Category Archives: Management And Ownership

by | January 23, 2012 · 8:06 am

Hospitality Industry Property Risks: Texas Hotel Completes Installation Of "Shatter-Resistant" Window Panes That Can Withstand "Hurricane-Force Winds And Even Bomb Blasts"

Glass panels were removed from balconies on the 37-story, $300 million building in mid-2011 after eight panels shattered on three separate occasions in June, raining glass into the hotel´s pool area and onto adjacent streets.

Final repairs will soon begin on balconies at the W Austin Hotel and Residences, with workers set to install about 1,000 panes of specially engineered glass that can withstand hurricane-force winds and even bomb blasts, according to its manufacturer.

  • SentryGlas, a product from DuPont, was determined to be the right choice, Armstrong told the American-Statesman.
  • The contractors, not Stratus, will pick up the tab for the $2.5 million project, Armstrong said. About $500,000 has already been spent removing the original glass, as well as providing security guards and protective walkways while that work was under way.
  • SentryGlas has an interlayer that holds together shattered panes, according to Harvey. But, he said, its interlayer is much, much tougher than typical laminated glass — 100 times stiffer and five times stronger.
  • Instead of brackets on the sides, the glass will now be inset with stainless steel mounts at the top and bottom of each panel.

For more: http://www.glassonweb.com/news/index/14953/

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by | January 21, 2012 · 1:56 am

Hospitality Industry Property Risks: Missouri Hotel Fire Started By "Overloaded Electrical Cord"; 80-Year Old Building "Still Had Original Wiring"

The fire is believed to be electrical, but Noah said he doesn’t expect to determine the exact cause of the fire because the room “flashed over” during the fire. This can produce heat as high as 930 degrees.

“The building was built in 1927, and it still has the original wiring in the building,” Orgeron said. “We ask them not to, but you can’t be in everyone’s room all the time. People do break the rules.”

The fire at the Missouri Hotel started in the room of a resident who was using multiple electrical appliances, an official said. Fire marshal Philip Noah said a 48-year-old woman in room 221 had a box fan, stereo and cell phone charger plugged into an electrical cord.

Being able to pinpoint it becomes very difficult,” Noah said. “Really it would take an lectrical engineer”.

For more: http://www.news-leader.com/article/20120120/NEWS01/301200068/0/blogs/?odyssey=nav%7Chead

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by | January 20, 2012 · 1:18 am

Hospitality Industry Food Risks: Mexican Restaurant Chain Is Source Of "Salmonella" Outbreak; Food Contamination "Likely" Occurred Prior To Reaching Chain

Investigative efforts were unable to identify a specific food associated with illness, but data indicate that contamination likely occurred before the product reached Restaurant Chain A locations.

CDC collaborated with public health officials in multiple states and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to investigate a multistate outbreak of Salmonella Enteritidis infections which was associated with eating food from a Mexican-style fast food restaurant chain, Restaurant Chain A. This outbreak now appears to be over.

Public health investigators used DNA “fingerprints” of Salmonella bacteria obtained through diagnostic testing with pulsed-field gel electrophoresis, or PFGE, to identify cases of illness that may be part of this outbreak. They used data from PulseNet, the national subtyping network made up of state and local public health laboratories and federal food regulatory laboratories that performs molecular surveillance of foodborne infections.

For more:  http://www.foodpoisonjournal.com/foodborne-illness-outbreaks/multi-state-salmonella-outbreak-linked-to-unnamed-mexican-restaurant-chain/

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Filed under Claims, Food Illnesses, Guest Issues, Health, Insurance, Liability, Management And Ownership

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by | January 19, 2012 · 6:47 am

Hospitality Industry Legal Risks: "Class-Action Lawsuit" Filed Against New York Hotel And Water Park For "Norovirus Outbreak" Stemming From "Contaminated Food And Pool Water"

“…The state Department of Health documented more than 600 cases of norovirus in March 2008, apparently stemming from contaminated food and pool water at the park’s hotel complex…”

“…alleges that Great Escape, and its parent company Six Flags Inc., failed to maintain proper sanitary conditions and didn’t warn guests once the outbreak became known…”

Attorneys representing more than 100 people filed a class-action lawsuit Wednesday in state Supreme Court in Warren County against the Six Flags Great Escape Lodge & Indoor Waterpark over a 2008 norovirus outbreak.

