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August 2007
1st August and we turned 8 years old and what better way to celebrate our birthday than with the opening of another branch.
East London comes on stream on 20 August looking after the entire Eastern Cape and Lynne Reynolds will be there as Branch Manager to assist brokers and policyholders. Lynne comes to us after some 20 years with SA Eagle and is well known in the area. In the office with Lynne is Gcobisa Sigaji who was previously with a broker in East London. The office is at 84 Vincent Road, Vincent in East London and if you are in the area do “pop in” and say hello to Lynne and Gcobisa. The telephone number is 043 721-3101.
Both Lynne and Gcobisa are in Johannesburg until Friday 17 August and will be in office from Monday 20 August.
And whilst we are talking about our branches congratulations to Merran Johansson who has been promoted to Office Manager in our Durban Office and a big welcome to Debbie Smith who joins us Branch Manager in Johannesburg.
OUR NEW LOOK AND FEEL
The other thing that is happening to coincide with our birthday is a new “Look and feel” to our advertising. Our website has been changed to the new look as have policy covers and all brochures. Look out for these new look documents. For an idea of the new look please visit our website at www.bnbsure.co.za
GUESTHOUSES & BEE - BEE UPDATE AVAILABLE HERE
Something that many people are very confused about is the whole question of BEE. What it is, how it affects us and what is the situation regarding Guesthouses and B&Bs. BnB SURE asked Arlene Wilson-Max who is Director of Stakeholder Relations at the Tourism BEE Council to tell us how the whole question of BEE impacts on the smaller guesthouse.
“Presently, the gazetted DTI Codes of Good Practice have exempt enterprises with an annual turnover of less than R5 million from complying with the DTI scorecard.
It means that if you have an annual turnover of less than R5 million you are an “Exempt Micro Enterprise”. Your company fits into the 65 - 75% bracket which automatically makes you a good BEE Contributor. Your BEE Recognition level is 4.
To attain your EME Certificate, contact the DTI BEE Unit on 012 394 1634 and request assistance in attaining your Exempt Micro Enterprise (EME) Certificate. You will have to provide them with proof of your annual turnover prior to them issuing you with an EME Certificate.
Your potential clients will request your BEE Recognition Level or BEE Status from you prior to doing business with you. As an Exempt Micro Enterprise you can explain to them that you have a BEE Recognition Level of 4 and send them a copy of your EME Certificate.
For any further assistance, please contact Arlene Wilson-Max, the Director of Stakeholder Relations at the Tourism Empowerment Council on Tel: 012 310 3037 or Cell: 079 602 4927
Email: awilson-max@deat.gov.za”
GUESTS MEDICAL EVACUATION
We have spoken in our previous newsletters about our new Guests Medical Evacuation section that is now available. Imagine a guest suddenly becoming ill at an establishment and having no medical insurance or money to be admitted to hospital. What does one do? Turn the guest out into the street or allow them to stay at the guesthouse without paying until such time as they recover or until such time as some sort of alternate solution can be found?
BnB SURE in conjunction with T.I.C. (Travel Insurance Consultants) has the solution to this problem. Realising that it is vital for guest houses and bed & breakfasts to have emergency medical evacuation insurance for their guests in the event that they suffer an unforeseen medical emergency such as a serious accident, injury or severe illness BnB SURE is now able to offer at very nominal premiums the answer to this problem.
In the event of an accident or illness to a guest, if this cover is in place, an emergency medical service will be able to transfer the guest from the guest house or bed & breakfast to an appropriate medical facility for treatment. The insurer will be responsible for the emergency medical and evacuation costs.
Most evacuation policies will provide the evacuation but the costs are the account of the guest but this is different.
A choice of three options is available. R10,000, R50,000 or R100,000 at premiums of R50, R75 and R100 respectively.
POLICY CHANGES
The following changes to the BnB SURE policy come into effect with immediate effect to enhance even further the exceptional cover of our policy.
BUILDINGS SECTION INFLATION PROTECTOR
Adds 1.25% to the sum insured as it is on the schedule each month at no cost until anniversary date
CONTENTS SECTION
Medical expenses extension is now amended to include guests who might be injured on the premises. The maximum amount is R5 000.
The Fatal injury extension is now also amended to include guests suffering fatal injury on the insured premises as a result of accidental violent external visible means which injury shall solely and independently of any other cause result in death within twelve months of such injury.
(i) Fatal injury – death by accident R10 000
(ii) death by thieves or fire R15 000
in all not more than R15 000 per person
TRAUMA COUNSELLING now extends to cover the insured and any permanent staff member even whilst away from the insured premises.
GOODS IN THE OPEN is increased to 1% of the sum insured or R25 000 whichever is the greater
REFRIGERATOR & DEEP FREEZE CONTENTS is increased to R7 500 per unit
MONEY in the premises is increased to R5 000
POWER SURGE is increased to R15 000 and no requirement for power surge arrestors
SIGNS & SIGNPOSTS whether on the premises or not is increased to R7 500 per sign
INFLATION PROTECTOR adds 1.25% to the sum insured as it is on the schedule each month at no cost until anniversary date
REVENUE SECTION
INFLATION PROTECTOR adds 1.25% to the sum insured as it is on the schedule each month at no cost until anniversary date
LOSS FOLLOWING WILD ANIMAL ATTACK within 5 kilometers of the insured premises
ALL RISKS SECTION
MONEY being carried by the insured is increased to R5000. Subject to the All Risks section being in place and covering unspecified items. The R5000 is always considered to be part of the total of the Unspecified All Risks.
MOTOR SECTION now includes emergency accommodation costs up to R2000 if the insured’s vehicle involved in an accident or theft more than 300Km from home.
BnBFINDER
We have often reported this website that lists establishments at no cost to them – a benefit worth between R125 and R150 per month and the huge success this site is enjoying with reservations meaning real added value to our policyholders. Now the latest development is that we have concluded an agreement with Nightsbridge – the real-time on-line reservation company to link those of our listings who have this facility, giving visitors to the site an easier way to confirm that reservation. In addition we have negotiated with Nightsbridge that any of our policyholders who are not yet clients of Nightsbridge that when signing up through BnB SURE the first month is completely free.
Visit www.bnbsure.co.za/BedandBreakfast-NightsBridge.htm for all the details including a free demo of how the system works and how it can benefit the B&B or guesthouse. Already almost 1100 establishments are listed on www.bnbfinder.co.za and is climbing all the time.
THIS TOURISM WEEK
We have just concluded arrangements with This Tourism Week for a reciprocal exchange of articles and website links. This Tourism Week is sent to subscribers free virtually every week and is short and easy to read with some very interesting articles. If you would like to subscribe to TTW visit www.thistourismweek.co.za and click on the subscribe button.
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) 561-4986 Fax No. 086 686-8897
East London - (043) 721-3101 Fax No. (043) 721-3112
Managers:
General Manager: Avril Munro
Johannesburg - Debbie Smith
Cape Town - Trudy Venter
Durban - Merran Johansson
East London - Lynne Reynolds
BnB SURE ASSIST TOLL FREE LINE
We remind readers that use of the services offered through the BnB Sure Assist toll free line can only be activated by calling toll free on 0800 55 66 77.
THOUGHT FOR THE MONTH:
A dream you dream alone is only a dream. A dream you dream together is reality.
John Lennon
