ITIJITIJ Page 21 Page 22 Page 24 Page 28 International Travel Insurance Journal ISSUE 69 • OCTOBER 2006 ESSENTIAL READING FOR TRAVEL INSURANCE INDUSTRY PROFESSIONALS

Consumer survey ABTA reduces protection reveals travel savvy According to the latest consumer study from the In a move that has dismayed the Office of Fair Trading US Travel Insurance Association (UStiA), people (OFT) in London, the Association of British Travel who buy travel insurance tend to be better Agents (ABTA) has cut back the protection it offers educated, travel more frequently and have higher consumers who book holidays with its members. household incomes than those who don’t. Sarah Amanda Aitchison reports Lee reports

Until now, the ABTA bonding scheme has covered all The 2006 Travel Insurance Consumer Study holidays and flights booked with a member travel agent, confirmed how factors, such as destination and type so if the agent or operator goes bust, ABTA steps in and of trip, affect the purchase of different types of travel returns any lost deposits, or flies home those left stranded cover. But it also revealed interesting demographics abroad. While ABTA says it will continue to cover regarding travel insurance purchasers. “People are business failures, however, it will no longer cover losses if now more knowledgeable about the unpredictable a travel agent physically fails to carry out a booking. ABTA nature of their everyday lives, which can be affected also announced it would be removing cover for those by natural disasters, terrorism or even an illness in using agents to book accommodation only online. their family, so they are drawn to solutions that will Following the announced changes to ABTA’s cover, the mitigate these problems,” explained Jon Ansell, UStiA OFT said the new code offered by ABTA will not receive president and CEO. “Savvy, experienced travellers approval by its Consumer Codes Approval Scheme know the value of travel insurance and assistance, (CCAS). The CCAS was set up in 2001 to help consumers and use it to improve their overall travel experience.” identify businesses that promote consumer interests The survey reveals that people are more likely to ‘beyond the basic requirements of the law’. Currently, buy insurance when they feel that factors are out of fewer than a dozen industry codes are approved. their control. Hence, those North Americans ABTA insists the changes to its bonding scheme will have venturing overseas are three times more likely to little impact on holidaymakers: “As long as people buy insurance than those travelling within their own receive the relevant documentation from their travel country. Respondents in the survey cited the agent, clients’ holidays will go ahead as normal if the expense of their trip, having to pre-pay for a trip agent fails. Even though we have withdrawn from the and ‘peace of mind’ among the factors that OFT Code Approval scheme, we will continue to work motivated them to purchase insurance. with it to ensure that our code remains the gold Those purchasing travel cover often travel with a standard for the travel industry.” group of other holidaymakers, take longer trips, go continued on p.5 Age discrimination: the end is in sight

As age laws to combat discrimination come into Moneysupermarket.com. He says that with premiums growing market. New effect on 1 October across the UK, the natural often doubling for those aged 66 and over, a research from AA Travel question on everybody’s lips is ‘how will this affect retirement that involves seeing the world could be Insurance found that people the insurance industry?’ Sarah Lee investigates more expensive than many expect. Recent research over 60 are increasingly taking by the company showed that premiums often hiked extended trips abroad, even One leading financial products portal is urging travel again once a person turned 70, and that competitively raising funds through equity insurers to ‘dump the discrimination’ and install a priced cover often came with diminished benefits. release schemes. Over a third more fair price structure for older travellers. “Ageism There should be a more rational pricing scale for such of retirees interviewed said may soon be illegal in the workplace but it seems rife insurance, it said, rather that implying there is a they had gone on an extended when it comes to travel insurance,” said Richard massive divide in risk between the ages of 65 and 66. holiday over the last 12 Mason, director of insurance at It is well known that the older traveller constitutes a continued on p.21 2 NEWS

