How Customization Is Transforming Trip Protection

21.07.2023 - 00:15 / travelweekly.com

Like everything else, the world of travel has been upended in recent years by the Covid pandemic, increasing bouts of extreme weather, political upheavals and other dire circumstances. At the same time, an increasing number of tourists are upping their risks by opting for adventurous activities such as cycling, rafting, trekking and more, in exotic locales. Indeed, the global adventure-tourism market is booming and expected to reach more than $1 trillion by 2030, according to a 2022 report by Grand View Research.

Thanks to all of these factors, a fresh emphasis has fallen on insurance to protect travelers when any or all of the above threaten to shorten or outright cancel the best laid plans. Travel insurance is especially critical for corporations whose employees routinely skirt the globe for business purposes. “Clearly, companies need to make sure their workers are covered,” says Joanne Hunt, owner of Pompton Plains Travel, a New Jersey-based full-service travel supplier. “When things go wrong, the bottom line can take a big hit, along with the fulfillment of corporate goals.”

But what kind of insurance is best? And considering the myriad things that can go wrong on a trip, can one policy possibly cover every potential pitfall? Indeed, today’s complex web of leisure- and work-related travel has put a spotlight on travel insurance providers, who tailor their coverage offerings to craft a blend of policies that uniquely address a client’s needs. 

“It is important to work with insurance brokers that are knowledgeable and transparent” says Jodi Bear, founder and co-president of Bear & Bear Travel, Inc. “Policies and terms can be dramatically different depending on the insurance company, and brokers are charged with finding the right plan for the client and their guests.”

“Anything can go wrong on a trip,” notes Chris Christensen, an award-winning travel journalist, podcaster and proprietor of the Amateur Traveler blog (amateurtraveler.com). “I have a friend who broke his back in the Amazon and had to be airlifted out. It would have cost a fortune had some part of his policy not covered this specific kind of medical emergency.”

Christensen cites protections covering situations such as the following:    • Trip cancellation, delay or interruption    • Emergency medical that can include related transportation    • Baggage loss or delay   • Rental car problems   • Changing fees, and more 

Dealing with such complications is par for the course for Aon Affinity Travel Practice, which administers to the insurance needs of more than 50 of the most prestigious travel brands based in North America. Aon Affinity Travel helps curate such protections and more for tour operators,