Blog – Page 5 – Hospitality Insurance Group

May 18, 2018by Jen Davey Jen Davey No Comments

April 2018 Liquor Liability Insurance Policies

Take a look at some of the liquor liability insurance policies Hospitality Insurance Group wrote in April 2018 including the type of coverage included, insurance discounts applied and a glimpse at the total insurance premium.

Bar & Grille in New Bedford, MA

GL A&B & Property Damage

1000/1000/2000 LL

Total Sales: $1,877,000

Liquor to Food Sales Ratio: 39%

Endorsements/Discounts Applied:

Alcohol Awareness Training, Elite Discount, Loss Free

Total Premium: $20,218

Restaurant in McKees Rocks, PA

$1M/$1M/$2M

Total Sales: $2,425,974.00

Liquor to Food Sales Ratio: 43%

Endorsements/Discounts Applied:

GL A&B and Property Damage

Alcohol Awareness Training, Member of Restaurant Association

Total Premium: $17,840

Restaurant in Fall River, MA
CPP: $80,000 BPP; $60,000 BI; $1,000 Deductible; GL: 1M/2M; LL: $1M/$2M

Total Sales: $130,000.00
Liquor to Food Sales Ratio: 10%
Endorsements/Discounts Applied:
GL A&B
Alcohol Awareness Training
CP: $831; GL: $750; LL: $949 = $2,530

Restaurant in Chester, CT

1M/1M/2M

Total Sales: $1,400,000.00

Liquor to Food Sales Ratio: 28%

Endorsements/Discounts Applied:GL A&B

Alcohol Awareness Training

Total Premium: $3,818

If you are an Independent Insurance Agent, click here to learn more about working with Hospitality Insurance Group to provide liquor liability insurance to your customers.

If you are a business owner looking for liquor liability insurance coverage, click here to contact one of our preferred Independent Insurance Agents or find answers to some of your frequently asked questions about our insurance coverage here.

May 17, 2018by Jen Davey Jen Davey No Comments

Sangrias & Swim-Up Bars

As the sun gets hotter, many will soak up the sun, swim up to a bar and reach for a cold drink, like Sangria to keep cool.

Swim-up bars are not just something you find on the islands — they exist right here in New England.

But, have you ever considered the risks the restaurant/bar owner takes on serving alcohol at a pool or beach bar?

Serving alcohol at a pool or beach bar opens you up to risks, such as stepping on glass, drowning, or underage drinking.

In this claim filed in Massachusetts, a man suffered serious nerve damage to his foot after stepping on broken glass in the pool from a beer bottle served at the poolside bar.

Also, alcohol will not only dehydrate your guests, but can impair senses, alter their sense of distance, and cause feelings of disorientation and confusion, while they are in the water.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says that “alcohol use is involved in up to half of adolescent and adult deaths associated with water recreation.”

If you have a poolside bar or are considering opening one, then we recommend mapping out a plan in advance before an accident occurs.

From an insurance perspective, some of the things we immediately think of include:

Should you have a waiver of liability at the entrance signed by all that enter?

Are you allowing kids around the premises? What if something happens to the child while their chaperone was intoxicated? Is it the lifeguard’s responsibility? What if a lifeguard was reckless?

Where do you draw the line in the sand once someone leaves your establishment and goes on to the beach?

Will you have lifeguards on site?

To help mitigate the risk involved with a swim up or poolside bar, we recommend:

Serving ice water, or having a water station available for guests to re-hydrate at their convenience.
Serving beverages in plastic cups.
Making sure that there are signs that say “no glass allowed” around the area.
Not allowing lifeguards to use their phones during work hours so their full attention can be on guests at the pool.
Requiring a government-issued photo identification.
Distributing wristbands.

With the 4th of July just around the corner, learn more about summertime safety in our blog “6 Tips For A Safe 4th Of July Weekend.”

Please be advised that the opinions expressed are the views of the author alone and should not be attributed to any other individual or entity and shall not constitute a legal opinion.

