Case Study: Insuring a Startup Dream — Launching a Hotel, Restaurant, and Event Venue Client Profile
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Business Type: Hotel, restaurant, and national tournament venue
Size: 101-room franchised hotel with 6,600 sq. ft. of event space
Scope: Food and alcohol service, banquet facility, and live entertainment
Projected Revenue: $2 million/year
Experience: Ownership team with 25+ years in hospitality and event operations
The Challenge: Insuring a Big Vision with High Risk
The client had a bold vision: reopen and revitalize a large hotel property to serve as a national destination for tournaments, events, and entertainment. But finding the right insurance coverage quickly became a challenge.
Underwriting hurdles included:
- No current property insurance in place by the seller
- Startup operation — underwriters often see this as a risk
- High liability exposures: alcohol sales, tournaments, live music, dance floor
- A large, mixed-use property valued at over $15 million
- Past negative online reviews associated with the property (now under new ownership)
To make matters more difficult, the hotel insurance market had become extremely limited, with many carriers no longer writing these types of risks.
Our Role: Storytelling, Strategy & Persistence
Rather than taking a transactional approach, we partnered with the client to strategically market the risk and present a well-rounded business case to underwriters:
- Named as their “Agent of Record” on existing Liquor Liability policy and all future policies
- Wrote a compelling underwriting narrative that showcased the team’s extensive experience
- Highlighted proactive safety measures, including fire suppression upgrades, kitchen remodel plans, and security staffing
- Defined a phased renovation plan to show clear operational and risk management strategies
- Worked around numerous carrier declinations to find the few viable markets still open to hotel and event exposures
- Negotiated some exclusions to be removed which made the coverage more effective
The Proposal: Straight Talk and Transparent Options
We recorded a personalized video proposal to walk the client through their insurance options and the realities of the market. We didn’t sugarcoat the difficulties, but instead focused on solutions.
We explained:
- Why multiple carriers declined, including new-venture risk and lack of existing property insurance
- What coverages were available, and the trade-offs between different quotes (e.g., policy exclusions, property limit caps)
- Where additional layers may be needed, such as excess property coverage to reach full replacement cost
- Other coverages, like cyber liability and workers’ compensation that were selected
“This market is tough — but here’s what’s possible, and here’s how we can protect you today while planning for future growth.”
The Outcome: A Launch-Ready Insurance Strategy
Despite the challenging insurance climate, we helped the client secure:
✅ Property coverage — even with partial limits and a phased structure
✅ General and excess liability, with careful attention to event and alcohol-related exposures
✅ Workers’ compensation from trusted regional carriers
✅ Ongoing risk management guidance including alcohol server training and security planning
The business is now insured and positioned to open confidently, with full awareness of both protections and limitations.
Final Thoughts
This case proves that in a tight market, expert strategy, transparency, and persistence can make all the difference. It’s not just about finding insurance — it’s about building trust, managing risk, and helping clients launch with confidence.
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