The future of terrorism insurance Zimbabwe travel cover launch insurance market. There is a limited capacity in that market. I’m not sure we’re NicozDiamond expects to launch a travel insurance ITIJITIJ going to have the capacity to meet client package shortly, officials at Zimbabwe’s largest International Travel Insurance Journal demand out there.” short-term insurer have said. Zimbabweans In Britain, where the most recent alleged travelling to the greater part of the European Union terror attack was foiled, the vast majority of are required to carry insurance cover, which can be WHAT’S IN people affected by the plot have not and relatively high in local currency. Most European will not receive any compensation from countries also demand substantial medical aid cover THIS ISSUE? their travel insurance policies due to before a visa can be issued. This has often curtailed terrorism exclusions. Graeme Trudgill, travel for Zimbabweans hoping to enter Europe for technical services manager at the British business. Insurers’ Brokers Association (BIBA), According to NicozDiamond chief executive officer REGULARS explains, “The majority [of insurers] don’t Grace Muradzikwa: “We have developed a travel have adequate reinsurance to cover insurance product and we expect to sign an News 1 terrorism attacks,” although BIBA has been Grapevine 4 lobbing insurers to amend restrictive Insurance matters 6 policies. Editorial comment 8 Some insurers will pay out if passengers Company brief 10 were left waiting at an airport for more than 12 hours, but according to BIBA, the Health matters 11 policies of other insurers will not be Travel matters 12 offering any payments at all. Given that Air ambulance news 15 Britain continues to be under a ‘severe’ Hot spots: TAK in Turkey 21 terror alert, purchasing a travel insurance World markets: Italy 22 policy with terrorism coverage is going to News Analysis: In-flight medical 24 become more and more vital for those travelling abroad. Service directory 30 Meanwhile, research from TNS Diary dates 35 Since the Terrorism Risk Insurance Act (TRIA) was OnLineBus, a global market information provider, On the move 35 enacted in the US, the market for terror cover has has shown that almost half of Britons are unaware Contributors 35 steadily grown, according to a study by Marsh and that many insurance policies do not provide cover McLennan Companies Inc.’s risk and insurance for disruption to travel plans caused by terrorism. agreement with our South African partners in the services subsidiary, Marsh Inc. Nearly 60 per cent of For 16 to 24 year-olds, this figure rose to 63 per coming days. We will continue to focus on FEATURES Marsh’s risk management and middle-market clients cent. consumer sensitive product development in the bought terrorism insurance last year, up from 27 per In related news, Whitehall officials confirmed to The coming year.” Dangerous times: sport for all 28 cent in 2003, and 50 per cent in 2004. Coverage Observer newspaper that the government has ruled Struggling to write new business from individuals also cost an average of 25 per cent less in 2005 out compensation for UK terror victims abroad – a with weaker disposable incomes and from industries than it did the previous year, the report found. decision that completely contradicts assurances from under increased financial stress, insurance ITIJ TEAM The firms most likely to buy the insurance were chancellor Gordon Brown. Lawyers representing the companies are seeking to introduce products that financial, real estate and healthcare firms, with at British victims of last summer’s attacks in Sharm el- will increase income from the customers they Editor-in-chief: Ian Cameron least 75 per cent participation in these industries. Sheikh said the move will discriminate against those already have on their books. The biggest ‘take-up’ increases were recorded in caught up in incidents abroad compared to those At the release of NicozDiamond’s six months to Editor: Sarah Lee the West and Northeast. Robert Blumber, head of wounded in attacks in this country, such as the June earnings recently, Muradzikwa reported Editorial assistant: Hannah Langfield Marsh’s terrorism insurance practice, is concerned victims of 7/7 London bombings. Many critics believe depressed revenue growth, with both individuals Staff writer: Amanda Aitchison that if Congress does let TRIA expire, which it is that the UK government’s foreign policy has made a and corporate clients struggling to insure adequately. due to do at the end of 2007, there will be serious target of its nationals abroad, and that as such the Apart from seeking new products that will add to Designers: Eli Butler consequences for the insurance industry: “You will government should shoulder responsibility for its income streams, NicozDiamond also said expenses David Oakley see a mad rush into the standalone terrorism victims of terror, whether at home or overseas. would be ‘kept in the spotlight’ going forward. US correspondent: Milan Korcok India correspondent: Saby Ganguly Conference manager: Denise Clements Asian nations will Careless Britons lose out on the beach Production: Helen Watts act together In days gone by, the only things to be found in a Advertising sales: David Fitzpatrick At the recent Association of Southeast Asian beach-bag were sunglasses, towels and sunscreen, Finance: Helen Parker Nations’ (ASEAN) meeting with its Asian Regional and maybe a Walkman. Now, however, that has all Cartoonist: Chris Duggan Forum (ARF) counterpart, a proposal was adopted changed, with the arrival of iPods, MP3 players, to develop guidelines for civilian and military expensive mobile phones and Blackberries worth cooperation to ensure a swift response to natural hundreds of pounds. Despite this, new research by disasters in the region. The guidelines, which will be Norwich Union has revealed that one in four consistent with existing United Nations and ASEAN Britons quite happily go for a swim in the sea FREE SUBSCRIPTIONS FOR mechanisms on disaster management and without a second thought for their electrical goodies TRAVEL PROFESSIONALS emergency response, will form the Standard or credit cards left ashore, providing thieves with Operating Procedure (SOP) on cooperation the perfect opportunity to do away with the items between civilians and military for humanitarian they rely upon daily. According to the survey, a ITIJ purposes. typical beach-bag now has an estimated value of Voyageur Buildings The proposal includes taking an inventory of the £555, including: mobile phone (average value away on holiday with them. Unfortunately, with 43 Colston St transportation capabilities of the region’s armed £100), watch (£80), digital camera (£150), figures showing that 22 per cent of this age group Bristol BS1 5AX forces to determine the number, location and type cash/credit cards (£150) and designer sunglasses do not take out travel insurance at all, many could UK of vehicles that could be used in an emergency. (£75). be upset on returning from holiday without a phone ASEAN secretary-general Ong Keng Yong The research also shows a huge gap in knowledge, to find themselves with no way of getting a new editorial: +44 (0)117 922 6600 welcomed the latest development in disaster as only seven per cent of those surveyed estimated one without paying out all over again. advertising: +44 (0)117 925 5151 management, which has been top of his agenda the value of their bag to the correct amount, while Last year, nearly a quarter of all Norwich Union fax editoial: +44 (0)117 925 2040 since the December tsunami of 2004, which killed nearly two-thirds undervalued their bag by 60 per travel insurance claims were for lost, stolen or fax advertising: +44 (0)117 929 2023 around 250,000 people. cent. damaged items, and with many beaches both email: [email protected] The ARF group includes representatives from the The worst culprits when it comes to taking high- abroad and at home filled to capacity this summer, web: www.itij.co.uk US, China, Russia, Canada, Japan, South Korea, value items on holiday are 18-24 year-olds, with an Norwich Union is keen to urge people to be more India and the European Union countries, together incredible 93 per cent being so reliant on their aware of what they really need at the beach, and with its ASEAN colleagues. mobile phones they feel they have to take them only take those items that are strictly necessary.

