Many of the tropical vacation destinations we love so much are located within areas prone to hurricanes and other natural disasters, which often cause hotel property damage. But tourists losing out on vacation time is only one of the problems facing hotels, motels, and other commercial lodging facilities in the wake of a hurricane or other natural disaster.

Hotels often have large, flat roofs, which often sustain substantial damage. Flat and low-slope roofs normally fail in high winds due to a force known as “uplift.” Simply put, the wind lifts the roof up off the building, tearing out fasteners and compromising the watertight integrity of the roof in the process. Due to changing building codes, both the repair and replacement of hotel roofs can often be a very complex situation.

Hotel Property Damage After a Hurricane

Hotel owners both own the hotel building and structures and operate the business, and a major storm will seriously impact both revenue streams. Hotel owners and operators know how important it is for their businesses to reopen after a natural disaster. Extended repairs and room closures hurt both the hotel’s brand and its financial bottom line, so hotels must work hard to remain financially viable in the aftermath of a hurricane.

While awaiting an insurance claims resolution, hotels will be unable to complete repairs due to lack of insurance funds, which can impact franchise agreement covenant compliance and risk the flag. In fact, the biggest fear of many lodging owners and operators is that while a huge storm leaves them without the ability to book new guests, hurricane-damaged properties still have to pay rent and other overhead costs. Business interruption can be substantial with an extended loss in occupancy.

Unfortunately, many hoteliers suffer millions of dollars in property damage losses because their insurers fail to approve adequate payment for claims. There are many special considerations for those in the hospitality industry recovering from a major disaster.

Some of the more common types of hotel property damages and expenses after a hurricane include:

Structure and building damage
Building code compliance during reconstruction
Refunds, rebooking fees, and other lost guest revenue
Business interruption
Evacuation and cleanup costs
Wind damage
Flood damage

Raizner Law: Hotel Insurance Recovery Lawyers

Losses to hotel and resort properties can be enormous since they are often built in areas at high risk of flooding, windstorm damage, hurricanes, and other natural disasters. The attorneys at Raizner Law have represented many hotel owners whose properties sustained significant damage from wind, hail, fire, and water, among other things. Hotel owners have to urgently address the significant damages to their buildings and other property when a large hurricane occurs. If you find yourself in a dispute with your insurance company due to the delay or denial of your hurricane hotel damage claims, please contact us to discuss how we may be of assistance.