Led by Black and White Hospitality legal director Rob Atkinson, the crowdfund has previously been billed as a campaign by hospitality, for hospitality, and is supported by Best Western Hotels, Vine Hotels and trade body UKHospitality.
Having hit its initial target, the first phase of the campaign can now get underway, which will see a review of policies and insurers’ reasons for declining claims.
This will be followed by the preparation of advice on coverage under each category of policy, in advance of possible legal action against the individual insurers.
After that, the next phase of the campaign will involve a focus on pre-action representation with formal letters being sent to insurers setting out the position on coverage.
Their responses will then be reviewed and reported with settlement, in principle, being attempted.
If that second phase fails to bring immediate results, a third phase will be implemented in the form of litigation.
“It’s great news that we’ve already hit our initial target well in advance of the deadline and I would like to thank all those who have so far got involved," says Atkinson.
"It is a clear indication of the support and solidarity in, and for, the hospitality industry."
“We’ve got real momentum building and it’s imperative that anyone who thinks they’ve been let down by their insurer, backs this campaign. We're here to represent the hospitality sector and no one else and our objective remains to put hospitality first rather than make a quick buck off the back of someone else’s misfortune, as we’ve seen some evidence of.”
The crowdfund remains open, and businesses that wish to have their specific policy reviewed are asked to make a donation of £200 to the fund.
Businesses, or anyone with an interest in hospitality, that wish to support the campaign generally are asked to donate whatever they can afford.
The donated funds are being held by a legal-specific, fully-regulated crowd fund page called CrowdJustice, and any surplus funds generated will be donated to charity.
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