels and Marriott Hotels.

For more: http://bit.ly/1ED7a3g

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Filed under Guest Issues, Hotel Industry, Technology

Tagged as Apple, Apple Pay, Apple Watch, Cybercrime, Cybersecurity, Digital Branding, Digital Marketing, Employees, Guest Safety, Hospitality, Hospitality Industry, Hospitality Lawyer, Hospitality Risk Solutions, Hotel Employees, Hotel Guest, Hotel Industry, Hotel News Now, Hotel Security, Hotel Staff, hotel workers, Hotels, Housekeepers, Insurance, Keyless Entry, Legal Issues, Legal Risks, Liability, Managing Risk, Mobile Technology, Motels, Online Marketing, P3, Petra Risk Solutions, Restaurant Employees, Restaurants, Risk Management, Risk Management Update, Security, Social Media, Starwood Hotels, Surveillance, Technology, Theft, Wearable Tech

by Ida | March 11, 2015 · 10:15 am

Hospitality Industry Technology Update: “The Growing Risk of Cyber Liability” (Video)

In the last two years, significant data breaches have affected well-known companies such as Target, Home Depot, JP Morgan Chase and eBay â€” just to name a few. The issue has become so prevalent that President Obama issued an executive order in February 2013 to strengthen the U.S. cyber security framework.

In today’s society, weâ€™re experiencing a steady increase in the number of users who utilize the Internet and technology each and every day. As a result, businesses are looking more to technology in order to stay efficient in their business practices. While technology is convenient in many ways, it also exposes businesses to cyberattacks.

According to the Poneman Institute’s Cost of Cyber Crime Study, there was an 18% increase in the number of cyberattacks in 2013, and a report by Symantec on internet security found that 61% of small and midsize businesses experienced a cyberattack in 2013. Hackers are constantly looking to disrupt business operations; hence, it is more important than ever to prepare organizations for potential security breaches.

For more:Â http://bit.ly/1MtrBRm

And for more how to best protect your property from a cyber security attack, check out the video below from Petra’s own P3 Risk Management Team.

[vimeo https://vimeo.com/121258482 w=500&h=281]

Petra Risk Solutionsâ€™ Loss Control Manager, Marco Johnson, offers a P3 Hospitality Risk Report â€“ â€˜How to Help Protect Your Hotel’s Computer Network and Information Systemsâ€™.Â

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

For more information on Petra and P3 visitÂ petrarisksolutions.comÂ or call 800.466.8951.

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Filed under Crime, Employee Practices, Guest Issues, Hotel Industry, Management And Ownership, Risk Management, Social Media, Technology, Theft, Training

Tagged as Arrest, Credit Cards, Crime, Cyber Attack, Cyber Liability, Cyber Security, Cybercrime, Cybersecurity, Data Breach, Digital Marketing, Digital Technology, Employees, Guest Safety, Hospitality, Hospitality Industry, Hospitality Lawyer, Hospitality Risk Solutions, Hotel Employees, Hotel Guest, Hotel Industry, Hotel Safety, Hotel Security, Hotel Staff, hotel workers, Hotels, Insurance, Internet, Internet Security, Lawsuits, Legal Issues, Legal Risks, Liability, Managing Risk, Mobile Technology, Motels, P3, Petra Risk Solutions, Property Damage, Restaurant Employees, Risk Management, Risk Management Division, Risk Management Update, Security, Social Media, Surveillance, Technology, Theft, Training, Video

by Ida | March 10, 2015 · 10:13 am

Hospitality Industry Marketing Update: “Trends and Budgeting For 2015” (Infographic)

Click above to view the whole image!

1. Mobile Presence

2. Local Presence

3. Social Presence

4. Content Marketing

5. User Experience

6. Paid Search Presence

7. ROI Analysis – Cross Channels

8. Understanding Your Customer Journey

For more:Â http://bit.ly/1Bnw44D

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Filed under Finances, Hotel Industry, Hotel Restaurant, Management And Ownership, Social Media, Technology