International Travel Insurance Journal www.itij.co.uk

4 NEWS

GRAPEVINE•GRAPEVINE•GRAPEVINE•GRAPEVINE•GRAPEVINE•GRAPEVINE•GRAPE VINE•GRAPEVINE•GRAPEVINE•GRAPEVINE•GRAPEVINE•GRAPEVINE•GRAPEVINE•GRAPEVINE•GRAPEVINE• Travel consumers WTC insurers sue see sense airlines post 9/11 Animal madness British motorists made claims last year citing a While it is often revealed in ITIJ that alarming variety of bizarre reasons – from a frozen squirrel numbers of people continue to venture on holiday crashing through a car windscreen to a cow uninsured, there is good news with the revelation jumping onto a quad bike – according to Norwich that some travel agents and insurance companies Union. Freak accidents involving animals topped are reporting a gradual increase in the number of the list of odd excuses for motor insurance claims, travellers that are becoming smarter and more with food-related mishaps in second place. In one aware of the benefits travel insurance carries. unfortunate incident, a driver couldn’t brake Classic Travel, an agency in the US, has reported a because a potato was under the pedal; and in huge increase in the number of people asking about another, a parked car was hit by a bull, which had hurricane cover for the Caribbean and Mexico, after escaped from a nearby agricultural show. Sally squirrels when they’re on the road, but this shows Leeman of Norwich Union said: “We can hardly how important it is to be aware of what’s going United Airlines has been named in a lawsuit filed by tell drivers to be aware of flying kebabs and frozen on around you at all times.” London insurers over the September 11 attacks on the World Trade Centre (WTC), according to Reuters. QBE International Insurance and particular Snake coverage for serpent-affected trips underwriters at Lloyd’s of London - insurers for some of the WTC buildings - are seeking over $300 The recent movie Snakes on a Plane has raised evacuation (presuming you are not already on the million from Untied and American Airlines, with the questions about what exactly travel insurance afflicted aircraft!); trip interruption coverage, trip lawsuit claiming that the airlines’ negligence allowed would cover in such circumstances. Depending on inconvenience benefit and travel accident for the hijacking of the planes. The insurers are also the policy, travel insurance and assistance could insurance, which pays out in the event of loss of seeking various amounts from Boeing Co., provide: emergency medical assistance and limb or life. Pinkerton’s Inc., ICTS International NV and US Airways Group. The lawsuit brings mounting trouble for UAL Don’t drink and fly: birds learn fast Hurricane Wilma ruined thousands of holidays last Corp.’s bankrupt United Airlines division, which is year. Joy Thrun from the company said: “Almost the second largest airline in the US, and Los Angeles Drunk cedar waxwing birds have bearing berries the birds love everyone asks about hurricanes … ‘What do we do International Airport’s largest carrier. Currently, reportedly been causing chaos at are to blame for attracting the in the event of a hurricane?’” United is embroiled in a bitter pension fund dispute. busy Atlanta Airport, according to feathered creatures and Concurrently, a new report from Australia reveals The International Association of Machinists and the Clayton News Daily. “They subsequently intoxicating that an estimated 30 per cent of Australians still Aerospace Workers sued company executives in were flying all over the entrance them with their potent travel overseas without insurance. But, Australia’s July for declaring the company would no longer road and disturbing people as ingredient. Since the bushes largest travel insurance specialist, Cover-More, contribute to employee pension funds while United they drove into the airport,” said have been cut back from the announced that it received 36,000 travel insurance Airlines remains in a state of bankruptcy. Since then, Ken Martin, environmental entrance, no further claims in 2005, up from 19,000 in 2000, which, it Untied has agreed to instate a pension monitor to compliance manager at the problems have been