“Here, many people, especially children, suffered brief but violent periods of illness,” said Don Boyajian, one of two attorneys representing those who were infected.

Those infected experienced brief but violent fits of vomiting and diarrhea.

Dozens of people filed lawsuits following the incident. Those claims were consolidated into a single case — the class-action lawsuit, which has been in the works since 2009.

Boyajian did not specify the amount of damages being sought. He said damages would depend on the virus’ impact on each individual.

Attorneys representing Great Escape were not available on Wednesday for comment.

Read more: http://poststar.com/news/local/class-action-lawsuit-filed-against-great-escape-over-norovirus-outbreak/article_997adaa2-4226-11e1-8bea-0019bb2963f4.html#ixzz1juoN2fka

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by | January 18, 2012 · 1:42 am

Hospitality Industry Legal Risks: Restaurant Group Loses Appeal To Supreme Court Over "Minimum Wage" Lawsuit Regarding "Underpayment Of Tip Income"

Many…employees claimed that, because they spent more than 20% of their time performing duties such as cleaning and prepping, they should earn full minimum wage during hours worked without tips.

Applebee’s turned to the Supreme Court in October seeking to overturn an earlier ruling from a federal court of appeals in Missouri allowing the case to proceed to trial in September. The company claims that prep work and cleanup is part of employees’ tip-earning responsibilities.

The Supreme Court on Tuesday turned down an appeal from Applebee’s International Inc., which is battling a lawsuit from more than 5,500 bartenders and servers accusing the restaurant chain of underpaying them.

The high court declined to hear Applebee’s case, which focuses on a practice in which restaurants pay employees reduced minimum wage by factoring in the extra boost provided by tips.

Known as a “tip credit,” the practice is banned in states such as California and Minnesota but permitted in Missouri, where many of the plaintiffs work.

For more:  http://www.latimes.com/business/money/la-fi-mo-applebees-supreme-court-20120117,0,6981441.story

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by | January 17, 2012 · 1:40 am

P3 Hospitality Industry Risk Report: “Hotel Power Outage Checklist” Presented By Director Of Risk Management Todd Seiders Of Petra Risk Solutions (Video)

[vimeo http://www.vimeo.com/52513104 w=500&h=281]

Petra Risk Solutions’ Director of Risk Management, Todd Seiders , offers a P3 Hospitality Risk Report – ‘Hotel Power Outage Checklist’. 

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

 For more information on Petra and P3 visit petrarisksolutions.com or call 800.466.8951.

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by | January 16, 2012 · 7:13 am

Hospitality Inudustry Insurance Risks: Restaurants Are Adding New "Business Innovations" That May Not Be Covered By Existing Insurance Coverages

“…Many (restaurants) are turning to innovations to grow their business. While that can be a plus for their balance sheets, it can also open the door to unexpected liabilities that their insurance policies were not designed to cover…”

Agents can head off this scenario and build a strong consultative relationship with their restaurant customers by asking key questions at renewal time. Here are some of the trends that could put restaurants at risk and the questions agents should ask their restaurant customers :

  1. Mobility. Has the restaurant added new services, such as delivery of meals using hired drivers with their own cars?
  2. Branch out businesses. Has the restaurant started a new line of business, such as catering?
  3. Trendy foods. Has the restaurant introduced new menu offerings as part of the strategy for attracting more customers, such as locally sourced foods, an emphasis on organic ingredients or assurances about non-allergenic ingredients?
  4. Additional payment methods. Is the restaurant accepting new methods of payment, such as online credit charges or smartphone purchasing?

All too often, the lack of appropriate coverage only becomes evident when a mishap occurs and a claim is filed. After someone has already threatened to sue for damages is usually a bad time for restaurant owners to discover they should have consulted with their insurance agent about their insurance needs before changing their business model.

