December 2006
Accommodation is central to the hosting of a successful 2010 FIFA World Cup. MATCH, which is the official FIFA-mandated company responsible for the Accommodation, Ticketing and IT Solutions for the 2010 FIFA World Cup, has advised that all accommodation will need to be graded by the Tourism Grading Council of South Africa (TGCSA) to meet the its requirements for the 2010 World Cup.
Minister of Environmental Affairs and Tourism, Marthinus van Schalkwyk, said that the signing of an MoU between the TGCSA and MATCH on October 12 was proof of South Africa’s commitment to providing quality accommodation for the World Cup.
It was also decided that MATCH will consider non-hotels as an accommodation option for the first time in FIFA history. This will include guesthouses and B&Bs.
Following this decision, BnB SURE announced that it has decided to assist its policyholders, both new and existing, with an additional 5% premium discount if they are graded by TGCSA. This will in some way assist establishments insured by BnB SURE to meet the cost of grading.
We have had tremendous response to this with dozens of establishments advising us that they are TGCSA graded and it has been with pleasure that we have assisted them with an additional discount.
POLICY ENHANCEMENTS
We have always considered BnB SURE to be a “living policy” and as with any living thing it can’t stand still and as a result we have released several more enhancements to the policy which are applicable from 1 December and notice of which brokers will already have received. These enhancements are:
Loss of Revenue Section:
One thing that can have a major impact on the activities of a guesthouse is major building operations on adjoining property where jackhammers and such like are being used. As a result we have included this as an extension to the Revenue section should building noise within 500 meters (excluding on the insured’s own property) cause a loss of revenue
Contents Section - Bilking
"Bilking" is a major extension to the policy and in the past we have given cover at no cost of up to R5000. This has now been increased to R10,000 with a buy up option to R20,000.
Contents Section - Guest effects
We have spoken at length in the past four newsletters of the need to include cover for the personal effects of guests that are not otherwise insured, but despite ongoing losses from guesthouses few policies have had this cover added although the cost is very low. The result is unhappiness all round especially to the guest who in all probability will not return.
In keeping with our strategy of giving a degree of important cover under extensions at no cost (bilking and power surge for example) and buy up after we have taken the decision to follow that example with the uninsured personal effects of guests. As a Result we will be adding R10000 with an excess of R1000 at no cost.
Having taken that decision we still strongly recommend that policyholders buy up in terms of the Contents section. The premium is a mere R10.40 per R10,000 per month for that peace of mind of knowing the guest will be taken care of in the event of the theft of his or her goods from the establishment.
Contents Section - Accidental Damage extension
The “Accidental Damage Extension” to the CONTENTS section is to be changed to an "All Risks Extension". This, we believe, will assist policyholders with those strange eventualities that could - and do - happen in a guesthouse.
OFFICE HOURS BETWEEN CHRISTMAS AND NEW YEAR
Christmas Day and the Day of Goodwill fall this year on a Monday and Tuesday. For the remainder of that week, the 27th, 28th and 29th December all three offices of BnB SURE will open only between 9am and 12 noon. Normal office hours return on 2 January 2007.
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
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.
HOLIDAY GREETINGS
We wish everybody a very happy and safe holiday season and to those celebrating Christmas, we wish a very special and blessed Christmas time.
If you are on the roads this holiday season please drive safely.
THOUGHT FOR THE MONTH:
Good judgment comes from experience, and experience comes from bad judgment.
Barry Le Patner