says, indicates that the number of people covered is represent the interests of the participants and airport. Apparently, bushes reported. still increasing year on year. beneficiaries in pension plans. INE•GRAPEVINE•GRAPEVINE•GRAPEVINE•GRAPEVINE•GRAPEVINE•GRAPEVINE•GRAPEVINE•GRAPEVINE• GRAPEVINE•GRAPEVINE•GRAPEVINE•GRAPEVINE•GRAPEVINE•GRAPEVINE•GRAPEV

International Travel Insurance Journal www.itij.co.uk NEWS 5

Travel insurers tee Watersports operators to blame for holiday accidents off for charity The UK’s Holiday Which? magazine is warning the watersports operators, so standards do vary hugely. buoyed off from swimming areas, meaning potentially public that in certain holiday hotspots, rogue While the Which? survey found operators who had fatal accidents are simply waiting to happen. watersports operators are putting tourists in danger excellent standards of care and safety, the worrying In our News analysis feature on page 28, Ian on an almost daily basis. Eleven out of 18 operators truth is that, unfortunately, they are not in the majority. Youngman details some of the challenges insurers surveyed in Corfu and the Costa Blanca in Spain Among the problems uncovered in the recent survey face when covering adventurous or dangerous were rated either as unsafe or potentially unsafe, and are shoddy, dirty, and improperly maintained activities. With the new information released by seven centres were rated as unsafe by the Royal equipment, including life jackets, protective helmets Holiday Which? underlining just some of the dangers Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA). and diving gear. And in some places, the operating posed, it seems problems for insurers are likely to There is no European-wide legislation that regulates areas for watersports centres were not correctly be around for some time to come.

The Citybond team: Mansukh Ganatra, Iain Chalmers, Anil Kumar and Greg Lawson (who got a hole in one!)

The UK’s first Travel Insurance Industry Charity Golf Day was held at the Surrey National Golf Club on a hot and humid day in early September in aid of the Christian Lewis Trust Children's Cancer Charity. Forty-two golfers from all sectors of the industry played 27 holes over a quality, though very hilly, course – raising £1,500 for a worthy cause. The day was a great success and enjoyed by all. Anil Kumar of Citybond won the individual competition and Europ Assistance won best overall team. Andy Juggins, head of travel underwriting at RBS Insurance – whose brainchild the event was – would like to thank the main sponsors: Mondial, Churchill, Select and Citybond, the latter doing a great job of designing the event’s website and making arrangements for the day. Thanks are also due to Europ Assistance, AXA, AIG, Voyager, IPP and Crispin Speers and Partners for donating prizes. The event hopes to be back next year, with plans to make it bigger and even better.

Consumer survey reveals travel savvy continued from p.1 on more expensive holidays, or fork out considerable non-refundable expenses before their departure. Likewise, most travellers – an impressive 70 per cent – who take a cruise buy travel insurance. The UStiA research also found that travellers are more likely to buy insurance for their trip if they are visiting a specific holiday destination or have an activity planned, than if they are simply visiting friends or relatives. Those purchasing cover were also found to use more sources of information to plan their trip, where non- purchasers relied on family and friends to provide holiday details. As such, 77 per cent of those using a travel agent to book a trip took out travel protection – more than double the amount of people with insurance that booked their own trip. With regards to travel claims, it was found that one in six people had made a claim on their insurance at some point in the past. This figure is twice as high as the number of people claiming on their homeowners insurance (in 2004), according to the Insurance Information Institute. One problem seems to be an ongoing lack of consumer knowledge regarding medical evacuation cover. Even out of those purchasing travel insurance, only 50 per cent realized their policy would fly them home in case of a medical emergency. But with a tripling in the number of leisure travellers purchasing cover for their trip since 9/11, things have been healthy in the US travel insurance market over the last few years, and this improvement looks set to continue.