Tagged as 2015, Budgeting, Content Marketing, Crime, Cybercrime, Cybersecurity, Digital Marketing, Employees, Fire, Guest Safety, Health Hazards, Hospitality, Hospitality Industry, Hospitality Lawyer, Hospitality Net, Hospitality Risk Solutions, Hotel Employees, Hotel Guest, Hotel Industry, Hotel Safety, Hotel Security, Hotel Staff, hotel workers, Hotels, Housekeepers, Infographic, Insurance, Lawsuits, Legal Issues, Legal Risks, Liability, Local Presence, Managing Risk, Marketing Trends, Mobile Presence, Mobile Technology, Motels, Online Marketing, P3, Paid Search Presence, Petra Risk Solutions, Property Damage, Restaurant Employees, Restaurants, Risk Management, Risk Management Update, ROI Analysis, Security, Social Media, Social Presence, Surveillance, Technology, User Experience

by Ida | March 9, 2015 · 9:27 am

Hospitality Industry Management Update: “Engaging Todayâ€™s Connected Travelers”

To improve the overall guest experience, hotels should leverage their unique position as a supplier, said Bernard Ellis, vice president of industry strategy at Infor Hospitality, a software provider. â€œYou know more about your property than anybody else, so you can maximize that with things like early check-in and late checkout, room type, food and beverageâ€”all based on looking at the guestâ€™s past preferences,â€ Ellis said.

Hotels that establish meaningful relationships with guests can maximize revenue opportunities and increase customer satisfaction, travel industry experts said during the Digital Marketing Strategy Conference, which was hosted by Hospitality Sales & Marketing Association International in Manhattan last week. Here are some best practices panelists shared for using technology to engage with guests before, during, and after their stays.

Before They Arrive
Googleâ€™s industry head for travel, Tiffany Miller, said that during the pre-booking period, consumers visit 18 travel-related sites. â€œYou have two and a half weeks to inspire the traveler to book your property,â€ she added. To make an impact, marketers should take creative approaches, like using celebrities or YouTube stars to boost engagement or allowing consumers to spread the message through self-generated videos.

For more:Â http://bit.ly/1NACu5k

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Filed under Employee Practices, Hotel Industry, Management And Ownership, Social Media, Technology

Tagged as Connected Travelers, Cybersecurity, Digital Marketing, Digital Marketing Strategy, Employees, Guest Experience, Guest Safety, Hospitality, Hospitality Industry, Hospitality Lawyer, Hospitality Risk Solutions, Hotel Employees, Hotel Guest, Hotel Industry, Hotel Marketing, Hotel Security, Hotel Staff, hotel workers, Hotels, Housekeepers, Insurance, Lawsuits, Legal Issues, Legal Risks, Lodging Magazine, Managing Risk, Mobile Technology, Motels, Online Marketing, P3, Petra Risk Solutions, Restaurant Employees, Restaurants, Revenue Opportunities, Risk Management, Risk Management Update, Security, Social Media, Technology

by Ida | March 6, 2015 · 10:40 am

Hospitality Industry Risk Management Update: “Reducing the Spread of Contagious Illnesses” (Video)

A supplement to frequent hand washing is to use hand sanitizer. To encourage use of hand sanitizers by employees and guests, place labeled hand-sanitizer dispensers at the front desk, restaurant areas, back offices, public restrooms, and elevators. Check and refill the dispensers daily.

Winter months bring an increase of cold, influenza, and other communicable illnesses to the workplace. To reduce the spread of germs and cross contamination, housekeeping departments should focus on common contact points.

Sanitize Hard Services. Most hard surfaces, such as doors, drawers, telephone receivers, TV remote controls, light switches, toilet handles, and in-room directories, can be disinfected with a commercial disinfectant cleaner on a daily basis. Returned guestroom keycards should be placed in a separate bin for disinfecting. All guestroom glassware must be thoroughly washed with hot water and detergentâ€”in a dishwasher or three-compartment metal sinkâ€”before being placed back into service. Improperly sanitized glassware and utensils can transmit mononucleosis, herpes, E. coli, salmonella, hepatitis A, influenza, and even staph infections. Hotel glassware should never be washed in a guestroom sink.

For more:Â http://bit.ly/1E0wrBS

And for more on industry best practices, check out the video below from Petra’s own P3 Risk Management Team.

[vimeo https://vimeo.com/98741016Â w=500&h=281]

Petra Risk Solutionsâ€™ Loss Control Manager, Matt Karp, offers a P3 Hospitality Risk Report â€“ â€˜Preventing Norovirus at Your Propertyâ€™.Â

For more information on Petra and P3 visitÂ petrarisksolutions.comÂ or call 800.466.8951.

