Hotel Insurance

Yes. Public liability cover on a hotel insurance policy covers legal liability for guest injuries occurring at the hotel - including pool areas, restaurants, lobbies, car parks, guest rooms and all common areas. Common claims include slip-and-fall injuries, pool incidents and food-related illness. Most hotel policies provide $20M to $50M of public liability cover.

Business interruption cover is a standard component of most hotel insurance packages. It reimburses lost room revenue, food and beverage income and other hotel earnings if the property is damaged by an insured event and cannot operate at full capacity. The indemnity period should be set to cover the full repair and recovery timeframe.

Yes. Most hotel insurance policies cover cyclone and storm damage to the building and contents. However, hotels in designated cyclone regions (northern Queensland, Northern Territory and parts of Western Australia) may face higher premiums, specific cyclone excess levels and sub-limits. Ensure your cover adequately addresses cyclone risk if your hotel is in a tropical location.

Yes. Public liability cover on a hotel insurance policy extends to food poisoning claims arising from meals served at the hotel's restaurant, room service, buffet or function catering. Claims can include medical costs, compensation and legal fees. Hotels should maintain rigorous food safety procedures to reduce this risk.

Yes. If your hotel serves alcohol through a bar, restaurant or function facility, liquor liability cover is strongly recommended. It covers claims arising from the service of alcohol, including incidents involving intoxicated guests. Many hotel insurance policies include liquor liability within the public liability section, but check your policy to confirm.

Guest property cover is typically available as an optional extension on hotel insurance policies. It covers loss or damage to guests' personal belongings while at the hotel, including items stored in room safes or held by hotel staff. The innkeeper's liability provisions under Australian common law also impose certain obligations on hotel operators.

Leading commercial insurers offering hotel insurance in Australia include CGU, QBE, Zurich, Vero, Hollard, Allianz and AIG. Each has different appetite for hotel size, star rating and location. At Shielded, we compare across these insurers to find comprehensive and competitively priced cover for your hotel.

Commercial property insurance covers a wide range of property types including office buildings, retail shops, warehouses, factories, shopping centres, hotels, motels, restaurants, cafes, medical centres, child care centres, gyms, salons, laundromats, churches, petrol stations, mixed-use developments and more. Whether you own a single tenancy or a multi-storey complex, we tailor cover to match your property.

Premiums vary based on building value, location, construction type, tenant occupation and risk profile. A small retail shop may cost $1,500 to $4,000 per year, a standard office building $3,000 to $10,000, and a large warehouse or industrial property $5,000 to $25,000+. High-risk tenancies (restaurants, manufacturing) attract higher premiums. Request a free quote through Shielded for an accurate indication.

Commercial building insurance covers the physical structure including walls, roof, floors, fixed fixtures, common areas, car parks, fencing and services (electrical, plumbing, HVAC) against fire, storm, flood, impact damage, malicious damage, theft and accidental damage. It typically also covers demolition and removal costs, professional fees (architects, engineers) and compliance with current building codes when rebuilding.

If you own a commercial building and lease it to tenants, you need commercial landlord insurance. This covers the building structure, landlord's contents (common area furnishings, HVAC systems), public liability for common areas, loss of rental income if the building is uninhabitable after an insured event, and plate glass. Your tenants are responsible for insuring their own contents, stock and fit-out.

Loss of rental income (also called business interruption for landlords) provides replacement income if your commercial property becomes uninhabitable after an insured event such as fire, storm or flood. It covers the rental income you would have received during the repair or rebuild period, typically for up to 12 or 24 months. This is essential for property investors who rely on rental returns.

Plate glass cover is usually an optional add-on, not included in the base building policy. It covers the cost of replacing glass shop fronts, windows, doors, display cases and signage glass that is accidentally broken or vandalised. For retail properties with large glass frontages, this is an important cover to include.

Generally, the landlord insures the building structure, common areas and landlord's fixtures. Tenants are responsible for insuring their own contents, stock, fit-out, trade fixtures and their own public liability. Most commercial leases clearly define these responsibilities. As a landlord, ensure your lease requires tenants to hold adequate insurance and provide certificates of currency.

Contact us at Shielded Insurance on 1800 97 98 99 or reach out to your insurer directly. We recommend notifying us as soon as possible after damage occurs, documenting everything with photos, securing the premises to prevent further damage, and keeping records of all emergency repair costs.

We compare quotes from leading Australian commercial property insurers including CGU, QBE, Zurich, Vero, Hollard, Allianz, AIG and others. The best insurer depends on your property type, construction, tenant occupation and risk profile. As brokers, we do the comparison work to find competitive and suitable cover for your property.

Review your policy annually at renewal, or whenever there are significant changes such as new tenants, renovations, extensions, changes in building use, or updated valuations. Building replacement costs increase over time - if your sum insured does not keep pace with construction cost inflation, you risk being underinsured at claim time. We recommend a professional building valuation every 3 to 5 years.