Author: Steve Rachkowski
In today’s business environment, social media has become an integral part of numerous marketing and promotional strategies to help drive new business opportunities and retain current customers. While the low cost is reason enough to take advantage of, social media provides several ways to help keep your clients informed about your resort and all activity surrounding it.
Facebook to most people is a way to stay connected with family and friends, it is also a tool for business and when used to its full potential, can create many ways for you to network with new and current clients. You can use them to send updates on your resorts, inform clients of promotional discounts, client testimonials and fun activities going on at the resort that will help create the BUZZ for your brand. With over 800 million users in its database, it might be time to take advantage of this social media hotspot if you haven’t already done so.
Being connected also allows you stay in contact with your clients on a one-to-one basis. Any questions or feedback that clients have will be present and available on your social media accounts. This makes things much easier and accessible for your clients in today’s high paced and technology driven world. You can even take advantage of the ad space for sale on Facebook if it is in your budget. This option allows you to target the clients you want to reach by location, age, and interests versus simply reaching out to clients who are already clients of yours and connected to your Facebook page.
Twitter is also another social media tool that continues to grow at incredibly fast rates, with a purpose of helping you stay connected with what is most important to you. With a Twitter account you can follow friends, family, clients, industry experts and business professionals who share information about their daily activity through text-based messaging. With over 140 million users today, Twitter is becoming a must have for business owners who like to provide updates to their clients and potential customers. Have you ever wanted to promote a last minute booking promotion? Or want to update your regular clients about a newly renovated cottage that is better then ever? Then Twitter may just be what’s right for you. With the ability to send posts of up to 140 characters, this social media tool is a great way to stay connected with your clients that is both quick and easy to do.
Furthermore, if you have yet to take advantage of social media, or have been hesitant to join, then now may be the right time. Approximately 50% of the Canadian population uses Facebook and Twitter and with today’s technology they are easily accessible to use on laptops, desktops, tablets and cell phones to meet the needs and wants of your clients.
According to the Government of Canada, we get more tornadoes than any other country, with the exception of the United States. It is important to prepare for potential tornadoes as the season runs from April to September. Tornadoes have the ability to uproot trees, flip cars and destroy buildings and most importantly can cause injuries and even death.
Here are a few warning signs of a potential tornado:
- Severe thunderstorms
- Frequent thunder and lightning
- An Extremely dark sky
- A rumbling or whistling sound
- A funnel cloud at the rear base of a thundercloud
- Heavy rain and/or hail
Environment Canada is responsible for warning the public when there is a potential for a tornado to form. Keep a radio, television and/or internet connection near by to get the latest reports.
What to do during a tornado:
- Take Shelter immediately
- Go to the basement, or a small interior room, or under a sturdy table/desk
- Stay away from all windows, outside walls and doors
- Avoid mobile homes and cars
- Get as close to the ground as possible and protect your head
With all of the uncertain and changing weather conditions, it is important to be prepared. To get you started, download our Free Emergency Kit Checklist.
Did you hear about the motel that was hit by a massive power surge, causing them to lose power and destroying their phone system? Guests quickly made alternative plans leaving the motel with no guests and no phones.
Or what about the banquet hall that was catering two weddings at capacity, but was cut short when a transformer supplying them with power burned out? The two weddings had to be cancelled, causing the banquet hall to lose income and most of the food, as it spoiled from not being in cold storage.
Insurance is designed to protect your business from suffering a financial loss and
get you back up and running. There are many different types of insurance policies, coverages and limits, so it is important to have these reviewed regularly with your insurance broker to ensure you are adequately covered. Some coverages to keep in mind include Business Interruption and Equipment Breakdown.
Business Interruption coverage covers profits lost while the business is closed for repairs, rebuilding or relocation caused by an insured peril. Like when the motel lost all of its guests. Most policies have a waiting period before coverage takes effect and a time limit as to when coverage ceases.
Equipment Breakdown coverage insures against the financial loss and property damage resulting from an accident to equipment. Like when the banquet hall's freezer stopped working and caused all the food to spoil.
If you are unsure if you have these essential coverages, contact your insurance broker today.
Emergency situations can occur at any time. Prepare yourself and your business by downloading our Free Emergency Kit Checklist.