April 26, 2018by Jen Davey Jen Davey No Comments

How Much Will Liquor Liability Insurance Cost For A Temporary Event?

Wine & chocolate tastings, Bar Mitzvahs, and weddings are just a few examples of “temporary” events where we write their liquor liability insurance. But one of the most frequently asked questions we receive is, “How Much Will Liquor Liability Insurance Cost For A Temporary Event?”

A temporary event is considered a single, multi-day event that could be a wedding, cocktail party, catering off-site, or special occasion that involves serving liquor.

In addition to offering establishments an ongoing liquor liability insurance policy, Hospitality Insurance Group offers temporary event liquor liability insurance and general liability for smaller events to give you the peace of mind that comes from knowing that you’re protected from unexpected claims.

Examples of some of the temporary events we’ve written include:

Wine & Chocolate Tasting

One-Day Temporary Event
Boston, Massachusetts
Limits: GL & LIQ 1M/1M/2M
Bartending Service in NH Mono-Line LIQ
New Venture with prior experience
Limits: 1M/1M/2M
Premium: $1,277

Bar Mitzvah

Special Event
Washington Crossing, Pennsylvania
Liquor Liability
Limits 1M/1M/2M
Number of Attendees: 70
Total Premium: $416

One of the most frequently asked questions we receive here at Hospitality Insurance Group is, how much does it cost?

Our answer, “it depends.”
For temporary event insurance coverage, Hospitality Insurance Group has five different options with various limits available up to $1Million dollars available.

Our policy amounts range from $125 – $416.

Please note that the rate ranges above shall apply for each day or fraction of a day for which the Insured shall serve or sell alcoholic beverages.

Looking to request coverage for a temporary event?

You can click here to contact one of our preferred partners to request coverage and be sure to include:

• Your name and address, and a description of your business
• A detailed description of the event, including the date, time and duration
• Location of event
• Expected number and age range of attendees
• Whether liquor will be served or sold and whether it’s free of charge or available for purchase
• Types of entertainment to be provided (live band, DJ, dancers, etc.)
• Names of entities requiring coverage as additional insureds
• Estimated liquor sales receipts

Or you can contact your local Independent Insurance Agent and advise them to fill out our Temporary Event Application for coverage here.

April 8, 2018by Jen Davey Jen Davey No Comments

March 2018 Liquor Liability Insurance Policies

Take a look at some of the liquor liability insurance policies Hospitality Insurance Group wrote in March 2018 including the type of coverage included, insurance discounts applied and a glimpse at the total insurance premium.

Type of Establishment	Town, State	Coverage Limits	Total Sales	Liquor to Food Sales Ratio	Endorsements/Discounts	Total Premium
Restaurant	Fayetteville, NC	$1M/$1M/$2M	$583,663	18%	GL A & B + Property Damage Alcohol Awareness Training	$6,835
Bar/Lounge	Pawtucket, RI	$1M/$1M/$2M	$387,400	84%	Prop, GL and LL with GL A&B/PD Alcohol Awareness Training Member of Restaurant Association	$17,052
Bar	Hyannis, MA	$250K/$500K/$500K	$530,000	99%	Alcohol Awareness Training Member of Restaurant Association	$12,733
Bar	Wakefield, RI	$1M/$1M $2M	$2,200,000	63%	Loss Free Credit Alcohol Awareness Training Member of Restaurant Association	$24,189
Restaurant	Spencer, MA	$1M/$1M/$2M	$3,061,000	19%	Alcohol Awareness Training Elite Discount Loss Free Credit	$2,866

If you are an Independent Insurance Agent, click here to learn more about working with Hospitality Insurance Group to provide liquor liability insurance to your customers.

March 19, 2018by Jen Davey Jen Davey No Comments

Meet Our Marketing Manager, Mark!

In March 2018, we welcomed Mark Trombly to Hospitality Insurance Group as our new Marketing Manager in Southborough, Massachusetts. Get to know Mark in our latest “Meet the Staff” blog post interview.

Where do you live?