www.itij.co.uk International Travel Insurance Journal 6 INSURANCEMATTERS

Allianz most Aon regains AXA cuts staff NEWSWIRE sustainable commissions Insurer AXA has announced it is to cut 220 jobs at call centres in the UK as part of an ongoing viva Life Insurance has announced its tie-up with In the prestigious Dow Jones Sustainability Index Aon Corp. in the US can now accept extra process to scale back its AXA Direct general ADoha bank in Qatar as part of the company’s rating, Allianz Group has been rated as leader in profit-based commissions from insurers when it insurance business. The company also revealed it bancassurance initiatives. The move follows Aviva’s the financial sector. Analysts from Dow Jones acts as a managing general agent or was planning on cutting a further 250 general foray into the bancassurance market in India. reported: “Allianz’s sustainability strategy has underwriting manager, under an agreement it insurance jobs, as well as harbouring plans to been successfully integrated into corporate has reached with authorities in Connecticut, move 230 jobs to Bangalore, India. The firm earl Group, the UK general insurance provider, thinking, and the board’s strong commitment to Illinois and New York. The agreement amends a already has an 800-strong workforce in Phas been acquired by Lloyds TSB Insurance. manage challenges within the group remains March 2005 settlement with the state Bangalore, the majority of which serves the Lloyds TSB will market a range of general insurance unchanged.” authorities in which the company agreed to group’s UK business, while around 200 staff products with Pearl branding. Meanwhile, Allianz’s own serve the company’s US, Australian and Japanese sustainability report has interests. unch Reinsurance America Inc. has officially just been launched, Amicus, the UK’s financial services union, Mchanged its name from American Re-Insurance presenting its strategy for revealed that it had been in consultation with Company, and the name of the holding company, sustainable development AXA throughout the decision-making process in American Re Corporation, has changed to Munich Re and giving several ‘best order to ensure that redundancies were kept to a America Corporation. practice examples’. Lutz minimum. Previously, Amicus has been vocal in its Cleeman, head of the criticism of companies such as Abbey and rench mutual insurer Groupama Assurances may sustainable development Norwich Union following their decisions to Fbe looking to buy a Swiss insurer to help diversify strategy team, explained: relocate jobs abroad as part of cost-cutting its business after a bid for Credit Suisse’s insurance “Sustainability is a central processes. With the off-shoring of UK jobs unit Winterthur fell through earlier this year. factor in the optimisation becoming more and more commonplace – latest of risk portfolios … the figures show that 2,000 financial services jobs ssicurazioni Generali SpA reported a 23-per-cent focus is on risks that result have been lost to overseas departments since Aincrease in its first-half net profit despite stagnant from long-term December 2005 – Amicus has called on the premium income, as it managed to keep a lid on technological government to develop strategies to maintain the costs and moved toward selling more profitable developments as well as financial services sector as a crucial source of policies. changes in society’s employment in the UK. attitudes.” cease collecting contingent commissions from On a more positive note, AXA has taken a XA Insurance Gulf BSC in Bahrain, a unit of AXA Allianz is one of the first financial companies to insurers, which authorities regarded as a conflict leading role in the formation of a new framework ASA, is looking to expand its Middle Eastern publish an entire balance sheet in 2006, of interest with insurance buyers that that will help to protect insurance providers from operation with a new facility in Qatar. AXA has according to the Global Reporting Initiative compensate Aon for its services. the costly problem of fraudulent activity. The applied for a licence with the Qatar Financial Centre (GRI). Oekom-Research, another ratings agency, New York-based Marsh Inc. announced a similar Insurance Fraud Bureau (IFB) has been created to establish new offices in Doha. has welcomed the switch to GRI reporting, agreement in New York last month in a through a collaboration between insurers that saying: “Concisely structured sustainability Securities and Exchange Commission filing, and began two years ago. nsurance broker Jardine Lloyd Thompson has agreed reporting on the Internet has taken Allianz a London-based Willis Group also announced its Fraud costs the industry around £1.5 billion a Ito sell its US-based property and casualty insurance significant step towards transparency as regards commissions agreement with the New York year, and the new IFB will work with the and employee benefits businesses to Alliant Insurance social and ecological issues.” authorities recently. government and police to prevent organised Services for $100 million. crime syndicates from stealing money, which results in increased premiums for policyholders. orwich Union has launched a new-style life Richard Davies, fraud risk manager at AXA and Ninsurance product that makes it easier for deputy chairman of the IFB, said: “What the IFB customers to take out life policies. Simplified Life will do is use very sophisticated analytics over Cover can offer life assurance without the need for databases shared between insurers and it will manual underwriting. pinpoint those issues which affect more than one insurer and those issues which are indicative of annover Reinsurance Co. reported a two-per- being organised crimes.” It is hoped the IFB will Hcent rise in profits for the second-quarter, but solve fraud problems more efficiently, and with a has held back on raising 2006 targets while it waits greater chance of success, than previous efforts for the hurricane season to get underway. by single insurance companies. merican International Group (AIG) has decided to Asell its stake in IPC Holdings Ltd through a share offer. AIG is launching a public offering to sell 13.4 Hiscox hoping for million common shares in the Bermuda-based sunnier climes reinsurer. aper is critical to the insurance business, but new Insurance group Hiscox is to find a new home in Presearch has shown that 38 per cent of insurance Bermuda to take advantage of the Island’s lighter employees spend over 15 minutes per day simply tax and regulatory regimes. Robert Hiscox, the processing paper, totalling about 260 hours per company’s chairman, said: “We are an international employee per year, limiting productivity. business and want to be in the international arena.” Bronek Masojada, chief executive, said he hoped ortis announced that its international insurance the move would eventually reduce Hiscox’s tax Farm, Fortis Insurance International, has signed a rate to something like the 11 per cent charge at preliminary agreement with the aim of acquiring Etalon Catlin, a rival already domiciled in Bermuda. Life, Ukraine’s seventh-largest life insurance company. Mr Hiscox was keen to note that the UK’s Financial Services Authority (FSA) would still regulate the company, but it would also be able to take advantage of the Bermudan authorities’ quicker approval processes for corporate developments. He insisted that the move, intended for this year, is not a prelude to Hiscox leaving Lloyd’s. The comments came however, as Hiscox reported a fall in first-half pre-tax profit from £88.1 million to £61.3 million.

