July is the peak month for vacation rentals stays— but it’s also the peak month for grill fires.

Outfitting your vacation rentals with an outdoor grill can be a great perk for guests, but also a potential hazard. A vacation rental damage protection plan, such as those offered by CSA Travel Protection, can provide coverage if a grill accident causes damage to your rental property. Similarly, a Guest Protect travel insurance plan from CSA can provide coverage if an insured renter is injured in a grill accident and needs medical attention. You can offer both plans to your guests when they book a reservation.

But, since filing an insurance claim is about the last thing anyone wants to do, here are some ways to encourage safe grilling at your rental.

Grilling Safety Tips

One of the best ways you can help avoid grill accidents is to keep the barbecue clean by removing grease buildup from the grills and trays below the grill. Make sure the cleaning crew checks the grill between stays.

The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) suggests a safety check of the grill should be performed at least once a year:

“Check the gas tank hose for leaks before using it for the first time each year. Apply a light soap and water solution to the hose. A propane leak will release bubbles. If your grill has a gas leak, by smell or the soapy bubble test, and there is no flame, turn off the gas tank and grill. If the leak stops, get the grill serviced by a professional before using it again. If the leak does not stop, call the fire department.”

Another way you can help prevent a grill accident is to print out this handy Grilling Safety Tip Sheet from the NFPA and post it near the barbecue; and it couldn’t hurt to keep a fire extinguisher nearby.

Grilling safety tips from NFPA for you and your guests:

Propane and charcoal BBQ grills should only be used outdoors.
The grill should be placed well away from the home, deck railings and out from under eaves and overhanging branches.
Keep children and pets at least three feet away from the grill area.
Never leave your grill unattended.
Always make sure your gas grill lid is open before lighting it.
When you are finished grilling, let the coals completely cool before disposing in a metal container.
If you smell gas while cooking, immediately get away from the grill and call the fire department. Do not move the grill.
If the flame goes out on a gas grill, turn the grill and gas off and wait at least 15 minutes before re-lighting it.

Learn more about partnering with CSA

Travel insurance plans are administered by Customized Services Administrators, Inc., CA Lic. No. 821931, located in San Diego, CA and doing business as CSA Travel Protection and Insurance Services. Plans are available to residents of the U.S. but may not be available in all jurisdictions. Benefits and services are described on a general basis; certain conditions and exclusions apply. Travel Retailers may not be licensed to sell insurance, in all states, and are not authorized to answer technical questions about the benefits, exclusions, and conditions of this insurance and cannot evaluate the adequacy of your existing insurance. This plan provides insurance coverage for your trip that applies only during the covered trip. You may have coverage from other sources that provides you with similar benefits but may be subject to different restrictions depending upon your other coverages. You may wish to compare the terms of this policy with your existing life, health, home and automobile policies. The purchase of this plan is not required in order to purchase any other travel product or service offered to you by your travel retailers. If you have any questions about your current coverage, call your insurer, insurance agent or broker. This notice provides general information on CSA’s products and services only. The information contained herein is not part of an insurance policy and may not be used to modify any insurance policy that might be issued. In the event the actual policy forms are inconsistent with any information provided herein, the language of the policy forms shall govern.

Travel insurance plans are underwritten by: Generali U.S. Branch, New York, NY; NAIC # 11231. Generali US Branch operates under the following names: Generali Assicurazioni Generali S.P.A. (U.S. Branch) in California, Assicurazioni Generali – U.S. Branch in Colorado, Generali U.S. Branch DBA The General Insurance Company of Trieste & Venice in Oregon, and The General Insurance Company of Trieste and Venice – U.S. Branch in Virginia. Generali US Branch is admitted or licensed to do business in all states and the District of Columbia.

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Tips for Making Group Travel Easier for Your Guests

June 24, 2015

Learn more about partnering with CSA

When the whole family travels together, things can quickly become confusing. Here are some tips you can pass along to your guests before they leave for their trip to reduce inconveniences and make their group travel a bit easier.