On a hot summer’s day a cool breeze is probably welcomed by all. However, wind isn’t always a good thing! Strong wind speeds, often associated with severe thunderstorms, hurricanes and tornadoes can cause devastating damage.
As a business owner, it is important to protect your property from the destructive behaviour of strong winds. Here are a few helpful risk management tips:
- Trim dead tree branches and dead trees surrounding your property. This will decrease the likelihood of a tree falling on your property or someone else's property and causing damage.
- Outdoor equipment, signage, sheds and outbuildings should be tightly secured. You don’t want to have those objects flying around.
- Keep your outside property clean of any loose garbage. Loose garbage is at a greater risk of being thrown and used as projectiles.
- Evaluate items stored outside and determine if it is possible to bring them inside. If that is not possible, secure outside equipment, stock and tools with a tarp.
- Store vehicles inside a garage or storage building. Moving them to a better location not under power wires or tree branches if possible.
- Perform regular maintenance on your building. This includes repairing and maintaining shingles, cracks, siding, windows, doors etc.
- Have your property inspected by a certified risk manager. They can often focus on areas of concern you may have overlooked.
Remember to also talk to your insurance broker to review your coverages, limits and deductibles with respect to wind damage as policies can differ.
We also recommend creating an emergency kit for your business because wind storms don’t take the day off work! Download our Free Emergency Kit Checklist to get you started.
Author: Cam Cottrell
The recent fire in Slave Lake Alberta has left a small community devastated. Some residents may leave, others will stay; those that do stay and have lost their homes will have to rebuild. What would you do? What should or can be done? You can’t just move an entire town; the cost of infrastructure is enormous and the majority of which the Municipality hasn’t insured, simply because it isn’t insurable.
Whatever the choice, the decision largely takes insurance into consideration. It is frustrating to hear people say,” we’ll be okay; we’ve got the best insurance.”
Insurance is a contract, subject to terms and conditions, including Statutory Conditions that are part of every contract of insurance. These conditions may have an effect on the amount payable depending on the choice to rebuild or not.
Replacement cost is an endorsement, and to obtain the benefit of replacement cost the policy states the following: “At the request of the insured, settlement shall be based on the cost of repairing, replacing, construction or reconstruction (whichever is the least) the property on the same site or an adjacent site, with new materials of like kind and quality and for like occupancy without deduction for depreciation, the repair or reconstruction by the insured must be effected with due diligence and dispatch.”
Taking the money and leaving usually means a cash settlement, which takes into account, reductions for things including depreciation of materials, and in the end, the settlement may be considerably less than the actual replacement cost.
Some Resort owners are second generation or more with the business having been passed down over the years. In other instances, the business may be a recent purchase and with it comes the matter of financing. The purchase of the property and the requirement of the mortgagee is that the property (buildings) is insured to protect their financial interest.
You’ve worked hard for what you have and to get to where you are and you should ensure that it’s not lost.
Property coverage is only one important part of your insurance portfolio, and each building is insured to a specific limit; losses that exceed this limit are not recoverable.
In the event of a loss the insurer is obligated to protect the rights of the mortgagee, any payment legally has to include them. Generally this does not present problems except in instances that involve a total loss of any structure.
If you plan to rebuild, don’t forget your mortgagee has a say: will you have sufficient coverage?
Reconstruction costs are typically estimated utilizing an estimated dollar amount multiplied by the cost per square foot to rebuild. Location of the property is a key factor to be considered. A 1000 square foot building near to a sizeable community may be estimated at perhaps $150.00 per square foot to rebuild for a total reconstruction cost of $150,000.00. An identical structure in a more remote location could cost twice as much, or more.
Things to consider in addition to the finishes of the structure are: material costs and/or labour costs (availability of both), transportation, accommodations and building permits and their associated inspections. All of these add up quickly, and directly affect the per square foot cost of reconstruction.
What’s it worth? Your insurance broker is there to help, but the person who best understands the logistics of the operation is you, the owner. Certainly it takes thought, effort and your valuable time. Is it worth it? You decide.
Author: Tim Stezik
"Wildland fire" is the term applied to any unwanted, unplanned, damaging fire burning in a forest, shrub or grass and is one of the most powerful natural forces known to man.
