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AIG Travel Guard At-A-GlanceOverview
AIG Travel Guard is the nation’s largest provider of travel insurance and assistance, offering consumers a variety of travel insurance plans, all with comprehensive travel protection and assistance services – and backed by superior customer service. As a wholly owned subsidiary of AIG Travel, Inc., a member company of American International Group, Inc., Travel Guard is part of the world’s largest international insurance organization offering a wide range of insurance products through a variety of distribution channels in over 130 countries and jurisdictions throughout the world.
History: From the Basement to 800 Employees in 20 Worldwide Locations
In 1982, John Noel, former Vice President at Sentry Insurance, one of the nation’s largest mutual insurance companies, addressed the need for adequate protection for the many potential losses faced by travelers in the United States and abroad. Noel created Travel Guard- a comprehensive travel insurance program and purchased the rights to the Travel Guard product in 1985. For the first few years of the company’s existence, Noel, his family and a handful of employees operated the travel insurance business out of the basement of his home, generating about $5 million per year in gross premiums.
As the company grew, Noel moved operations out of his basement to a small office in the local YMCA, then to a larger office, finally settling into its current space in a stately former grand hotel, where the company employs more than 600 people. In May 2006, New York based American International Companies, Inc. (AIG) acquired Travel Guard. Travel Guard remains based in Stevens Point, Wisconsin with John Noel continuing to serve as the company’s Chief Executive Officer. Travel Guard’s Comprehensive Coverage
Travel Guard’s comprehensive travel insurance packages typically include the following benefits:
• Trip Cancellation – provides reimbursement of non-refundable deposits if trip is canceled under the terms of the policy, such as an illness to an immediate family member.
• Trip Interruption – provides reimbursement of non-refundable deposits if trip is interrupted as covered by the policy, such as evacuation due to a hurricane or severe storm.
• Trip Delay – provides reimbursement for additional accommodations or travel expenses if traveler is delayed for more than several hours.
• Lost, Stolen or Damaged Baggage and Travel Documents – provides reimbursement if luggage is lost, damaged or stolen while the insured person is traveling, or if travel documents are lost or stolen.
• Baggage Delay – provides reimbursement for the purchase of essential items if bags are delayed for more than 24 hours.
• Medical Expenses – provides reimbursement for necessary medical expenses up to one year after the illness or injury, provided traveler sought medical treatment while on a trip.
• Emergency Medical Transportation – covers cost for evacuation and transportation to the nearest adequate medical facility.
• Travel Guard Assistance –provides a 24-hour hotline for emergency assistance, medical referrals, prescription replacement assistance, replacing travel documents, and more.
• Livetravel – Travel Guard’s ‘round-the-clock, travel agent service for emergency or last-minute travel changes such as rebooking flights, arranging hotels and ground transportation, and tracking lost luggage.
• Concierge – 24-hour, worldwide access to restaurant referrals/reservations, event tickets, tee times, floral services, ground transportation and more.
In many cases, travelers purchasing Travel Guard insurance within 15 days of making their initial trip payment also receive the following at no additional cost:
• Pre-Existing Medical Condition Exclusion Waiver – protection if pre-existing medical conditions force cancellation or interruption of a trip.
• Financial Default Coverage – provides reimbursement of trip cost if the tour operator, cruise line, airline or other travel supplier declares bankruptcy more than seven days after the effective date of the policy.
• Change Your Mind – protection against cancellation fees when a trip is cancelled for any reason. One Size Doesn’t Fit All: Tailoring Travel Insurance to the Trip
Just as today’s traveler continues to evolve, Travel Guard is constantly updating its array of travel insurance plans to enable travelers to pick the right plan for their trip. Short getaway or extended vacation; budget travel or luxury tour; specialized travel or a classic air/land vacation – with Travel Guard’s wide array of products, travelers can find travel insurance to fit every trip, and every budget. Some of Travel Guard’s popular products include:
• Cruise, Tour &Travel – Travel Guard’s most comprehensive travel insurance plan
• ProtectAssist – Solid travel insurance for the budget-conscience traveler – and AIG Travel Guard’s most popular plan
• My Travel Guard – “Build your own” travel insurance plan with coverage and limits you want to meet specific travel needs
• TG Essential Expanded – Basic travel protection that includes a “kids at no cost” component
• Savvy Traveler – Travel Guard’s lowest priced package plan for travelers who want basic coverage
• Cruise Guard – Travel insurance designed to surpass the protection plans offered by the cruise lines
• Air Ticket Protection – Protects air ticket investment against change fees, adds other assistance services
• Pack ‘N Go – Ideal for spur-of-the-moment last-minute travelers who don’t need trip cancellation coverage
• Tee, Tour & Travel – Travel Insurance featuring coverage and services specifically for golf travelers
• Student Travel Guard – A portfolio of plans protecting students on virtually all types of student travel – from Spring Break to Semester Abroad
• MecEvac – Annual or per-trip travel coverage that provides medical evacuation to the nearest adequate medical facility or home, and covers your medical expense
Company Philosophy
The core philosophy of Travel Guard and its employees is “Our directions are led by our values.” Every employee participates in a four-day, principle-centered training course based on Steven Covey’s “7 Habits of Highly Effective People.” Through this course, employees are presented with insights for living with fairness, integrity and honesty. These insights are carefully integrated into a corporate culture that is based on personal and professional effectiveness. It includes integrity, respect for all individuals, creative cooperation and the constant quest for unparalleled excellence. Now, as a member of AIG, Inc., Travel Guard continues to instill the same company values and corporate culture.
‘Round-The-Clock Customer Support
Travel Guard’s customer service representatives are available around-the-clock to answer questions, initiate policies and check policy status. Claims are reviewed within 24 hours and are paid the same day that required documents are received. Most claims can be settled within ten working days of the date the claim is originally made.
Management Team
John Noel, Founder and CEO
Tom Zavadsky, Executive Vice President, Sales and Underwriting
Bob Worden, Executive Vice President, Operations
Jim Koziol, Chief Financial Officer
Dan McGinnity, Vice President of Communications
Rick Ensign, Vice President, National Account Sales
Headquarters
1145 Clark Street
Stevens Point, Wisconsin 54481
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