Make some group decisions before the trip: Guests should discuss what everyone would like to do during the trip, how much they can spend and what they simply can’t live without doing while on vacation. This can make it easier to pack, too, because they’ll have a general idea of what they’ll be doing.

Involve kids in planning: A recent survey conducted by HomeAway showed that kids, or “kidfluencers,” hold more influence over family vacation plans than was generally assumed. When children are included while planning a vacation, they’re more likely to have a good time – and happier kids make for happier adults. Bonus fact: The same survey shows that kids prefer staying at a vacation rental over other accommodations – they say the best part is getting their own room or bed.

Know airport and airline regulations: The TSA is a great resource for details about what can be carried through airport security, including information about traveling with gifts, food and medications. There are also free mobile apps, such as My TSA, that can estimate security line wait times and provide other real time information.

Take advantage of travel insurance features and services: A travel insurance provider, such as CSA Travel Protection, can offer concierge services to help find activities for your guests and make reservations for activities, shows and golf tee times in advance, in addition to the usual travel insurance coverages. Also, CSA’s Guest Protect travel insurance plan is designed to provide coverage for the entirety of the vacation rental reservation, so guests do not need to worry about purchasing separate plans.

Sometimes just a little extra planning can make a big difference for guests traveling in groups, and they will surely appreciate you looking out for their best interests.

If you’re a vacation rental property manager interested in how travel insurance can lead to more satisfied guests and increased revenue to your bottom line, fill out our partner interest form and we can work with you to build a valuable travel insurance or vacation rental damage protection program.

Travel insurance plans are administered by Customized Services Administrators, Inc., CA Lic. No. 821931, located in San Diego, CA and doing business as Generali Global Assistance and Insurance Services. Plans are available to residents of the U.S. but may not be available in all jurisdictions. Benefits and services are described on a general basis; certain conditions and exclusions apply. Travel Retailers may not be licensed to sell insurance, in all states, and are not authorized to answer technical questions about the benefits, exclusions, and conditions of this insurance and cannot evaluate the adequacy of your existing insurance. This plan provides insurance coverage for your trip that applies only during the covered trip. You may have coverage from other sources that provides you with similar benefits but may be subject to different restrictions depending upon your other coverages. You may wish to compare the terms of this policy with your existing life, health, home and automobile policies. The purchase of this plan is not required in order to purchase any other travel product or service offered to you by your travel retailers. If you have any questions about your current coverage, call your insurer, insurance agent or broker. This notice provides general information on Generali Global Assistance’s products and services only. The information contained herein is not part of an insurance policy and may not be used to modify any insurance policy that might be issued. In the event the actual policy forms are inconsistent with any information provided herein, the language of the policy forms shall govern.

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Weathering the Storms—CSA is Here to Help

June 10, 2015

Hurricane season is upon us and CSA Travel Protection has launched a new online Hurricane Kit Dashboard with easy-to-use tools for many of our partners and their guests to help ease the travel insurance claims process if a mandatory evacuation occurs.

If your property is located in a potential hurricane zone, it’s recommended that you prepare an evacuation plan for your guests and remind them to be ready to leave the accommodations if necessary. CSA partners with vacation rentals in hurricane zones receive our annual Hurricane Kit that helps answer travel insurance questions you and your guests might have during a mandatory evacuation, and can help expedite processing of claims resulting from a mandatory evacuation.

The new online Hurricane Kit Dashboard gives our partners access to a digital version of the kit with forms that are easy to email or print, the ability to order extra materials from the kit, and a new “why buy” travel insurance flyer to help advertise travel insurance to guests during hurricane season.

Thankfully, forecasters predict* fewer hurricanes this season compared to previous years, but that’s no reason to be caught unprepared. All it takes is one hurricane making landfall near your vacation rental for your guests to regret not protecting their trip costs.

As an industry leader and long-time provider of vacation rental insurance and emergency assistance services, our Guest Protect plan can help reduce the negative impacts of mandatory evacuations due to tropical storms and hurricanes on your vacation rental business, can help maintain your customer satisfaction and retention, and is a way to increase revenue to your bottom line.

To learn more about CSA’s Guest Protect Vacation Rental Insurance Plan call us at 800-989-8684 or click here.