International Travel Insurance Journal www.itij.co.uk INSURANCEMATTERS 7

NEWSWIRE Global reinsurance to boost China market obtained permission to handle corporate bonds, China is small, and despite growth, their total asset neBeacon Insurance Group Ltd, a property securities investment funds and to invest directly in is less than that of some large international Oand casualty insurance writer, has said it is the stock market. insurance companies – America International planning an initial public offering of as much as Since insurance firms have gained approval for Group (AIG) owns a much larger asset than that of $500 million in Class A common stock. Shares will further investments, they have begun to the entire Chinese insurance industry put together. be sold by its parent company, White Mountains aggressively expand the scope of their portfolios, The key to further development, according to Insurance Group Ltd. and now, local insurers are fighting with foreign some experts, is the implementation of mergers investors for Chinese assets. Leading the troops are and acquisitions, which enable the enlargement of llianz Holding AG reported a jump in new life China Life Insurance Co. and Ping An Insurance scales of business, reduce costs, increase profits and Ainsurance business in its home market of Germany, Group, which are the country’s largest and second- strengthen the capabilities of resisting risks and boosted by pension sales, and said it would offer sales largest insurers by premiums respectively. Both competitiveness. Such actions also reduce jobs to employees threatened by restructuring. companies are looking to banks for higher returns competition and increase market share. and cross-selling opportunities, although Ping An Furthermore, according to China Daily, the influx of urich Financial Services Group posted a nine- has made the biggest stir so far by buying an 89 per global reinsurance giants into the flourishing Zper-cent rise in first-half net profits, exceeding cent controlling stake in Shenzhen Commercial Chinese sector is expected to boost the insurance expectations, due to solid insurance premiums and Bank for 4.9 billion yuan ($616.1 million). marketplace. The presence of such new arrivals is cost cuts. Chinese insurers do have the upper hand over predicted to challenge the reign of sole Chinese foreign players in the world of bancassurance, competitor China Reinsurance Co. (China Re), but on Aminim announced it has acquired the A new report published by Research and Markets however, as domestic investors don’t face should provide immediate benefits to the local Abusiness of Fredy & Ilan Beck Insurance Brokers has included a detailed analysis of the state of the restrictions on bank investments, whereas market through increased expertise and resources. in Haifa, Israel, subject to approval from the relevant Chinese insurance industry – past, present and foreign investors can only take a maximum 20 General manager of China Re, Dai Fengji, has authorities. The businesses will be merged to form future. There has been a great deal of hype per cent stake in a domestic bank, with total conceded that the company’s privileged dominance Aon Israel Insurance Brokerage. surrounding the growth of China as a world power foreign investment not permitted to surpass 25 of the market is coming to an end, as his firm lags in terms of its economy, and the fledging insurance per cent. But, Chinese insurers lack experience behind foreign counterparts in key areas such as annover Re, the world’s fourth largest insurer, industry is playing its part in the rapid development. in the banking field, so where expertise is capital strength, services and repayment capacity. Hhas reportedly made an initial bid for the ailing China’s insurance market is still in its early stages, concerned, foreign players certainly have a The most recent news from China suggests that Bermuda life reinsurer Scottish Re. Scottish Re said it accounting for only a small proportion of the corner on the market. Beijing is expected to inject up to 10 billion yuan had received proposals from a number of potential national economy. Since this industry was resumed Elsewhere in the Chinese insurance market, as the into China Re in order to help it compete with bidders at the beginning of September and would in 1980, insurance agencies, independent report from Research and Marketing suggests, a foreign rivals. The exact size of the proposed invite a number of them to take part in a second regulatory mechanisms and organisations have problem of concern currently is that the reforms of injection is unclear, with reports varying widely, round of bidding. emerged, and the scope of service has been greatly some state-owned insurance companies are not but the significance remains the same: it would be extended. By the end of 2005, there were 93 sufficient: the products they offer are reportedly the first time that China used its fast-growing rpington College in London has launched a insurance corporations in China altogether, unstructured and lack innovation, especially in the foreign exchange reserves to inject capital into an Ofinancial services academy to train future comprising of six insurance groups and 82 areas of life and medical insurance. Also, despite a insurance company. financial wizards. The Banking, Insurance and insurance companies. The speedy growth of steep rate of growth, in real terms, the The insurance and reinsurance industries in China Financial Services Academy opened on 4 October. premium income stimulated insurance assets, with concentration of insurance companies in China is are poised for potentially massive growth as further total insurance assets in China in 2005 amounting deficient compared with some other developed financial restrictions are lifted and new products are remiums for individual life insurance – both term to 1,522 billion yuan ($1 = 7.94 yuan) – up by 27 countries. The scale of insurance companies in made available to China’s 1,300 million people. Plife and ‘permanent’ insurance – will drop by four per cent on 2004. per cent on average next year, according to New Currently, 1.8 million Chinese people are York’s Insurance Information Institute (III). The employed in the insurance industry, which accounts projected drop is in line with the average five per cent for over 40 per cent of the total number of staff in per year drop that began in 2000. financial enterprises in the country. Trying to keep pace with the stellar growth of its country’s oyal & SunAlliance Insurance Group plc has economy, the Chinese insurance industry has done Rannounced the acquisitions by Codan, its Danish its best to develop new products and services, such subsidiary, of White Label Holding AS Group and as agricultural insurance, and to get such products Duborgh Skadeforsikring AS in Norway for NOK 340 to the market as quickly as possible. It has also million (US $1 = NOK 6.55). Both of these companies have a growing presence in the Swedish market and are expanding into Denmark.

