Running a successful hotel business can come with its fair share of risk, from the building itself to the staff and guests staying in the hotel. Ensuring you are equipped with sufficient hotel insurance is paramount for protecting your business against issues or liabilities that could arise.
What is Hotel Insurance?
Owing to the complexity of running a hotel, there are many aspects that need to be considered when selecting the right hotel insurance policy:
Your Staff and Guests
Naturally, the first concern for any business used by the public is the wellbeing of their safety, as well as the safety of your staff. From hotel kitchen staff accidents to your hotel's guests' injuries, public and employers liability insurance is required if someone gets hurt.
Your Hotel
As with any business, it is wise to have appropriate insurance for your premises. This usually includes buildings and contents insurance and for hotels, these can add up to some significant amounts.
Hotel buildings insurance should cover not only the hotel building itself, but also any additional structures such as swimming pools, saunas, spas and gyms. Hotel contents insurance generally falls into two different areas - the hotel's own contents, such as the bedroom furniture, TV's, (including the obligatory Corby trouser press), dining tables and chairs - and the hotel's guests' contents and belongings.
Your Income
Finally, to protect your business income, you will likely need business interruption insurance. Loss of income can occur due to damage of your premises or equipment or customers being unable to gain access to your business.
Why choose specialist Hotel Insurance?
No two hotel are the same, they can differ entirely based on the size of the hotel, the events hosted there, even the type of food served. All of these factors, and more, can influence the level of risk and therefore cover you need.
It is important to ensure that the sums insured are correct and include all of the various aspects of running a hotel as a business, including public liability insurance, employers liability insurance, theft insurance, malicious damage insurance and of course, the hotel's buildings insurance.
When running a hotel, most standard business insurance will not be able to cover all aspects appropriately, therefore specilist hotel insurance is crucial.
Insurance for Guest Houses
Hotels are, by definition, ‘an establishment providing accommodation, meals, and other services for travellers and tourists’. Although true, this is also the case for guest houses and B&B’s. There are a few common distinguishing features that hotels have, such as:
- Ensuite bathrooms in the rooms
- Designated eating areas
- 24 hour service and reception
- More than 15 bedrooms
So, what is classed as a guest house or bed and breakfast? A guest house may aso serve food and alcohol, like a hotel, but will have fewer bedrooms and provide less service than a hotel. Unlike bed and breakfasts, guest houses are often VAT-registered businesses. Please make an enquiry through us if you are looking for Bed and Breakfast Insurance.
How can we help?
Fortunately, QuoteRack works closely with insurance brokers who can offer you access to specialised schemes offered by niche insurance companies looking to provide quotes for hotel insurance.
Frequently asked questions
What does Hotel Insurance cover?
Typically, hotel insurance covers:
- Public liability
- Employers liability
- Hotel buildings insurance
- Hotel contents insurance
- Hotel guest insurance
- Business interruption insurance
Depending upon your individual requirements, hotel insurance can also cover:
- Legal fees
- Personal contents for you and your staff
- Loss of liquor licence
- Gyms
- Pools and Spas
What common exclusions apply?
Common exclusions for hotel insurance include:
- Accidental damage
- Hotel maintenance
- Commercial kitchens
Please be sure to let your insurance broker know if you require cover for any of the above included in your hotel insurance policy.
If you have explored other avenues of enquiry in your search for Hotel Insurance, then you are welcome to submit your details through the QuoteRack website, without cost or obligation to proceed when you receive your insurance quote.