The impact of the Gulf of Mexico oil spill on the tourism industry has prompted Bermuda-based insurer Ironshore to offer better protection against such events to the sector.

Ironshore Environmental has expanded its suite of asset-class specific SPILLS programmes to provide comprehensive environmental coverage to the hospitality sector.

"The Deepwater Horizon spill has heightened management awareness to the potential impact of a pollution incident that does not occur on the insured property but can result in a significant loss of revenue to a leisure establishment," said Joe Boren, chief executive officer of Ironshore Environmental.

"The comprehensive SPILLS Hospitality programme is designed specifically for the hospitality industry and therefore features contingent business interruption coverage for pollution incidents within a specified radius of the property that threaten financial loss."

Ironshore's Environmental Hospitality programme offers asset protection against a broad range of site pollution exposures, including mould, legionella, contingent business interruption, norovirus and recreational water illnesses (RWI), as well as other facility-borne infectious viruses and/or bacteria.

Ironshore's Environmental Hospitality programme was developed specifically to address emerging risk management issues of the hospitality and leisure industry, including resorts, hotels, motels, casinos, cruise lines, and time shares. The program enhancements allow for coverage of remediation expenses, disinfection expenses, third party bodily injury and property damage (including natural resource damages), and transportation and business interruption, including contingent business interruption.

The policy limits are available from $1 million to $30 million, with minimum premiums of $10,000. Coverage is provided for all of the insured's legal liability resulting from pollution incidents, unless specifically excluded, which eliminates the need to schedule properties.

John O'Brien, president of Ironshore Environmental, said: "We develop products by asking insureds and brokers 'what types of exposures are of a concern'? Then we launch a unique insurance product that is 'client-centric'. Given our experience in launching Healthcare and Education specific SPILLS products, we continue to lead the market in developing asset-class coverage crafted for specific industries."