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Filed under Employee Practices, Food Illnesses, Guest Issues, Hotel Employees, Hotel Industry, Hotel Restaurant, Maintenance, Management And Ownership, Risk Management, Training

Tagged as Death, Employees, Guest Safety, Hand-washing, Health Hazards, Hospitality, Hospitality Industry, Hospitality Lawyer, Hospitality Risk Solutions, Hotel Employees, Hotel Guest, Hotel Safety, Hotel Security, Hotel Staff, hotel workers, Hotels, Housekeepers, Illnesses, Injuries, Insurance, Lawsuits, Legal Issues, Legal Risks, Liability, Managing Risk, Measles, Motels, Norovirus, P3, Petra Risk Solutions, Pool and Spa Safety, Restaurant Employees, Restaurants, Risk Management, Risk Management Division, Risk Management Update, Training, Virus, Virus Outbreak

by Ida | March 5, 2015 · 9:32 am

Hospitality Industry Legal Update: “Veteran Says Hotel Dispute Over Service Dog Led to Arrest”

White suffered a traumatic brain injury and spinal wounds while serving with the U.S. Army in Afghanistan in 2012 when a 200-pound improvised explosive device detonated near his vehicle. The Wyoming, Mich., resident said he has been on anxiety medication and has been helped greatly by Camo.

A bill making its way through the Legislature may prevent situations like the one Monday night in which a young veteran was arrested at a Bonita Springs hotel after he, his family and his service dog were denied lodging.

Jason White, 34, was arrested at the Best Western following a dispute with the hotel manager and staff over his service dog, Camo. He was charged with battery and destruction of property, the Lee County sheriff’s report said, after he kicked and cracked a television and shoved the hotel manager, Vinit “Vinnie” Patel.

For more:Â http://newspr.es/1Ej6AHZ

And for more on the do’s and don’ts of service animals, check out the video below from Petra’s own P3 Risk Management Team.

[vimeo https://vimeo.com/102936915Â w=500&h=281]

Petra Risk Solutionsâ€™ Director of Risk Management, Todd Seiders, offers a P3 Hospitality Risk Report â€“ â€˜ADA Service Animals: Do’s and Don’tsâ€™.Â

For more information on Petra and P3 visitÂ petrarisksolutions.comÂ or call 800.466.8951.

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Filed under ADA, Employee Practices, Guest Issues, Hotel Employees, Hotel Industry, Insurance, Management And Ownership, Risk Management, Training

Tagged as ADA, ADA Service Animal, Americans with Disabilities Act, Arrest, Crime, Employees, Guest Safety, Health Hazards, Hospitality, Hospitality Industry, Hospitality Lawyer, Hospitality Risk Solutions, Hotel Employees, Hotel Guest, Hotel Industry, hotel manager, Hotel Safety, Hotel Security, Hotel Staff, hotel workers, Hotels, Insurance, Lawsuits, Legal Issues, Legal Risks, Liability, Managing Risk, Motels, P3, Petra Risk Solutions, Restaurants, Risk, Risk Management, Risk Management Update, Security, Service Animals, Training, Veterans, Videos

by Ida | March 4, 2015 · 10:27 am

Hospitality Industry Risk Management Update: “Cyber Security”

[vimeo https://vimeo.com/121258482Â w=500&h=281]

For more information on Petra and P3 visitÂ petrarisksolutions.comÂ or call 800.466.8951.

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Filed under Crime, Hotel Employees, Hotel Industry, Management And Ownership, Risk Management, Technology, Training

Tagged as Arrest, Credit Cards, Crime, Cyber Crime, Cyber Risk, Cybercrime, Cybersecurity, Employees, Facebook, Fraud, Guest Safety, Hospitality, Hospitality Industry, Hospitality Lawyer, Hospitality Risk Report, Hospitality Risk Solutions, Hotel Employees, Hotel Guest, Hotel Industry, Hotel Safety, Hotel Security, hotel workers, Hotels, Housekeepers, Insurance, Lawsuits, Legal Issues, Legal Risks, Liability, Loss Control Manager, Managing Risk, Marco Johnson, Mobile Technology, Motels, P3, Petra, Petra Risk Solutions, Restaurant Employees, Restaurants, Risk Management, Risk Management Division, Risk Management Update, Security, Social Media, Surveillance, Technology, Theft, Videos

by Ida | March 2, 2015 · 10:25 am

Hospitality Industry Technology Update: “How to Prepare Your Hotel for Smart Payment Systems”

Biometrics (voice recognition, fingerprint or retina scanning) is quickly becoming another methodÂ of user authentication…Actual credit card data is exchanged only within the bank and payment network, not directly tied to the customerâ€™s interaction with the merchant, removing the merchant from handling that data.

