SATIB Insurance Brokers, together with experts from EFI Global (specialising in forensic engineering, environmental consulting, and fire investigation), hosted an in-depth one-hour webinar on how to protect your tourism business from the risk of fire.
The panel included:
- Nick Konstandoudakis (SATIB Insurance Brokers)
- Kashan Singh (EFI Global – Forensic Fire Investigator)
- Mariette Sutherland (Sedgwick SA – Professional Quantity Surveyor)
- Pieter de Vos (Sedgwick SA – Senior Adjuster & Property Lead)
- Werner Sieburg (EFI Global – Lead Forensic Engineer)
The conversation highlighted how commercial fires have emerged as the greatest insurance claim risk for South African businesses – with fire claims in commercial property exceeding R1 million per incident. In the tourism and hospitality industry, the stakes are even higher, where a fire can mean not only property damage but weeks or even months of lost revenue and reputational damage.
Load shedding and unchecked electrical systems have added to the fire risk across industries, increasing the chances of damage through power surges or electrical faults.
For travel businesses, a fire could not only result in costly losses but also lengthy business interruptions – undermining revenue and reputation in the highly competitive tourism sector.
“There’s no single fix. Fire risk mitigation requires an integrated approach – smart installation, compliant systems, diligent maintenance, and accurate insurance values,” says Kashan Singh, Forensic Fire Investigator at EFI Global. “The goal isn’t to eliminate fire risk entirely – but to control it proactively and reduce loss severity.”
Webinar highlights include:
- How fire risk is evolving in African tourism and leisure.
- The costliest mistakes businesses make before and after an incident.
- Practical, effective steps to protect your assets and reputation – even beyond insurance.
- Real-life case lessons: what worked, what failed, and why.
