Black Friday is known for overwhelming crowds and record-breaking sales. This year, Deloitte predicts nearly half of all shoppers and 72% of Gen Z shoppers will spend their dollars in-store on Black Friday. Restaurants, bars, pubs, and clubs have an opportunity to offer respite for weary shoppers — but the rush brings extra risks.
Hospitality venues may experience sudden surges in foot traffic as shoppers look for meals, drinks, and a break between purchases. That spike in activity increases liability exposures, making hospitality insurance an essential safeguard.
The holiday shopping weekend pushes normal operations far beyond their typical pace. Venues often extend hours, introduce special menus or promotions, and welcome customers who may already be fatigued, stressed, or rushing between stores. These conditions increase the likelihood of accidents, making the Black Friday stretch one of the most demanding for hospitality operators.
Slip-and-fall incidents, for example, can occur when wet floors, crowded entrances, or tightly packed dining rooms go unmanaged. Kitchen teams rush to meet elevated demand, which raises the potential for workplace mishaps that spill into public-facing areas. Security challenges also increase, especially when guests carry bags, packages, or personal belongings that block walkways or clutter gathering spaces.
Foodborne illness is another concern. On Black Friday, kitchens may operate at a faster pace, increasing the chance of mistakes during prep and service. Food Safety Magazine outlines how outbreaks often stem from cross-contamination, poor personal hygiene, improper storage, or inaccurate temperature control during preparation or service. Pathogens like salmonella, norovirus, E. coli, and others can cause severe symptoms and, in rare cases, hospitalization. A single holiday-weekend complaint can quickly evolve into a significant liability event.
A comprehensive hospitality insurance package helps safeguard venues from common liabilities associated with holiday weekends. RMS Hospitality Group focuses on the protection that restaurants, bars, and entertainment venues rely on most — particularly liability coverage. These policies help address risks such as on-premises injuries, food-borne illness claims, and catastrophic alcohol-related incidents.
Key RMS liability coverages may include:
General liability: Helps address guest injuries from slip-and-falls, crowded conditions, or unsafe walkways
Liquor liability: Provides essential protection for bars and restaurants serving alcohol during one of the busiest weekends of the year
Assault and battery: Supports venues where holiday crowds increase the potential for altercations or security-related incidents
This article outlines additional holiday-weekend strategies that agents can share with their hospitality clients.
Risk prevention is equally important. Hospitality venues can strengthen safety by adopting proactive strategies such as:
Crowd control planning: Maintain clear entryways, control foot traffic, and keep aisles open.
Fire and safety checks: Verify that exits, extinguishers, and alarms are unobstructed and functioning.
Staff training: Prepare employees for increased volume, difficult customers, and potential conflicts.
Adequate staffing: Ensure both back-of-house and front-of-house teams have the necessary support during peak hours.
Security coordination: Review protocols for package storage, bag checks, and disorderly conduct.
Emergency planning: Establish procedures for managing medical events, addressing foodborne illness complaints, and responding to guest injuries.
These practices help reduce risk and strengthen the defensibility of claims when incidents occur.
Black Friday and Cyber Monday present unique operational challenges, and the liability risks associated with the rush can escalate without proper preparation. For insurance agents, this season offers an opportunity to help hospitality clients safeguard their operations with proper protection. Hospitality insurance from RMS Hospitality Group offers the specialized coverage venues need to navigate the busiest weekend of the year with confidence.
Encourage your clients to review their policies now, and contact us to ensure they’re prepared for the holiday rush.
At RMS Hospitality Group, our expertly crafted policies are written specifically for the hospitality industry. We offer custom-tailored solutions to meet any venue’s specific needs. For more information, contact our knowledgeable experts today at (888) 359-8390.
At RMS and associated firms, business continues as usual. Our staff is remote-capable and available to handle all partners, brokers, and insureds at the present time.
