The direct-to-market liability product offers an occurrence-based wording for outdoor education, tourism, adventure activities, caravan parks, and campsites with activities under existing accreditation systems or the Australian Adventure Activity Standards (AAAS). It has the support of outdoor industry bodies, including the Outdoor Council of Australia, Outdoors NSW and ACT, and Outdoors Victoria.
“We are delighted to partner with Affinity Insurance Brokers to deliver risk-focused sustainability for the outdoor industry through this direct solution for outdoor operators,” said Rob Kate, specialty lines at Beazley Group. “We anticipate that businesses will find comfort knowing that they can operate with effective pricing and support following what has been a tumultuous time for the industry as a whole.”
Greg Shallard, specialist client manager at Affinity, said the partnership reflects the insurance broker's commitment to its clients and ensures the outdoor industry's competitive and sustainable insurance solutions in a traditionally hard-to-place market.
“Our new relationship provides increased underwriting capabilities, improved claims support, and some stability for this market segment,” he continued.
Lisa Henderson, managing director of Aon's Affinity business in Australia, added: “The partnership with Beazley enables us to continue to support our clients and grow this market by providing a tailored, direct, and connected experience backed by Affinity Insurance Broker's team of experienced outdoor and leisure broking professionals.”
In addition to launching the new outdoor insurance offering, Affinity will roll out a new educational initiative in July 2022, developed in partnership with Outdoors NSW and ACT, to address the needs of stakeholders, including insurers, landowners, school and state education departments, employees, and consumers.
It will focus on key operational risks associated with activity-based businesses, including:
“This program is part of a larger strategic process, which will result in working with current and new accreditation systems that give the industry long-term assurance of insurance coverage. I am confident we are moving in the right direction for the industry, and [I] thank Affinity Insurance Brokers for supporting this initiative,” said Lori Modde, CEO of Outdoors NSW and ACT and a board member of the Outdoors Council of Australia.
