Julian Yew, head of the hotel and leisure group at law firm Wedlake Bell, said that if bar and restaurant staff are harassed by customers during corporate events the employer can be liable. Harassment includes sexual or racist jokes.
Yew said the run-up to the busy Christmas season and focus on hotels to create new business would be the first real test of these laws.
Hoteliers that hire out their premises and ballrooms for corporate functions will also be under increased exposure to tribunal claims.
Yew added: "Venue operators, be it hotels, bars, restaurants and event halls, now have a stricter obligation to protect their staff from verbal and physical harassment. This is likely to force them to ask their corporate customers to indemnify them against damages that might arise as a result of legal actions by their staff.
"They are also likely to make reference to their equal opportunity policy in their commercial contracts, warning discriminatory behaviour will not be tolerated on any grounds."
Hoteliers face rise in staff tribunal claims in run-up to Christmas
Employers could have to compensate staff if customers behave inappropriately towards them, according to legal experts.