Charlton, MA

Tell us a little bit about your background.

I have been I the insurance industry for 34 years with the majority of the time in marketing roles. I have worked for large and small companies writing all lines of business and specialty companies focusing on one line of business. I have held positions in claims, personal lines underwriting and marketing.

Do you hold any industry certifications?

CPCU, CIC, AIS and I am past president of the Central MA CPCU Chapter

Since we’re in the hospitality business, what is your favorite drink of choice to order when out with friends? (cocktail, beer, wine, etc.)

Vodka & tonic

What inspired you to start in this industry?

Finishing up college I had an interest in the banking and insurance fields. An opportunity came up in insurance first and that’s how I got started.

What is your favorite restaurant in your area?

Chuck’s Steakhouse or Coney Island Hotdogs

What do you enjoy doing most in your spare time?

Skiing, golfing, hiking and travel

If you could go to any Boston sporting event, what would it be? (Boston Bruins, Red Sox, Patriots, Celtics)

Boston Bruins

Tell us something that makes you unique or something wacky, yet interesting about you?

I’m a meatatarian – never met a vegetable I liked. My motto is friends don’t let friends eat vegetables.

How can people contact you?

Mark Trombly, CPCU, CIC, AIS
Marketing Manager
Direct Line: 774-512-9266
Toll-Free: 877-366-1140

Fax: 508-836-4940
Cell: 508-847-7258
Email: mtrombly@hmic.com
Hospitality Insurance Group
106 Southville Road
Southborough, MA 01772

www.hospitality-mutual.com

March 15, 2018by Jen Davey Jen Davey No Comments

February 2018 Liquor Liability Insurance Policies

Take a look at some of the liquor liability insurance policies Hospitality Insurance Group wrote in February 2018 including the type of coverage included, insurance discounts applied and a glimpse at the total insurance premium.

Catering
Richmond, MA
Coverage Needed: Liquor Liability
Limits: GL: 1M/1M/2M
Total Sales: $2,500 Adult Attendees
Liquor to Food Sales Ratio: N/A
Endorsements: GL A&B
Discounts Applied:N/A
Total Premium: $2,565

Speakeasy Themed Cocktail Lounge
Concord, NH
Coverage Needed: GL & LL
Limits: GL: LL 1000/1000/2000 GL 1000/2000
Total Sales: $700,000
Liquor to Food Sales Ratio: 57% Liquor
Endorsements: GL A&B
Discounts Applied: NHLRA
Total Premium: $15,512

Night Club
Providence, RI
Coverage Needed: Liquor Liability
Limits: 1M/1M/2M
Total Sales: $250,000
Liquor to Food Sales Ratio: 100%
Endorsements: Property Damage , Optional GL A&B
Discounts Applied: Alcohol Awareness Training
Total Premium: $8,157

If you are an Independent Insurance Agent, click here to learn more about working with Hospitality Insurance Group to provide liquor liability insurance to your customers.

February 9, 2018by Jen Davey Jen Davey No Comments

How To Prevent A Fight From Happening At Your Bar – Advice From Three Massachusetts Restaurant Managers

Just in time for St. Patrick’s Day, one of the busiest days in the bar industry here in Massachusetts. In this month’s blog post three Massachusetts restaurant managers share their advice on how to prevent a fight from happening at your bar.

Damien Fuller, General Manager at SouthSide Tavern Restaurant in Braintree, says, “Usually I would just engage the parties involved and go over to them, calmly, and simply ask “is everything ok?” or “how is everyone doing tonight?”

“Using words like “please, thank you, I’m sorry, help put parties at ease.” Says Keith Gleason, former General Manager at Finn McCool’s. He recommends using a calm approach while keeping a safe distance from the aggressor, and to have your doormen around as you try to diffuse the situation, just in case it escalates. Avoid getting into verbal altercation/sparring despite any insults/threats from aggressive parties. Keith recommends using the involved party’s name if you can, so they believe you when you tell them your only goal is for everyone to get home safe and that you would hate for them to have any issues with police if things get out of hand. “Sometimes mentioning possible consequences snaps them back to reality and distracts them from what set them off before.”