*The Department of Atmospheric Science at Colorado State University suggests a “below-average probability of United States and Caribbean major hurricane landfall” in 2015.

Travel insurance plans are administered by Customized Services Administrators, Inc., CA Lic. No. 0821931, located in San Diego, CA and doing business as CSA Travel Protection and Insurance Services. Plans are available to residents of the U.S. but may not be available in all jurisdictions. Benefits and services are described on a general basis; certain conditions and exclusions apply.

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Vacation Rental Damage Protection: An ‘Essential Tool’

April 22, 2015

Learn more about partnering with CSA

When accidents happen, it’s nice to know the damage could be covered.

The potential for guests to cause damage to a rental property you manage is a serious issue. A survey of vacation rental managers concluded that the most common reason for a “problem stay” was some kind of damage to the rental, according to a survey of the U.S. vacation rental market conducted by PhoCusWright* in 2012.

Fortunately, there is a simple solution that can not only provide coverage for accidental damage to the vacation property you manage, but also increase revenue to your bottom line. Vacation Rental Damage Protection from CSA Travel Protection is offered at flat-rate prices and is designed to be a more attractive option for guests than the traditional security deposit. We offer multiple levels of coverage that can accommodate varying security deposit requirements. Also, guests may feel more confident reporting damage with the knowledge that they have coverage for accidental damage.

Cheryl Catton, a rental manager with Rose Real Estate in South Carolina, recently described CSA Travel Protection as an “essential tool” for her office.

“The damage protection is a huge part of our functionality as we are a vacation rental company and, as everyone knows, accidents happen,” said Catton.

She believes that CSA’s insurance products have been helpful to her homeowners and renters, and said that it is used as a marketing selling-point by the property management company she works with.

“We had a property where a child had gotten sick on one of our bedroom floors and the mother tried to clean it with bleach. Not realizing that the bleach would leave the carpet stained, she immediately called and we went and took photos. We filed a claim, and CSA had the carpet replaced in that area. This is just one example of how effective the program is for both renters and owners,” she said.

Contact us at clientservices@csatravelprotection.com or (800) 989-8684 to find out how we can build a valuable and profitable travel insurance program for you and your guests.

Learn more about partnering with CSA

The Vacation Rental Damage Protection plan is an insurance product designed for guest purchase only. As an owner you may suggest this plan to your guests to help protect them from paying out of pocket for accidental damages caused to your rental or belongings during their stay.

*Data from “A Market Reinvented: The U.S. Vacation Rental Landscape” (A PhoCusWright Special Project, December 12, 2012)

This plan provides insurance that applies only during the covered trip. Your customers may have coverage from other sources that provides them with similar benefits but may be subject to different restrictions depending upon their other coverages. Customers may wish to compare the terms of this policy with their existing life, health, home and automobile policies. The purchase of this plan is not required in order to purchase any other travel product or service offered by you by your travel retailers.

Plans are available to residents of the United States. Benefits and services are described on a general basis. Certain terms and conditions may apply. Your travel retailer may not be licensed to sell insurance, and cannot answer technical questions about the benefits, exclusions, and conditions of this insurance and cannot evaluate the adequacy of your existing insurance. For questions or complete information on policy benefits, limits and exclusions, please contact CSA at (800) 348-9505 or http://www.csatravelprotection.com/certpolicy.do for a sample Description of Coverage or Insurance Policy for this plan.

These plans are administered by CSA Travel Protection and Insurance Services. Services are provided through CSA’s designated providers. Travel Insurance is Underwritten by: Generali U.S. Branch, New York, New York; NAIC # 11231 (all states except as otherwise noted) under Policy/Certificate Form series T001. California is Underwritten by Generali Assicurazioni Generali S.P.A. (U.S. Branch), Colorado is Underwritten by Assicurazioni Generali – U.S. Branch, Oregon is Underwritten by Generali U.S. Branch DBA The General Insurance Company of Trieste & Venice, and Virginia is Underwritten by The General Insurance Company of Trieste and Venice – U.S. Branch.

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