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Those who attend conferences are usually pretty serious about improving their careers. That being said, you never know when the straight-laced accountant enjoys one too many hard seltzers at the mix-n-mingle and falls off a table she decided to dance on.
Situations like this make Conference Insurance imperative. If you are putting together a conference, learn how to protect yourself from the financial consequences of liability claims brought against you.
What is Conference Insurance?
Conference Insurance is a type of special event insurance designed to cover the organizer, planner, or host from being financially hurt due to the liability risks that are present at your conference. It can help the insured cover the costs resulting from third-party injuries and property damage that happen at the event.
Claims can come from third parties such as participants, vendors, the venue owners, and anyone else who is present (unless they’re your employees; more on that below). They can result from something as innocent as a slip-and-fall accident or a serious dent to a costly piece of personal property.
What does Conference Insurance cover?
Conferences are usually a place where professionals gather to learn new information and skills that will help their careers. They often have professional speakers where an audience is gathered to listen and take notes.
While there are typically fewer trade booths at a conference compared to a trade show, with so many people congregating in one place, accidents can happen.
When a claim arises, having a professional legal team on your side is important. This is why Thimble’s Conference Insurance provides investigation services for claims and a legal defense when a suit arises. This is particularly helpful if you are wrongfully accused of being at fault.
Thimble’s Conference Insurance covers you from the financial consequences resulting from situations like:
- Third-party bodily injury (not to employees): If an attendee is hurt while at the conference, you could be liable for his injuries and have to pay for his medical expenses and damages that result from the injury.
- Third-party property damage: Guests are dressed for success at a conference. If their personal property is damaged or destroyed, you could be liable for the costs of repair or replacement. Third-party property damage also covers damage the venue experiences as a result of your event.
- Damages from liquor liability: If your conference has any after-hours events where you allow alcohol to be consumed, you can be liable for property damage or injuries incurred by an inebriated attendee. If you sell alcohol at the event, you’ll likely need to purchase additional liquor liability insurance.
- Personal and advertising injury: If you are accused of slandering a company while at your conference, you could be held liable for personal and advertising injury. This coverage protects you from third-party claims involving allegations of offenses such as libel, slander, and intellectual property infringement.
How much does Conference Insurance cost?
Conference Insurance is a small part of your event’s budget. You can get a policy for as little as $115, though some things do affect the price of your policy. The size of your event and its location are two of the most significant factors affecting premiums. If you are selling alcohol and need to purchase liquor liability coverage for the event, that will cost more.
Here is a range of Thimble’s Conference Insurance costs for one day, without additional liquor liability:
Who needs Conference Insurance?
If you are organizing or hosting a conference, you’ll need to get Conference Insurance. Not only do you need protection against liability claims, but venues may also require general liability coverage before you can secure your space.
While slip-and-fall accidents are likely the most common scenarios seen at conferences, you can’t discount more unusual incidents. Imagine your keynote speaker being momentarily blinded by a spotlight and accidentally stepping off the stage, falling, getting hurt, and making a claim against you.
Or there may be a call for volunteers, and as several enthusiastic attendees speedily make their way out of their seats, someone steps on another person’s smartphone sitting on the floor of the aisle and destroys it.
Make learning, not extra expense, the highlight of your conference. Thimble makes it easy to get Conference Insurance with the click of a button. Within seconds of buying your policy, we’ll send you your policy and Certificate of Insurance (COI) with our easy-to-use app or website; that’s your proof of a valid general liability insurance policy that you can keep in your pocket.
If conference planning is on your professional to-do list, leave your email address to learn when Thimble’s Conference Insurance is available in your area.
Conference Insurance FAQs
What if I only need one-day insurance?
Thimble allows you to purchase a policy for exactly when you need it, whether that is one hour, one day, or up to two weeks. Make sure to get coverage for the set-up and breakdown of the event. If your event gets canceled, you can cancel the insurance policy any time prior to the policy starting.
What are Thimble’s Conference Insurance policy limits?
The general liability limits of our Conference Insurance policy start at a $1 million per occurrence limit with a $1 million aggregate limit. If you need to, you can increase that to a $2 million per occurrence limit with a $2 million aggregate limit.
What other insurance would you need for a conference?
Depending on how you operate the conference, you may need additional insurance. If you have employees working the event, you’ll almost always need to obtain workers’ compensation insurance. It may also be good to recommend that speakers obtain professional liability insurance in the event that they inadvertently provide advice that leads to a financial loss for the attendees.
What if my event goes late?
The later an event goes, the more likely people are to have an accident, either because they are tired or because things get out of hand due to drinking. Thimble provides coverage for events that go until 2 a.m.
Does Conference Insurance via Thimble cover event cancellation?
Event cancellation is not covered by Conference Insurance. However, you can get a full refund of your policy premium, as long as you cancel the policy before its start time.
I’m a professional event planner. Do I need Conference Insurance?
You should carry event planner insurance for your business to cover you from the everyday risks of doing your job and marketing your services. However, your general liability business policy may not cover the liabilities of hosting individual events. That’s why Conference Insurance is an important consideration. You should discuss the breadth of your current coverage with your insurance carrier to see exactly what it covers. You don’t want unpleasant surprises when it’s too late.
Cleaners and Janitors insurance protects your business from lawsuits, if you or your property accidentally hurts a third party or damages their property.
Bodily Injury 
Property Damage 
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Medical Payments
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Optional Add-Ons
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