einsurnce buyers can expect continuity when RAXA Re, the reinsurance arm of Paris-based AXA Converium aims for SA, becomes Paris Re Holdings Ltd at the end of this year. Clients will still deal with the same teams of rating hike people when the transfer takes place, says the company’s CEO Hans-Peter Gergardt. Swiss reinsurer Converium Holding Ltd. has reported a rise in second-quarter profits to $62.5 nsurance Australia Group (IAG) says expansion into million, a figure boosted by one-off gains and one IAsia would help drive growth in the current financial that beats forecasts, as it pursues a higher credit year after delivering a 6.4 per cent fall in annual net rating that could help restore client confidence. profit. IAG said net profit for the 12 months to June The company also said it was looking to sell off its was AU$759 million (US$570 million), down from North American operations, following the unit’s AU$781 million in the previous corresponding period. closure for new business after it became the source of most of the group’s financial troubles SBC Holdings plc is in preparation for a life two years ago. Hinsurance joint venture in mainland China in an Converium’s credit ratings were downgraded to effort to improve its global insurance business’s below the single-A status essential in the industry contribution to the group’s earnings. It is looking for to win customers, after it discovered a gaping mainland partners and expects to unveil a joint $500 million hole in claims reserves, mostly for US venture by the end of the year. liability business. The company repeated its forecasts of gross written premiums of between he National Association of Insurance $1.8 and $1.9 billion this year – figures roughly TCommissioners (NAIC) in the US has signed a half the size of its business before the crisis memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the US emerged. Now, however, a credit rating upgrade Department of Defense (DoD). The partnership should help to restore sales to their old level, allows the DoD to use the NAIC’s Life Insurance for which should also help to lower its cost base. The Military Personnel Brochure as part of the DoD’s improved performance and possible upgrade bode campaign to improve the financial literacy of service well for keeping Converium’s core underwriting members and their families. business profitable.