Todd Smith, former co-owner of Bushwood Cocktail Club recommends keeping the hiring of your security staff internal. “In my opinion, you should never hire a third party as your doorman always use your own employees. You never know how someone else runs their business, how well they’ve screened their employees. I would also encourage having parties leave via separate exits so there is no arguing or fighting outside the establishment.”

Hospitality Insurance Group is an admitted insurance company, located in Southborough, MA, that provides insurance coverage to businesses in the hospitality industry. We offer commercial property, general liability, liquor liability and excess liability insurance coverage to businesses that serve or sell liquor in Massachusetts, Connecticut, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island and Vermont.

To encourage Hospitality Insurance Group policyholders to provide their employees with security training, Hospitality Insurance Group has approved a rate discount of 50% percent off the cost of the assault-and-battery endorsement for insureds when 100% of management and at least 75% of non-management staff obtain certification in an approved security training program. This discount will not be applied to the minimum earned premium for the policy.

Learn more here or request a quote from one of our preferred Premium Insurance Partners here.

February 7, 2018by Jen Davey Jen Davey No Comments

Meet Our Pennsylvania Underwriter, Kristina!

In January of 2018, we welcomed Kristina Kahmer to Hospitality Insurance Group as our new Senior Underwriter in Pennsylvania. Get to know Kristina in our latest Q&A interview.

What is your full name?
Kristina Kahmer

Do you have a nickname?
When I was little everyone called me Kris

Where do you live in Pennsylvania?
Ridley Park

Since we’re in the hospitality business, what is your favorite drink of choice to order when out with friends?
My favorite drink to order when I’m out is the espresso martini.

We know you’re probably an Eagles fan so the Patriots might be out, but if you could go to any Boston sporting event, what would it be?

Yes, we are huge Eagles fans, my husband and the neighbors were able to get a permit to shut our street down and we had great Eagles tailgate before the game. My family and I are huge lacrosse fans and our beloved Philadelphia Wings moved to New England in 2014, so my husband and I go to Connecticut at least once a year to watch the New England Black Wolves play. I would love to see the Red Sox play at Fenway.

What certifications do you currently hold?
CPCU Chartered Public Casualty Underwriter & AAI Accredited Advisor in Insurance

How many years of Underwriting experience do you have?
16

What is your favorite restaurant in Pennsylvania?
My favorite restaurant is R2L Philadelphia, the food is amazing and the views of the city are stunning!

What do you enjoy doing most in your spare time?
I have three children so in my spare time I like to do activities with them and watching them play lacrosse. My oldest daughter goes to the University of Alabama so we have been visiting there quite a bit.

Tell us something that makes you unique or something wacky, yet interesting about you?
Both my husband and I are in insurance, he owns a couple of Allstate offices so he writes personal lines and I write commercial.

How can people contact you?

Kristina Kahmer CPCU, AAI
Commercial Underwriter
Hospitality Insurance Group
106 Southville Road Southborough, MA 01772
Phone: 774-512-9265
Toll Free: 877-366-1140
Fax: 508-836-4940
www.hospitality-mutual.com

Email: kkahmer@hmic.com

February 6, 2018by Jen Davey Jen Davey No Comments

January 2018 Liquor Liability Policies

Take a look at some of the policies Hospitality Insurance Group wrote in January 2018 including the type of coverage included, insurance discounts applied and a glimpse at the total insurance premium.

