Crisp air, colorful trails, and holiday crowds can open the door to fresh revenue for adventure sports operators. A haunted zip line, fall foliage tour, winter trek, or holiday package can give guests a new reason to book. But when the experience changes, the risk changes with it.
Seasonal Packages can Pack More Risk
Pairing a guided excursion with lodging, transportation, equipment rentals, meals, or another seasonal activity can introduce new risks and liabilities. Coverage for your regular operation may not automatically extend to everything added to a seasonal package.
Before putting a package on sale, guides, outfitters, and operators should look closely at what they are adding:
- New activities: An activity added for the season may carry different risks and fall outside the scope of existing coverage.
- Bundled services: Transportation, lodging, equipment rentals, meals, and other additions can create responsibilities that are not part of your regular operation.
- Third-party involvement: When another business provides part of the package, understand who is responsible for each service and how liability is handled.
- Insurance coverage: Compare your coverage with everything included in the package. Do not assume an existing policy covers every activity or service you add.
Fall Events can Raise the Stakes
A Halloween night ride, themed race, or fall competition can flip the script on a familiar adventure. New faces may fill the property. Spectators may move closer to the action. Participants may tackle the activity differently when costumes, crowds, or competition enter the mix.
Do not treat the event like business as usual. Look at who will be there, where they can go, and how the activity will change. A different crowd, event format, or use of the property can create risks and liabilities that do not exist during your regular outings.
Your insurance needs to keep up. If your coverage was built around everyday activities, do you know how it will respond when the event raises the stakes? Review the plan before opening day so an incident is not the moment you discover a gap.
Get Ahead of Seasonal Risk With CBIZ
Connect with a CBIZ advisor to review your fall plans and help align your insurance with where your next adventure takes you.
Frequently Asked Questions
No. A waiver can document that a participant understood and accepted certain risks, but it does not prevent every lawsuit or replace sound safety practices. Its effectiveness can depend on the wording, the activity, and applicable state law. Operators should review waivers when an event or package changes and pair them with training, inspections, written procedures, and appropriate insurance.
Start with a written agreement that defines each party’s responsibilities. Operators may also need proof of insurance, specific coverage limits, and additional insured status, depending on the arrangement. Review the contract and insurance requirements before promoting or selling the offering so gaps are easier to address.
General liability typically addresses covered claims involving bodily injury or property damage, not lost income or non-refundable costs from a cancellation. Event cancellation, weather, or business interruption coverage may respond to certain losses, depending on the policy and cause. Operators should review policy terms before taking on expenses tied to an outdoor event.
This blog may contain scenarios that are provided as examples only. Coverage is subject to the terms, conditions and exclusions of the policy issued. The information provided is general in nature and may be affected by changes in law or the interpretation of such laws. The reader is advised to contact a professional prior to taking any action based upon this information.