Wildland and forest fires can spread extremely quickly, often from the crowns of trees, at up to 15 km/hour and consume large areas of forest, buildings and even small towns.
In 2009, Canada saw 7,078 forest fires with an estimated total of 783 096 hectares consumed by fire. The risk of losing your property and life during a forest fire is extremely high. 50 percent of these fires are preventable, however, the other 50 percent are caused by lightning strikes.
Risk management or prevention around your property can reduce fire dangers and prevent a forest fire and subsequent insurance claims.
If you live or operate your business in or near a forested region, then you are living in an area often referred to as the wildland-urban “interface” and at some time may be faced with a wildfire. Wildland-urban interface fires tend to be more damaging than urban structural fires, and behave differently from structural fires.
Follow the tips below to help reduce the risk of loss or damage to your property and help prevent an insurance claim from a wildfire.
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Remove Fuels surrounding your home or buildings such as brush and vegetation – Clear back and thin out trees and brush on a yearly basis.
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Follow the Campfires & Fire Hazard Rating System when burning yard waste or vegetation and never leave a fire unattended.
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Ensure machinery and equipment has spark arrestors installed, if the equipment can be fitted with them. Most new machinery or equipment requires the use of spark arrestors. While spark arrestors are not 100% effective, they GREATLY reduce the risk of starting a wildfire.
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Dispose of charcoal briquettes and ash from woodstoves outside by drowning the charcoal and ash with lots of water; stir them, and soak again.
For more information on active wildland forest fires in Canada check out http://cwfis.cfs.nrcan.gc.ca/en_CA/index.
It is important to make sure that you have the appropriate insurance coverage for your resort and property in the event of a wildland forest fire. Have your Gougeon Insurance representative review your insurance policy to ensure you are covered in the event of a wildland forest fire.
For more information on Fire Safety and Fire Extinguisher Training, download our free guide.
The tragic fires of Slave Lake this spring remind us of Mother Nature’s force. It’s also a reminder for business owners of the damage that can occur.
1) You could have a claim more often than you may think
Gougeon Insurance program statistics indicate that 5% of our resort clients had a claim last year, however industry statistics indicate that in a 5-10 year period a business’ likelihood of having an insurance claim is greater than 20%.
It’s worth confirming that your property is insured to value: don’t skimp on proper valuation. During your insurance renewal, you are less likely to consider increased or additional coverages given it’s also the time that premiums are due.
However, it’s not worth skimping on insurance valuation. There are other ways to lower your insurance costs. Some of the other ways to consider are deductible variations and minimization of other add-on frill coverages.
2. Forest fire fighting expense is a valuation insurance coverage
Some add-on frill coverages are quite cool and very useful if your location is more remote and, therefore, has a higher exposure to forest fire loss. If you, your employees or your customers start, or are somehow involved in starting, a forest fire because of their actions or as a result of your operations, you could be liable for forest fire fighting expenses and thus charged back from the Ministry. There is a specific property extension that can be added to your policy to cover your business’ liability for this exposure. It’s now more common on insurance policies compared with what it was prior; it’s worth checking out if you have this on your resort insurance policy.
3) Business Interruption insurance is very useful
Only 42% of seasonal businesses in the Gougeon programs are buying business interruption coverage. Operators who are mainly seasonal feel that they don’t require this coverage; the reality is that a large loss can significantly cripple your business and threaten its survival if you don’t have proper insurance.
Insurance is a costly expense item for business and given the intangibility of business interruptions and lack of priority over liability insurance, it is often overlooked as “nice to have” vs. “need to have”.
More details regarding business interruption:
Business interruption is insurance that offsets the loss of expected earnings.
When a business suffers an insured loss to physical assets, direct damage policies respond. But, during the post loss period, how do businesses meet their ongoing financial commitments?
Business interruption policies are designed for the express purpose of
sustaining businesses financially during a given post-lost period. With business interruption coverage, we are dealing with your ongoing finances as set out in your profit and loss statement / income statement.
There is some work involved to establish the amount of coverage required, however, your insurance broker can help you in this process.
Should a forest fire occur and stop your business from operating, Business interruption coverage will kick in and ensure your business is sustained financially while your business is closed. Saving you and your business from bankruptcy!
