Give your business an added level of safety from sudden events by investing in the right cover Managing a guesthouse or B&B comes with unique risks that require specific insurance solutions. You may already know this, but in case you’re not sure exactly what you should have in place when it comes to guesthouse insurance, we’re here to help you.
South Africa is a top global tourism destination. Visitors from all over the world frequently touch down in our beloved Mzansi for a once-in-a-lifetime experience. This means that the tourism industry can be a very lucrative one, with accommodation options such as guesthouses and B&Bs playing a crucial role.
The Tourism Grading Council of South Africa defines a guesthouse as accommodation in a house, renovated house or a specifically designed building that offers breakfast, as well as other public areas guests can exclusively access. A B&B is similar, but the host either stays in the building or on the property and shares the public facilities/areas (dining area, lounge, etc) with guests. Of course, breakfast is also included in a B&B (you know, bed and breakfast).
In some parts of the country, legislation states that a B&B should have no more than three guest bedrooms, while a guesthouse should have no more than four.
Building Contents Insurance is essential when running a guesthouse as it covers your main buildings, outbuildings and garages in the event of the contents therein being stolen. It also covers contents on your grounds, which includes laundry, garden and pool furniture. Importantly, Building Contents Insurance protects your guests too, as their personal effects are covered in the event of theft.
Theft aside, Building Contents Insurance also comes in handy should you encounter beverage leakage, accidental damage and deterioration of foodstuffs, and covers you for personal legal liability, among other events.
Fallen trees, burst pipes and fire damage to your building can really get in the way of keeping your business going, which is why it's important to protect your guesthouse or B&B. This is where Building Insurance comes in as it covers you for these eventualities and more, such as damage to your building (intentional or accidental) including glass, mirrors and sanitaryware, as well as damage to landscaped gardens and water features, and/or damage to water-pumping machinery. Building Insurance also includes property owner's liability.
Business interruption insurance is very useful as it ensures that your business can continue to operate during disruptive circumstances. It will cover you in the event of bilking, ventilation and/or auxiliary power failures, and/or if you have bookings that are cancelled. Business interruption insurance is also helpful should your employees go on strike, assisting you with expenses incurred due to a staff stay-away.
Negative guest reviews can be damaging to your business, which is why Public Liability Insurance is worth having. It can help you manage some unpleasant incidents that may unfold, including damage to a guest's vehicle or damage to a guest's clothing due to dry-cleaning. It also covers food and drink poisoning and product liability.
The last types of cover to consider are Money insurance and Office Contents insurance, which cover receptacles, locks and keys, and damage to staff clothing, as well as personal effects, respectively.
1,3 MILLION car insurance quotes per year. That’s a lot of saving!
I saw the advert on my phone confirming that if I need assistance when looking for insurance Hippo can assist. The advert also told me to press for urgent assistance. I did. I was assisted immediately.
By advertising on social media all insurance companies. I have saved R400 from the insurance that I choose.
Execellent service, timeous response, great communication and a good overall experience finding the ideal insurance for you.
I was desperate for an insurance an affordable premium as Auto General had suddenly communicated that they would charge me R2400. Hippo provided affordable options and within 3 hours, I had new insurance cover at a good rate and the old insurance cancelled.
The lady that helped she was the best and honest with everything we discussed about their insurance company. Thank you dear for the best customer service.
Protect your property, your guests, and your revenue with smart insurance cover.
Building Contents Insurance covers accidental damage, theft, beverage leakage, and food spoilage. It also protects your guests' personal items and includes legal liability cover.
These help you recover from unexpected events like cancellations or guest-related accidents (e.g., food poisoning or broken furniture). This protection helps you keep trading smoothly.
Add Money Insurance, Building Insurance, and Office Contents Insurance to protect everything from cash to staff equipment—ideal for peace of mind and smoother operations.
Compare quotes tailored for B&B and guesthouse operations now.
Make sure your bookings are always protected.
Compare Business Insurance and find a plan that meets your needs. Whether you want comprehensive cover or more focused shuttle business liability coverage, looking at multiple options online helps you make an informed decision.