Hotel Insure Frequently Asked Questions
Find the answers you need to common hotel insurance questions.
If you don’t see what you need here, please just contact us so that we can help.
Will I have hotel insurance cover for items I hire or lease? E.g. Marquees, fruit machines, etc.
Yes, hotel insurance cover can be provided for any items for which you are legally responsible, including items which you hire or lease. Hotel insurance cover is always tailored to fit the needs of your business and we can provide the owners with suitable evidence that appropriate cover is in place.
Top
How do I make a hotel insurance claim?
Simply call our hotel insurance claims team on 01603 218099 or email claims@alanboswell.com.
Top
Our hotel has an out building which we use for storage; will the building and its contents be covered by the hotel or guest house insurance?
Yes, the building and contents of outbuildings can usually be included in the hotel insurance cover. When you call for a hotel insurance quote we’ll ask you what type of contents you store there, the construction of the outbuilding and the kind of security in place so that we put the right hotel insurance cover in place for you.
Top
How do you define a guest house as opposed to a hotel?
The basic definition of a guest house is that it has no more than 8 bedrooms and the owner typically lives on the premises. Facilities in a guest house are usually also more limited. For example, the restaurant will be open only to guests and the premises are not generally licensed to sell alcohol, except when purchased with a meal.
Top
If my function room is damaged and I have had to arrange an alternative venue for my customer, will I be able to make a hotel insurance claim for the additional expense incurred?
If the damage to your function room was caused by a ‘peril’ which is covered by the policy then this will be insured as a ‘consequential loss’. Other consequential losses might include loss of revenue and any additional costs incurred by you in preventing a reduction in your turnover.
Top
If I book an act for a live entertainment show or function and they fail to turn up then I will have to refund my customers. Can I make a hotel insurance claim for this?
A standard hotel insurance policy will not usually include cover for failure of an act to appear. However, event cancellation and non-appearance cover can be purchased separately. Please call us on 01603 70 80 90 for more information about this.
Top
My hotel is a listed building - can you arrange hotel insurance cover and are there any special types of listed building insurance cover that I will require?
Many of our clients’ premises are listed buildings and we can usually arrange hotel insurance cover for Grade I or Grade II listed buildings and for those with ‘local listing’. Listed buildings often cost more to repair so it is essential that you’re insured for an adequate sum. Furthermore, it may take much longer to complete repairs on a listed building so the indemnity period for business interruption needs to take this into account. As your business might be disrupted for a considerable period if damage is significant, the hotel insurance needs to protect you until your business recovers from an incident. We will provide detailed recommendations and advice when you call for a hotel insurance quote.
Top
Will I be covered if food is contaminated and this results in the sickness of my guests?
If your guests’ sickness results from your negligence then the hotel insurance will provide you with legal representation and indemnity if you have to pay damages. In addition, most hotel insurance policies will provide Business Interruption Cover for lost revenue as a result of a ‘notifiable disease’ at the premises or a notifiable disease attributable to food or drink supplied at your premises.
Top
We offer car park facilities for our guests. What are our obligations and responsibilities? How will my hotel or guest house insurance protect me?
Hotel owners have a duty to ensure the car park is safe for use, but this duty does not extend to the vehicles or items within. The Hotel Proprietors Act excludes liability for any loss or damage to motor vehicles or property kept in them. So don’t forget to display a disclaimer sign in the car park to this effect. Our in-house risk management consultant is available to help clients with specific and detailed queries on their obligations and liabilities.
Top
I need to make changes to my existing hotel insurance arranged through hotelinsure.com?
If you want to change your hotel or guest house insurance policy, please contact us.
Top
Can I have a copy of the full policy document?
A full policy document is available on request for any of the products we recommend. If you are an existing client and have mislaid your policy document, please contact us for a duplicate.
Top
Who owns Hotel Insure?
Hotel Insure is a trading name of the Alan Boswell Group. The Alan Boswell Group is one of the most well-established and reputable independent insurance brokers in the UK.
Top
Is Alan Boswell Group owned by an insurance company?
No. Alan Boswell Group is entirely independent and is not owned or part-owned by any insurer. You can be confident that the advice we give you and the products we recommend have been selected to meet your individual demands and needs, not the needs of the insurance company.
Top
Will I be insured against loss of my liquor licence?
Yes, loss of licence can be included within most hotel insurance policies. A typical indemnity limit on a package policy is £100,000 but this can usually be negotiated if necessary. The cover protects you against loss of revenue in the event of your licence being revoked and includes legal representation and assistance to help you retain or renew an opposed licence.
Top
What excesses will apply to my policy?
We offer a wide range of policies from leading hotel and guest house insurance providers so the excess levels vary depending on the product recommended. However, typically, a standard commercial policy excess will be £250 for most losses and this will increase to £1,000 for buildings insurance claims caused by subsidence, ground heave or landslip. Your hotel insurance quote will provide full details of relevant excesses.
Top
My hotel is situated near a river. Will I be able to get hotel insurance cover?
Flooding is a hot topic for insurers and they each take a slightly different approach. For flood-prone locations, risks are reviewed on a case by case basis and the situation is carefully assessed. If your property is in a flood zone then you will need to supply lots of information about the position relative to the nearest watercourse, the flooding history and any other relevant features. We work hard for our clients so if there is a way of obtaining flood cover, we will find it. On occasions, insurers are willing to provide cover for flood-prone locations but will require an increased excess.
Top
I have suffered several hotel insurance claims which have resulted in higher premiums. How can Hotel Insure assist me in managing risks with the aim of improving my future claims record?
We are always willing to work with you to improve the management of risks affecting your business. Better risk management will result in fewer hotel insurance claims which means lower premiums and less hassle for all concerned: you, your insurer and us! We have our own in-house risk management adviser so we give you an independent opinion on your approach to risk management with specific reference to your loss history.
Top
I live in the hotel as the owner/manager. Can you arrange cover on my own personal possessions?
Yes, cover for the owners’ or manager’s contents and possessions can be included within your hotel insurance package. We can also provide wider cover for personal belongings whilst away from the premises and for high value items of jewellery, works of art etc. Sometimes a separate home insurance will be more appropriate. We will look at your individual circumstances and recommend the best solution for you.
Top
Do you offer the option to pay in monthly instalments?
Yes, we can provide monthly instalment facilities by direct debit on very competitive terms. Written details will be provided with your hotel insurance quote or over the phone when you call us.
Top
Can I get immediate hotel or guest house insurance cover?
Yes, we are usually able to arrange hotel insurance cover immediately over the phone. We recognise that time is often short for hoteliers and we understand the urgency of having hotel or guest house insurance cover in place at short notice. If you are taking on new premises, expanding your business or have a policy renewal due imminently, call us today for a hotel insurance quote and rapid response to your needs.
Top
Will I have to complete lots of forms to arrange my hotel insurance?
No - we try to take the burden of bureaucracy, hassle and paperwork away from you. Most of the insurers we work with use a "statement of fact" document, which we set up on your behalf. We just ask you to simply check that the details provided are correct and tell us of any changes or inaccuracies.
Top
How are hotel insurance premiums calculated?
Insurers base your premium on a range of factors such as the location based on your postcode area, the type of building, the activities carried out at the hotel, your previous hotel insurance claims records and the extent of cover required.
Top
I have a very good track record as a hotelier with several years without hotel insurance claim under my existing policy. Will I receive an extra discount to reflect my claims free years?
Yes, the insurers we approach on your behalf will take account of your hotel insurance claims record when calculating your hotel insurance quote. We will always ensure that we provide you with independent advice and the best terms available from the insurers.
Top