Bar/Grille in Beverly, MA
Mono-line Liquor
1000/1000/2000
$1,141,000 total receipts
50% liquor/food
Loss Free/ AA Credit
$10,154

Night Club & Function Hall
Fall River, Mass
Coverage Needed: GL and LL
Limits: GL: 1M/2M and LL: 1M/2M
Total Sales: GL: Club 4500 (Area) and Function Hall 3375 (Area) LL: $107,000
Liquor to Food Sales Ratio: 100%
Endorsements: GL A&B
Discounts Applied:
– Alcohol Awareness Training
Total Premium: GL: $2,355 and LL: $3,896 for a total of $6,251

Lounge in North Carolina
Coverage: Liquor Liability
Limits: 1M/1M/2M
Total Sales: 166,000
Liquor to Food Sales Ratio: 0%
Endorsements: GL A & B, Property Damage
Discounts Applied:
Alcohol Awareness Training
Membership Credit North Carolina Restaurant Lodging Association
Total Premium: $3969

Restaurant in New Haven, CT
Coverage Needed: Liquor Liability
Limits: 1M/1M/2M
Total Sales: $660,000
Liquor to Food Sales Ratio: 16.67%
Endorsements: Additional Insured
Discounts Applied:
– Alcohol Awareness Training – Yes
– Membership Credit (INSERT MEMBERSHIP NAME) No
– Elite Discount Applied No
Total Premium: $ 2,016

If you are an Independent Insurance Agent, click here to learn more about working with Hospitality Insurance Group to provide liquor liability insurance to your customers.

January 18, 2018by Jen Davey Jen Davey No Comments

Bar Room Brawls: 3 Assault & Battery Situations That Could Happen At Any Bar

Bar Room Brawls: 3 Assault & Battery Situations That Could Happen At Any Bar

Bar Room Brawls 3 Assault & Battery Situations That Could Happen At Any Bar For any establishment that serves alcoholic beverages, a fight possibly breaking out is always in the back of any owner’s mind.

According to Insurance Magazine, about 30% of losses at bars, taverns, and nightclubs arise from assault and battery claims.

Out of the thousands and thousands of claims filed, here are three situations we’ve worked with our policyholders when an assault and battery occurred at their establishment.

Case #1

A patron alleged that he was repeatedly assaulted while exiting the establishment after the last call.

The policyholder had purchased an assault and battery endorsement as part of their liquor liability policy issued by Hospitality Insurance Group.

The defense attorney, hired by Hospitality to defend the establishment against this plaintiff’s lawsuit, obtained a defense verdict on behalf of the policyholder.

Case #2

This establishment was not the type of bar that you would think would have an altercation of any sort.

A gentleman entered our insured’s establishment and was served a single drink.

During the night, the gentlemen casually conversed with other patrons until he randomly started violently attacking patrons with weapons concealed underneath his sweatshirt.

None of the injured customers could recall any signs that would have forewarned them of the assailant’s violent propensity.

This incident was a sudden and unforeseen violent crime that occurred on the insured’s premise and was covered by the assault and battery endorsement on their liquor liability policy, issued by Hospitality Insurance Group.

Case #3

A patron appeared to have entered our policyholder’s establishment already intoxicated.

While inside, the man was said to have disturbed three different groups of patrons and was later struck by a patron inside the bar, causing him to fall and suffer a head trauma.

This policyholder had purchased an assault and battery endorsement as part of their liquor liability policy issued by Hospitality Insurance Group. The defense attorney, hired by Hospitality to defend the establishment against the plaintiff’s lawsuit, obtained a defense verdict on the policyholder’s behalf.

As also advised by Nightclub & Bar, general liability insurance with assault and battery and liquor liability coverage is usually the best way for restaurant owners to protect themselves in the event of a fight at their business.

When examining your insurance policy, it’s important to ask if you have assault and battery coverage. It’s not uncommon for an insurance carrier to apply a specialized exclusion for assault & battery exposure as we explain in our blog, “Assault & Battery: Where’s the coverage?” Exclusions may occur, and in the event of a bar fight breaking out, a restaurant owner could be denied coverage if an incident like one of these occurs.

Not sure if you have the proper coverage? Hospitality Insurance Group is a liquor liability insurance group writing insurance for bars and taverns in Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island and Vermont. For more information about how you can work with Hospitality Insurance Group as an Independent Insurance Agent or obtain a quote for liquor liability insurance, click here to request a call from us, email or office visit from one of our local representatives near you.