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August 2006
We have continually said through the medium of this communiqué that establishment owners should not base their liability limit on the number of rooms they have. We have long said that the number of rooms has no bearing on the amount of a possible claim and that what is relevant is the profile of the tourist/guest and this has now been confirmed.
In a matter heard in the Windhoek High Court in Namibia, a British tourist has been awarded an amount of $N80m – the equivalent of R80m after an accident that saw the tourist paralysed.
The tourist was a British professional person earning 238,220 pounds per annum – a high salary in UK terms and what the award has done is to establish a reasonable value of such a tourist who is paralysed in Southern Africa and who in her 40's will need care for the rest of her life. It is not unreasonable to believe that in arriving at any award in South Africa for a similar tourist, irrespective of how it has happened, the courts would use this matter as a guide.
This being the case we once again suggest that limits be set at realistic figures by guesthouse and B&B owners. BnB SURE offers R30m as a minimum and R100m - subject to underwriters’ approval – as a maximum.
GUESTS EFFECTS
Our other recommendation is that all guesthouse or B&B owners obtain cover to insure the uninsured personal effects of their guests against any peril on the policy. This cover is available for any amount up to R200,000 in terms of the Contents section and this should be considered to protect policyholders in the event that establishment owners feel morally obliged to compensate a guest whose uninsured goods have been stolen from the establishment. Cover in terms of the Contents section is as low as R10.40 per R10,000 per month and NO DISCLAIMERS are required if this cover is bought.
NATIONAL ACCOMMODATION ASSOCIATION
The long standing relationship between NAA-SA and BnB SURE took another step forward this month with the signing of a “Preferred Suppliers Agreement”. BnB SURE has been the preferred supplier of insurance to NAA for the past 5 years and this agreement endorses that verbal agreement. The agreement provides, inter alia, for reciprocal marketing of NAA and BnB SURE and we look forward to a continued mutually beneficial relationship with NAA.
It should also be remembered that NAA members enjoy a 15% discount on all sections except the Executive car (which is specially rated) and the Assist section and what we have found is that it benefits a guesthouse owner to join NAA as the annual premium saving is usually equal to two or three times the cost of subscriptions to the Association. Not only a premium saving but the information available from NAA to assist in running a guesthouse.
BnB SURE BROCHURES
Our new brochures are now available and can be obtained from any of our branches. These comprehensive new brochures combine all the features of BnB SURE into one document instead of the variety of documents used in the past.
PROPOSAL FORMS
Our updated proposal form is now available on our website. Kindly discard the old forms and use the new documents. If you do not have access to the Internet please advise us and we will be happy to either email it or fax it to you.
BnB SURE ASSIST
A reminder that in terms of the cover provided by the BnB SURE Assist section of the policy, the insured has the right to select his or her own plumber, electrician or repairer of goods covered by the Maintenance Appliance Section. The correct (and only) procedure to submit a claim in terms of this section is to call the BnB SURE toll free number 0800 55 66 77 and report the claim.
An emergency after hours claim line also now forms part of the BnB SURE Assist service and policyholders needing emergency assistance can also call the toll free number an
BnB SURE CLUB NEWS
We invite you to visit the Club website on www.bnbsure.co.za to have a look at all on offer. This facility offers cost saving to policyholders simply by being insured with BnB SURE and we have achieved this without having to slash premiums to do this and at the same time we continue to add to the cover on an ongoing basis.
We will shortly be sending a newsletter to Club members giving details of the new Club facilities and for your information we will send this to you as well.
MIKE THOMPSON
Mike Thompson will be taking leave between the 28/8/06 and 18/9/06. Should you require any assistance while he is away please do not hesitate to contact our Cape Town branch.
BRANCH OFFICES
Contact details of BnB SURE offices are:
Johannesburg - (011) 886-6066 Fax No. (011) 886-1725
Cape Town office – (021) 948-0432 Fax No. (021) 948-3582
Durban office – (031) 563-6611 Fax No. 086 686-8897
Managers: Johannesburg – Linda van Dijk
Cape Town - Trudy Venter
Durban - Vaneshri Govender
THOUGHT FOR THE MONTH:
And in the end it's not the years in your life that count.
It's the life in your years.
Abraham Lincoln