For more:  http://www.propertycasualty360.com/2012/01/12/4-trends-that-can-put-restaurants-at-risk

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by | January 15, 2012 · 1:05 am

Hospitality Industry Legal Risks: Texas Hotel Sued By Family Of Housekeeper Who Died Falling Down Service Elevator Shaft; State Required Inspection Two-Weeks Overdue

“…Gloria Rodriguez, 65, had been an employee at the Crockett Hotel for 12 years when she fell six stories down the service elevator shaft Dec. 28. The elevator’s state-required annual inspection was more than two weeks overdue at the time…”

The family of a Crockett Hotel housekeeper who plunged to her death down an open elevator shaft last month has filed a wrongful death lawsuit.

Named in the suit are New Jersey-based Otis Elevator Company and 1859-Historic Hotels Ltd., a Galveston-based company that owns the Crockett Hotel and the nearby Menger Hotel in downtown San Antonio.

“Based upon current information, it is believed that she attempted to get on the elevator but when the doors opened there was no elevator, causing her to fall,” Houston-based attorney James Hada wrote in the suit, filed Wednesday.

Read more: http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/local_news/article/Wrongful-death-suit-filed-for-fatal-elevator-2519149.php#ixzz1jSJFD4KN

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Filed under Claims, Injuries, Insurance, Labor Issues, Liability, Maintenance, Management And Ownership, Risk Management

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by | January 13, 2012 · 7:16 am

Hospitality Industry Theft Risks: California Hotel Robbery Suspect Entered Guest Rooms Through "Open Doors" And "While Faking A Disability To Avoid Suspicion"

“… in rooms where guests left without closing their doors tightly, jewelry, watches, electronics and wallets were missing. “He had credit cards from some of the victims, we believe he was involved in fraud and identity theft.”

“…Hotel workers told us they believe Hudson used a handicapped placard on his car, and walked with a limp. They speculate that is because of his apparent disability. Some hotel patrons may have opened side doors and let him in…”

Fresno police have arrested a suspect in a series of burglaries in hotels and motels in the Central Valley. Police have linked James McGovern to burglaries at three hotels in Fresno. He’s also a suspect in burglaries in Kingsburg, Clovis, Madera and Chowchilla.

Police think McGovern slipped in through side doors as guests left, and then walked the halls, looking for targets. Fresno Police Sergeant Mark Hudson told Action News the Airport Holiday Inn, The Marriot Courtyard and Homewood Suites in Fresno were among those McGovern hit. “He was going into these hotels and just checking for open doors, maybe where maids had been in going in stealing the TV’s.”

For more: http://abclocal.go.com/kfsn/story?section=news/local&id=8503146

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by | January 11, 2012 · 11:41 am

Hospitality Industry Legal Risks: Pennsylvania Restaurant Franchise Sued For "Racial Discrimination" In Promoting Employees

“…The lawsuit …claims that Panera franchisee Covelli Enterprises discouraged managers from hiring African Americans, and then relegated them to menial, back-of-the-shop roles….”

A Panera Bread franchisee had a policy of keeping “fat, black or ugly” people off of the cash registers and out of management positions, according to a lawsuit filed in federal court today that seeks class action status.

It follows a lawsuit filed in November by a former Panera Bread manager who said he was fired under pretenses after he objected to such policies. Both Mr. Vines and the former manager are represented by attorney Sam Cordes.

Mr. Vines, who is black, worked at Panera at the Galleria in Mt. Lebanon from November 2009 through August 2011, according to the complaint. While he was there, a district manager told a store manager that Sam Covelli, of Covelli Enterprises, might give them both a “death sentence” if he saw Mr. Vines working a cash register, because Mr. Vines was a “that” — code for an African American.

Because Mr. Vines was a good employee, the store manager continued to periodically put him on the cash register, and tried to promote him, the complaint said. He was repeatedly reprimanded, however, and was not allowed to promote Mr. Vines, it said.

Mr. Vines eventually was forced to quit because of the policies, the complaint said. Mr. Cordes said he now works at another restaurant. He seeks actual, compensatory and punitive damages.

Mr. Vines seeks to represent the interests of all African Americans hired at Panera Bread branches owned by Covelli Enterprises, which is based in Warren, Ohio. Mr. Cordes said that the class of plaintiffs does not include overweight or “ugly” people.

Read more: http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/12011/1202770-100.stm#ixzz1jBDYhqK9

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