ESSENTIAL READING FOR TRAVEL INSURANCE INDUSTRY PROFESSIONALS

General news

‘Offensive’ travel insurance advertisement back on the air

man on bikeA television advertisement that aired in Australia in 2011 is back on the air in a revised form, having been criticised by the public and come up against the Advertising Standards Bureau. A video of the advertisement shows when you click on the full article

2012 travel market tips

greglawsonWith the continuing economic uncertainty and fluctuating markets, heads of industry are keen to stay ahead of the curve as much as they can.

Credit and debit card tips for tourists

creditcardsAs the popularity of travellers checks has declined, credit and debit cards have become the payment method of choice for tourists, and a recent editorial for The Arizona Republic listed a number of tips for travellers to remember.

Allianz hits the headlines

dollars and gavelNineteen months after receiving a series of injuries whilst on a humanitarian visit to Costa Rica, a freelance journalist from the US is suing Allianz for breach of contract and fraud

Aon downgrades 37 countries in annual risk assessment

carboomThirty-seven countries have been downgraded from low to medium risk on the Aon 2012 Terrorism & Political Violence Map by Aon Risk Solutions, the global risk management arm of Aon plc.

Healthy European market for bank accounts including insurance and assistance

bankcardNew figures published by financial market research company Finaccord show that there is a very healthy market for the packaging and cross-selling of insurance assistance policies with bank accounts and payment cards in Europe.

IBISWorld releases industry report

us flag and planeUS research firm IBISWorld has published a report into the US travel insurance industry, which includes information on the sector’s current performance, outlook, life cycle, products and markets, supply chain and much more.

BAA sells Edinburgh Airport

edinburghBAA has sold Edinburgh Airport to Global Infrastructure Partners (GIP), owner of Gatwick Airport, for £807.2 million, nearly 17 times the amount that the airport earned last year.

FEATURE: Up in a puff of smoke

 

gavelIn March 2011, the UK’s Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS) decided that the 2010 ash clouds that hovered over Europe from an Icelandic volcano, causing weeks of travel disruption, constituted a weather event. Some travel insurers disagreed, and Europ Assistance asked for a judicial review of this decision. In February, the High Court refused the company’s request. Here, Daniel Scognamiglio and Chris Deacon of Blake Lapthorn examine the judicial review process and look at the latest EU Opinion on airlines’ duty of care to passengers caught up in situations such as that posed by the ash clouds

FEATURE: Cruising for a bruising

 

Costa ConcordiaAs cruise ships get ever larger and embark on ever more ambitious itineraries to more distant seas, what are the implications for medical assistance companies?