Tag Archives: Insurance

by | August 24, 2012 · 6:15 am

Hospitality Industry Property Risks: "Tornado-Damaged" Missouri Hotel Reopens After Spending Millions Of Dollars Repairing Windows And Structure

The tornado caused millions of dollars in damage, but no one was seriously injured…even the landscaping was dug up because of fallen glass.

The Hilton Hotel at Branson Landing will officially reopen September 15, more than six months after it was damaged by the Leap Day tornado. Since the February 29 EF-2 twister, 3,400 energy-efficient replacement windows have been installed at the hotel.

Nearly every piece of furniture and nearly all the carpet in the 12-story hotel will be new. The outside of the hotel will have a new look, too.

The Hiltons of Branson say new thermostats in all the guest rooms have a motion-detector system, allowing the room temperature to return to a pre-set level when the room is not occupied.

The temporary closure cost some team members their jobs. There are plans to rehire staff once the hotel reopens this fall. The Branson Convention Center, which sustained less damage than the adjacent hotel, reopened in the late spring.

For more: http://ozarksfirst.com/fulltext?nxd_id=691972

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by | August 20, 2012 · 6:23 am

Hospitality Industry Property Risks: Delaware Restaurant Fire Caused By Electrical Failure; Unoccupied Building Suffers Significant Damage

 “… investigators determined the blaze was caused by an electrical failure in a storage room…causing approximately $100,000 in property damage to the unoccupied building…”

The Delaware fire marshal’s office says an early morning blaze that damaged a New Castle restaurant was accidental. The fire was reported shortly after 5 a.m. Sunday at the Casablanca restaurant on North DuPont Highway near Minquadale.

No injuries were reported in connection with the fire, which occurred while the building was closed and unoccupied. The fire caused an estimated $100,000 in damages.

For more:  http://www.therepublic.com/view/story/df9c669c4360469dbde60f932c9cdff2/DE–New-Castle-Fire

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by | August 13, 2012 · 6:24 am

Hospitality Industry Legal Risks: Restaurant Owners Need To Obtain "Product Liability And Completed Operations Insurance" To Cover "Gluten-Free" Menu Items

“…a growing trend toward “gluten-free” menu items at America’s restaurants and catered events is increasing the demand for product liability and completed operations insurance, designed to protect food-service businesses against lawsuits arising from bad reactions to food products…”

The “gluten-free” trend is helping many establishments appeal to millions of Americans who are seeking gluten-free options for a variety of reasons, including gluten sensitivities (claimed by up to 10 percent of Americans, according to the National Institutes of Health) and celiac disease (diagnosed in about 1 percent of the U.S. population, or 3 million people). While offering more options for these customers makes for good public relations, it also opens the door to a new level of potential liability.

While any restaurant could face a lawsuit arising from alleged food poisoning or food allergies, those promising “gluten-free” menu items are at even greater risk of a lawsuit if a customer should choose these options and still have a reaction. Because there are currently no standards that define exactly what constitutes “gluten-free,” some restaurants may be promoting a “gluten-free” product that is prepared in the same area as foods containing gluten, raising the potential for cross-contamination. While many people with sensitivities may not have reactions to small amounts of gluten, others with higher levels of sensitivity could have a severe reaction, raising the potential for lawsuits.

Thankfully, food service businesses — including restaurants, catering businesses, and other food service providers — can protect themselves against the high cost of lawsuits by purchasing a type of insurance known as “product liability and completed operations” coverage. This insurance not only covers lawsuits related to gluten reactions, but also those related to other food allergies, food poisoning, or other injuries or damages caused by the products a restaurant or caterer sells.

For more:  http://www.restaurantnews.com/gluten-free-trend-spurs-demand-for-restaurant-liability-insurance/

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by | August 9, 2012 · 6:46 am

Hospitality Industry Insurance Risks: Hotel And Restaurant Owners Face "Greatest Cost Increases" From Healthcare Reform Laws; Must Cover Employees Currently Not Eligible

“…Many retail and hospitality industry employers face a “double whammy” due to the upcoming health care reform law requirements…employers that do not offer qualified coverage face a $2,000 assessment per full-time employee—those working at least 30 hours a week—starting in 2014…”
Employers in the retail and hospitality industries face the greatest cost increases when provisions of the healthcare reform law imposing financial penalties on employers that do not offer qualified coverage go into effect in 2014, according to a survey released Wednesday.Forty-six percent of employers in the retail and hospitality industries and 40% of employers in the health care services industry expect health care cost increases of at least 3% due to health care reform law requirements, according to the Mercer L.L.C. survey of 1,203 employers.

Some will face stiff cost increases as they must extend coverage to employees who are not eligible for coverage currently. In other cases, the coverage they provide, such as through what are known as mini-med plans, will not meet 2014 standards. That includes a ban on annual dollar limits on essential benefits as laid down by the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.

Read more: Retail, hospitality industries face big reform costs | Modern Healthcare http://www.modernhealthcare.com/article/20120808/INFO/308089995#ixzz233mGPu1M

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by | August 8, 2012 · 7:09 am

Hospitality Industry Property Risks: Michigan Restaurant "Grease Fire" Spreads Through Vent To Roof, Damaging Building And Other Businesses

“…a vent behind the restaurant was fully engulfed in fire…It went from smelling smoke to the roof being engulfed in flames…”  

A grease fire that started in Hunan House Chinese restaurant destroyed the building and several others in the same strip mall Monday afternoon. There was heavy smoke and visible flames when fire crews arrived on the scene. The roof on Hunan House collapsed shortly after.  Firefighters spent several hours battling the blaze, which also spread to other businesses including Central Barbershop and MetroPCS.