For additional information on Fire Safety and Fire Extinguisher Training, please download our free guide.
You’ve heard it over and over again...“wash your hands to prevent the spread of germs.” What you don’t hear is how often people still aren’t washing their hands! It is estimated that approximately 30% of people aren’t washing their hands after using the restroom or during food preparation. This number grows to 75% when it comes to people failing to wash their hands after sneezing or when dealing with money.
Ensuring employee's are washing their hands can save you both time and money, while significantly reducing the transmission of disease and germs. An employee not washing their hands can have several negative effects on your business:
- Time off work recovering from illness
- Spread of germs to fellow employee’s
- Reduction in customer service due to staff shortage
- Ill guests, resulting in early departures and bad reviews
- In some cases, guests contracting serious illness can leave you open to a liability claim.
Having the proper risk management procedures in place (which involve hand washing), can prevent all of these scenarios! As an employer, it is important in the workplace to ensure the following risk management protocols are in place:
- Soap is provided at all washing areas
- Signs are posted in washing area’s showing the steps to hand washing; using both photos and written instructions
- Employees are reminded of the importance of hand washing
- Hand washing is performed correctly; washing your hands should take approximately 20 seconds (singing the song “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star”) as you rub your hands with soap.
For more risk management advice on training new employees, download our free white paper on 4 easy steps to effective staff training.
Bill 160 is the proposed legislation that is to begin the process of reforming Ontario's Health and Safety and is currently being reviewed by the Legislative Standing Committee on Social Policy.
If passed, Bill 160 will amend the Ontario Health and Safety Act and the workplace Safety and Insurance Act 1997. It is proposed legislation that gives power to the Ministry of Labour to begin implementing some of the recommendations noted below.
Some key recommendations include:
- Prevention mandate shifted to the Ministry of Labour
- Mandatory training for new employees and health and safety representatives
- Expansion of powers for JHSC co-chairs to make direct
recommendations to employers where committee fails to reach consensus
- Establishment of Prevention Council and Chief prevention officer
- Development of Codes of Practice
- Inspectors given power to refer reprisal complains to board
Although the legislation sets out the recommendation for mandatory training for new employees and health and safety representatives, it does not identify the scope of training that will be required or the circumstances. Employer's will have to remain patient while the recommendations are slowly reviewed and implemented.
It is important for employers to start looking at their new employee training protocols and ensure good risk management procedures are in place today. To get started, download our free white paper on 4 Easy Steps to Effective Staff Training.
On average 50% of the costs of your loss is not covered by insurance when you have a claim. These uninsured or hidden expenses include deductibles, management and/or staff time, other lost work time, worker’s compensation costs, cargo damage, and lost goodwill with customers among other examples.
An investment in risk management loss prevention can improve your bottom line because insured losses and hidden costs of claims can be reduced significantly.
Automobile accidents are a key exposure for businesses and driver orientation and safety training can reduce your businesses potential for claims and increase your profitability.
Driver training also is an opportunity to demonstrate and teach:
- company standards, driving rules, regulations, code of conduct etc
- rules and potential consequences of failure to comply with company guidelines
- procedures to follow in case of emergencies
- vehicle checks and restrictions
- reporting of safety/ maintenance issues
- overall company risk management and loss prevention philosophy
If your company had a fleet of vehicles, a driver’s handbook, outlining policies and procedures, is an essential employee training tool.
Some of the key areas of a handbook would include:
- company message demonstrating commitment to minimizing vehicle related risks to employees and the public
- procedures for reporting incidents
- forms which outline record keeping requirements
- outline of consequences and/or rewards of both negative and positive actions
- policies on who is permitted to use company vehicles
As you set up your policies or review your existing ones for your business, consider your policy on non-employees driving company vehicles. If your company allows for non-employees to drive company vehicles, permission could be restricted to the spouse/partner residing at the same address. If you consider the statistic that 50% of your insurance claim is not covered because of “hidden costs”, risk management and loss prevention in this area can save your company money.
As you ramp up for your annual employee training, the free downloadable white paper on 4 Effective Staff Training Tips can offer you guidance and reminders for an effective employee training session.