Hospitality insurance for serving guests and alcohol
Protection for hotels, restaurants, bars, nightclubs and event venues across Washington and Oregon, built around the liquor liability, food, assault and event exposures that come with hosting guests.
A-rated and specialty markets · Same-day certificates
The exposures of hosting guests
Hospitality insurance addresses the exposures hotels, restaurants, bars and entertainment venues face daily: over-service and dram-shop liability, foodborne illness, assault and battery, and the property and event risks of hosting guests. First Underwriters has insured Pacific Northwest hospitality and entertainment businesses since 1992, matching each operation with carriers that understand serving guests and alcohol. Industry resources are available from the American Hotel & Lodging Association and the National Restaurant Association.
Why hospitality insurance matters
Three illustrative examples of the exposures venues face, and what closes the gap.
An over-served patron causes a fatal crash
A sports bar kept serving an intoxicated patron who left and caused a multi-vehicle accident, killing one person and seriously injuring three others. The victims sued under the state's dram-shop law. The bar's $1M liquor liability limit was exhausted immediately, leaving $2.2M uninsured and the owners' personal assets exposed.
- Wrongful-death settlement$1,800,000
- Injury settlements$920,000
- Defense (three years)$480,000
Illustrative example. Real outcomes depend on the facts and your policy terms.
Build the right program for your venue
Every hospitality program starts with general liability, commercial property and business interruption. Tell us how you operate and we'll show what else typically applies. No contact details needed.
Your operation
Select everything that applies.
Coverage that typically applies
7 coverages — a starting point for a conversation, not a quote.
- General LiabilitySlips, premises and guest-injury claims.
- Commercial PropertyBuilding, kitchen, bar and contents.
- Business InterruptionLost income if you must close.
- Liquor LiabilityDram-shop claims from intoxicated patrons.
- Food ContaminationRecall, spoilage and foodborne-illness claims.
- Workers' CompensationBurns, slips and cuts to your staff.
- Employment Practices LiabilityHarassment and wrongful-termination claims.
From first call to certificate
Understand your venue
Hotel, restaurant, bar or entertainment; alcohol as a share of sales; late-night hours; security; food service; equipment; and the events you host.
Go to hospitality markets
We approach carriers among our 50+ partners that specialize in hospitality and entertainment, including liquor and entertainment specialty markets that write nightclubs and late-night venues standard carriers restrict, with assault and battery limit options.
Build the program
General liability, property and business interruption at the core, with liquor liability, assault and battery, food contamination, equipment breakdown, event cancellation, workers' comp, cyber and umbrella added as your venue requires.
Certificates and claims
Same-day certificates for landlords, event contracts and vendors, host-liquor and event support, claims advocacy from first notice, and responsible-service and annual reviews.
Every coverage a venue may need
Filter by type or search to see the range of coverage we place for hospitality and entertainment businesses.
Liquor Liability
For any establishment serving alcohol: claims from intoxicated patrons, including auto accidents, injuries, assaults and property damage.
General Liability
Premises liability, slip-and-fall injuries, foodborne-illness claims and personal injury for your venue, operations and guest interactions.
Assault & Battery
Claims from fights, bouncer incidents, security actions and violent acts at your venue — often excluded from standard GL for entertainment venues.
Commercial Umbrella
Additional limits ($2M–$10M+) above primary policies for catastrophic liquor, assault and serious-injury claims.
Commercial Property
Buildings, furniture, fixtures, equipment, inventory and improvements at replacement cost, including commercial kitchens, bars and entertainment systems.
Equipment Breakdown
Mechanical and electrical failure of refrigeration, HVAC, cooking equipment and entertainment systems, including spoilage of food and beverage inventory.
Business Interruption
Lost revenue and continuing expenses during closures from fire, equipment failure or other covered events.
Food Contamination
Recall, disposal, business interruption and third-party claims when contaminated food or beverages sicken customers or require withdrawal.
Event Cancellation
Lost revenue and expenses when events, concerts, festivals or private functions are cancelled due to weather, performer illness or other covered causes.
Workers' Compensation
Mandatory coverage for employee injuries, with experience-mod management for slips, burns, cuts and the physical demands of hospitality work.
Employment Practices Liability
Employee claims for wrongful termination, harassment, discrimination and wage disputes, common in hospitality's high-turnover environment.
Cyber Liability
Breaches affecting guest information, card systems and reservation platforms, including PCI-compliance penalties and notification costs.
Find your venue type
We insure two dozen kinds of hospitality and entertainment venues.
Hotels & resorts
Full-service hotels, resorts and lodging with amenities.
Boutique hotels & B&Bs
Boutique properties, inns and bed-and-breakfasts.
Restaurants & cafés
Full-service, fast-casual and coffee shops.
Learn more →Bars & pubs
Neighborhood bars, pubs and taverns.
Learn more →Nightclubs & lounges
Late-night clubs, lounges and cocktail bars.
Breweries & taprooms
Craft breweries, microbreweries and taprooms.
Learn more →Wineries & tasting rooms
Wineries, tasting rooms and wine bars.
Learn more →Distilleries
Craft distilleries and spirit tastings.
Learn more →Catering companies
On- and off-site catering and event food service.
Food trucks & carts
Mobile food vendors, trucks and carts.
Event venues & banquet halls
Banquet halls and multi-purpose event spaces.
Wedding venues
Wedding and private-function venues.
Concert venues
Live-music and concert halls.
Learn more →Theaters & performing arts
Theaters, playhouses and performing-arts centers.
Comedy clubs
Stand-up comedy and improv venues.
Sports bars
Sports bars and game-day venues.
Bowling alleys
Bowling centers with food and beverage.
Arcades & gaming centers
Arcades, e-sports and family gaming centers.
Escape rooms
Escape-room and interactive-experience venues.
Amusement & theme parks
Amusement parks and attraction operators.
Golf courses & country clubs
Golf courses, country clubs and clubhouses.
Learn more →Fitness centers & gyms
Gyms, studios and fitness facilities.
Learn more →Spas & wellness centers
Day spas and wellness and beauty centers.
Casino operations
Casinos and gaming-floor operations.
Brokers who understand serving guests and alcohol
Liquor liability and dram-shop experience
We know Washington's <a href="https://lcb.wa.gov/">dram-shop and liquor rules</a>, responsible-service requirements and the liquor liability limits that protect venues serving alcohol.
Entertainment and specialty markets
Coverage for nightclubs, concert venues and late-night operations, including assault and battery, crowd management and performer liability, through specialty markets that standard carriers often decline or restrict.
Events, certificates and claims
Same-day certificates for landlords, event contracts and vendors; host-liquor and event-cancellation experience; and claims advocacy when a liquor, slip-and-fall or assault claim occurs.
Protect your hospitality business
Request a hospitality insurance review covering gaps, liquor liability requirements and the right protection for your hotel, restaurant, bar or venue. Free consultation, no obligation.
Coverage descriptions are general summaries for education. They are not legal, tax or coverage advice, a statement of coverage, an offer or a binder, and the coverage builder is a starting point for discussion rather than a quote. Dram-shop laws and standard exclusions such as assault and battery vary by state and policy. Scenarios and dollar figures are illustrative examples, not representations about any business. Coverage, limits and eligibility are governed by the terms, conditions and exclusions of the policies issued and are subject to underwriting.