The Central Barbershop owner, Jon Dancer, told The Morning Sun that he was in mid-haircut when his business started smelling like smoke. Ali L. Bazzi said he closed the cellphone store quickly and went outside, where he watched the fire “spread like crazy.”

For more: http://www.mlive.com/news/saginaw/index.ssf/2012/08/grease_fire_that_started_in_mo.html

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by | July 13, 2012 · 10:10 am

Hospitality Industry Property Risks: Washington D.C. Hotel And Restaurant Suffer Significant Water Damage When Pipes Burst; Repairs Could Take Six Months

“…due to extensive water damage, the Latham Hotel & Citronelle closed down on July 12, 2012.  The building will be evaluated for the full extent of the repairs, but we are expecting that it may take up to 6 months to complete the necessary improvements…”

Water damage will temporarily close Georgetown destination Citronelle, and the hotel that houses it as well, according to a spokeswoman for the restaurant.

Both venues suffered water damage, though how significant is unclear at this point. Recent storms have plagued the general Washington area, including last week’s derecho that caused major power outages regionwide.

Citronelle spokeswoman Mel Davise confirmed the closure via email and said it could last up to a few months. She said she could offer no further details at this time about the closure or damages.

For more:  http://www.bizjournals.com/washington/blog/2012/07/citronelle-latham-hotel-temporarily.html

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by | July 12, 2012 · 7:08 am

Hospitality Industry Property Risks: Washington Restaurant Fire Caused By Lightning In Early Morning Hours

Lightning from a thunderstorm that rolled over the state this past weekend may have ignited a blaze that destroyed a Bainbridge Island bar.  Fire Marshal Luke Carpenter said the department has no hard evidence the early morning lightning storm sparked the fire, but the timing seems to match.

 The Kitsap Sun reported the 122 Bar & Restaurant in Winslow closed at about 10:30 p.m. on Sunday, according to the bar’s owners. The lightning storm surged over Bainbridge at around 2:30 a.m. on Monday.  Much of the 122 Bar & Restaurant in Winslow was in flames by the time firefighters were alerted around 4:45 a.m. Nearby residents reported smelling smoke hours before large flames were spotted on the building’s roof.

For more:  http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20120711/NEWS03/707119794

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by | June 26, 2012 · 6:16 am

Hospitality Industry Property Risks: Missouri Hotel Fire Causes Significant Exterior, Smoke And Heat Damage To Rooms; Fire Wall And Favorable Winds Spares Structure

“…Firefighters were initially concerned the blaze would spread deep into the hotel, but the unusually heavy-duty firewall and a fortunate south wind spared the brick-faced structure from catastrophic damage…The fire also did significant damage to the exterior of the hotel, and also destroyed the hotel swimming pool’s pumping apparatus…”

Interior demolition and clean-up at the Maryville Comfort Inn Motel, damaged May 19 when an adjoining empty restaurant building was gutted by fire, is nearing completion, paving the way for renovation of four smoke- and heat-damaged rooms later this summer.

Chuck Hetrick, general manager of the hotel, located at the south end of Business 71, said crews were wrapping up removal of smoke-impregnated insulation from the attic above the damaged rooms in preparation for installation of fresh insulation and new sheetrock.

A concrete-block firewall that separates Comfort Inn from what is left of the restaurant is to be torn down, which will allow a north-end interior stairwell to be widened.

Though Comfort Inn has remained in operation in the weeks since the blaze, Hetrick said occupancy is down. In an attempt to let potential customers know the lodge is open for business, a large sign visible from Main Street bears the message, “We are open.”

For more:  http://www.maryvilledailyforum.com/news/x1805322006/Repairs-underway-at-fire-damaged-hotel

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by | June 22, 2012 · 11:59 am

Hospitality Industry Property Risks: West Virginia Motel Fire Caused By Manager Frying Food In Room; Structural And Electrical Repairs Delay Reopening

“…(the street) was closed for about four hours because of the fire, and electricity had to be cut to the motel because of damage to the wiring…the Red Cross was called to find places for the few motel guests to spend the night…”

No one was injured in a fire that broke out early Friday at the Jefferson Motel. Kanawha County Fire Coordinator C.W. Sigman said a manager at the MacCorkle Avenue motel was frying some food at about 12:45 a.m. when the grease caught on fire and set fire to the room. Firefighters were able to contain the blaze to the manager’s area, he said.

Sigman said the motel will not be allowed to reopen until repairs are made and the electrical system is fixed and inspected.

For more:  http://wvgazette.com/News/201206220029

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by | June 17, 2012 · 6:59 am

Hospitality Industry Crime Risks: Thieves Steal Missouri Restaurant's Air Conditioning Unit For Third Time In Five Years; Total Losses Over $15,000

“…how thieves could come and go at ease over a span of about 90 minutes, climb the 8-foot-high jail bars protecting their air conditioning unit…essentially locking themselves inside the bars with no fear of getting caught as they dismantled the unit, stripping it of copper and other valuable metals. It was all caught by the surveillance camera…”

Air conditioner thieves struck a favorite Chinese restaurant in East St. Louis last month, for the third time in five years. The losses have topped $15,000 for the Hong Kong Chop Suey at 60thand State.

With almost no progress in the police investigation, the restaurant owners released the surveillance video to FOX 2, hoping to save their business. Instead of talking about food and customers’ orders, workers were talking about thieves again at the restaurant Monday night.

Thieves also hit the restaurant’s a/c units there in 2007 and 2010. Repair and replacement costs have soared. “First timeabout $8,000. Second time about $5,000. This time about $2,000,” Chiu explained.

For more:  http://fox2now.com/2012/06/11/ac-theft-could-cause-restaurant-to-shutdown/

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