Expect the Unexpected (and Have Insurance to Respond to the Same): Fireworks Destroy Beijing Mandarin Oriental Hotel That Was Set to Open

Fire consumed a building in Beijing today that formed part of Central China Television’s new headquarters, as residents launched fireworks throughout the city to celebrate the Lantern Festival Monday evening. The destroyed building housed the Mandarin Oriental hotel in eastern Beijing, which was supposed to open in 2009. This loss illustrates the fact that anything can happen in the hospitality context, which underscores the need for insurance that protects against all types of contingencies that result in business interruption, destruction of property, physical injury to guests and associates, etc.