Hotel insurance ‘costs €730 a room’

Escalating insurance costs of €730 a room threaten to puncture a record year for many hoteliers and guest house owners as they face the challenge of hosting fewer British visitors, the country’s largest hotels group has said.

Irish Hotels Federation president Joe Dolan said a majority of its members cited “runaway” insurance costs as their greatest worry and want reforms to the way courts assess injuries.

“We have no issue whatsoever with genuine accidents where guests are rightly compensated. However, the vast majority of claims in the hotel sector concern minor injuries and the higher compensation payouts recommended by the updated Book of Quantum are putting pressure on insurers to increase the reserves,” Mr Dolan said.