By the end of this year, itâ€™s estimated that 70 percent of all credit cards and 40 percent of all debit cards (about 1.1 billion in total) worldwide will be EMV capable. This payment system, also known as chip and pin, adds dynamic data to the transaction stream that renders replay of payment transactions impossible. And since every card contains its own microprocessor chip, EMV (which stands for Europay, MasterCard, and Visa) cards are nearly impossible to counterfeit.

Thereâ€™s no need for the card to leave the customerâ€™s sight, and thereâ€™s no swiping. The credit card number isnâ€™t exposed on a screen. Though not entirely fail-safe, the technology is a global standard and makes transactions hundreds of times more secure. In Europe, which has had EMV for years, reports indicate that card fraud has fallen as much as 60 percent over the last decade, whereas here in the United States, itâ€™s increased about 50 percent over that same time period.

For more:Â http://bit.ly/1B2Dzwd

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Filed under Crime, Hotel Industry, Management And Ownership, Technology

Tagged as Counterfeit, credit card data, Credit Card Fraud, Credit Card Security, Credit Cards, Crime, Cybercrime, Cybersecurity, Employees, EMV, Facebook, Fraud, Guest Safety, Hospitality, Hospitality Industry, Hospitality Lawyer, Hospitality Risk Solutions, Hotel Employees, Hotel Guest, Hotel Industry, Hotel Safety, Hotel Security, Hotel Staff, hotel workers, Hotels, Housekeepers, Identity Theft, Insurance, Lawsuits, Legal Issues, Legal Risks, Liability, Lodging Magazine, Managing Risk, Mobile Technology, Motels, P3, Petra Risk Solutions, Restaurant Employees, Restaurants, Risk Management, Risk Management Update, Security, Technology, Theft

by Ida | February 27, 2015 · 10:14 am

Hospitality Industry Management Update: “Hotel Room Piracy Shows Dramatic Increase”

â€œThereâ€™s no reason anyone should book outside the block, and if you do, we cannot be responsible.Â When we see 30 rooms held with no name, immediately thereâ€™s a red flag. Yes, sometimes organizations do that, as they need the rooms, but a red flag goes up nonetheless,â€ Dominguez added.

Meeting, incentive, convention and exhibition business is under attack by pirates.

To be more specific, event room blocks are increasingly feeling the effects of room block piracy, in which third partiesâ€”sometimes thieves out to steal credit card information and sometimes more legitimate sourcesâ€”effectively funnel attendees away from official host hotels.

The practice results in host hotels having no record of these attendeesâ€™ reservations; attendees themselves thinking they made the booking through a legitimate source, and meeting and event planners often having to pay attrition fees for not fulfilling room-block agreements with host hotels.

Suffering are the attendee, who loses money to the pirate; the hotel, which might have replaced â€œnon-bookingsâ€ with less-valuable business, and the event planner and event itself, which run the risk of ruined reputations.

For more:Â http://bit.ly/18uSCWq

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Filed under Conferences, Hotel Industry, Management And Ownership, Risk Management

Tagged as Crime, Employees, Guest Safety, Hospitality, Hospitality Industry, Hospitality Lawyer, Hospitality Risk Solutions, Hotel Conference, Hotel Employees, Hotel Guest, Hotel Industry, Hotel Marketing, Hotel News Now, Hotel Room Piracy, Hotel Security, Hotel Staff, hotel workers, Hotels, Lawsuits, Legal Issues, Legal Risks, Liability, Managing Risk, Motels, Online Branding, P3, Petra Risk Solutions, Risk, Risk Management, Risk Management Update, Room Blocks, Security

Tag Archives: Hospitality Lawyer

Hospitality Industry Legal Update: “Marijuana: An Emerging Coverage Risk”

Hospitality Industry Risk Management Update: “Reducing the Spread of Contagious Illnesses” (Video)

Hospitality Industry Legal Update: “Veteran Says Hotel Dispute Over Service Dog Led to Arrest”

Hospitality Industry Technology Update: “How to Prepare Your Hotel for Smart Payment Systems”

Hospitality Industry Management Update: “Hotel Room Piracy Shows Dramatic Increase”

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