www.itij.co.uk International Travel Insurance Journal 8 INSURANCEMATTERS

Hurricane future RSA wants out NEWSWIRE

Editorial As the US Congress approves $122 billion in spending llianz Australia has been awarded Best General for Gulf Coast regeneration, a report from the Ceres AInsurer 2006 at the Australian Banking & comment investor coalition has highlighted dozens of new Finance Insurance Awards held in Sydney. The insurance products aimed at the region’s residents. company’s CFO Niran Peiris said the customer As the Gradually, more and more new polices are emerging service offorts of Allianz’s 3,000 employees had International that tackle climate change and the fast-rising weather contributed to the company receiving the award. Travel losses centred on New Orleans; and according to Insurance Ceres, insurance companies are on the right track to BC Insurance, of Canada, has announced the Conference minimising losses and making the most of opportunities Ropening of a representative office in China for the (ITIC) draws related to climate change. company’s life insurance arm. The new office will near, here at The report from Ceres outlines the win-win situation of allow RBS to liaise with local governmental and Voyageur we insurers developing services to help both consumers regulatory bodies, conduct market research and are putting the and businesses to reduce their losses from extreme establish a presence in the country. finishing weather, while also helping to reduce the pollution touches to causing global warming. Within the report, there are he Securities and Exchange Commission of what promises more than 180 identified products, either already TPakistan has granted registration to Alfalah to be the best available or in the pipeline, from dozens of different Royal & SunAlliance (RSA) is in talks with US Insurance Company Ltd, having an authorized capital ITIC ever. The insurance companies. However, it also concludes that regulators to bring ‘certainty and finality’ to its US of Rs300 million and paid-up capital of Rs230 million, fascinating the vast market potential related to climate change liabilities, according to chief executive Andy Haste. to start underwriting insurance business in Pakistan. location of Prague is the perfect backdrop to and/or other increasing weather damage is still largely Mr Haste said the aim of the talks was to The company will transact non-life insurance business. an event that will feature presentations and untapped by the industry, and it outlines the growing ‘extinguish the group’s exposure to the US’, where debate on some of the hottest topics in the crisis of insurance availability and affordability in it no longer writes new policies. RSA’s four ockton Inc., of London, has reached a definitive global travel insurance market today. An hurricane-prone regions of the US. remaining US entities are now all regulated by one Lagreement to purchase Alexander Forbes action-packed social agenda will also take Written by two industry experts, the report will be state, Delaware. When compared to 2003, when International Risk Services. The $170-million delegates from the rooftop restaurant of the considered by the National Association of Insurance RSA began its restructuring plan and had 25 entities transaction will make Lockton the largest InterContinental Praha for a Welcome overseen by 11 different regulators, it is clear that independent, privately owned global insurance broker Function, up along the Vlatva River for an the company’s plans for finalising business in the US in the world. evening’s boat cruise, to the hotel bar for an has so far gone well. entertaining quiz night, and ultimately to the There are a number of ways in which RSA could BS Insurance Group, Australia’s largest property stunning Municipal House for the Gala Dinner achieve its ultimate objective, including a formal Qand casualty insurer, said that first-half profit and hotly-contested ITIJ Awards ceremony. run-off, where the US business would pay claims climbed 20 per cent to a record after acquisitions in New for this year, ITIC will feature a from its resources with no recourse to the parent the US and the UK boosted sales. Net income rose networking programme for new delegates for additional capital, a reinsurance agreement or a to AU$591 million (US$452 million) from AU$491 a prior to the Welcome Function, and we have disposal of the liabilities. Although the current year earlier. also incorporated into the conference agenda discussions do not necessarily pave the way to a sessions that make up the International disposal, it has not been ruled out as a possibility. Private Healthcare Conference and the RSA managed to lift its operating profit from £329 International Air Ambulance Forum. million to £409 million in the six months to 30 Delegates can, therefore, select which June; a figure much aided by the absence of big Gulf insurance sessions are most relevant to their line of weather claims in the first half. business or attend as many as they wish. The move to being overseen by just one US sees benfits As usual, ITIC will feature guest speakers and regulator is an important step in RSA’s extraction moderators, panel sessions, focus groups, and Commissioners (NAIC), which formed a special task from the US. However, the possibility of large provide plenty of networking opportunities. It force to deal with the climate change issue last claims from the US is still the biggest risk the group In terms of total premiums relative to gross domestic will invoke energetic debate, provide analysis December. NAIC, comprising of state insurance faces, and it continues to overshadow progress on product, Gulf countries have long appeared and allow the international travel insurance regulators, is the primary regulatory body for the US other fronts. underinsured, holding very low rates of penetration community to meet and discuss matters insurance industry. relative to global averages. Now, however, Standard & affecting the future of the industry. The grand As if to underline the importance of policies for Poor’s Ratings Service (S&P) has noted a rapid finale to ITIC – the ITIJ Awards dinner – will hurricane-ravaged regions, scientists warned recently expansion in this insurance market, as demand and be a glamorous event, as always, so may I that typical hurricane breeding grounds in the Atlantic business benefits have increased. take this opportunity to say ‘best of luck on and Pacific oceans are being warmed by greenhouse Three main drivers have prompted the speedy growth the night’. gases, raising the possibility of more intense and Lack of reinsurance in insurance for both individuals and companies in the I very much look forward to meeting you in devastating storms being unleashed on nearby costs $2 billion region: the first is growing wealth, which is leading to a Prague. coastlines. Climate researchers found that emissions significant increase in insurable assets and activities in the from burning fossil fuels and other industrial activities Allstate Insurance Co. bought reinsurance to cover the region; the second is the local authorities’ commitment were to blame for driving temperatures upwards in cost of some policies along the East Coast of the US to stronger insurance regulation, leading to the Sarah Lee tropical waters where hurricanes form. If sea last year, but not for policies in Louisiana – a gamble widespread introduction of compulsory insurance Editor temperatures continue to rise at the current rate, that has cost it $2 billion in claims. The company’s covers; and lastly the practical development of an scientists are fearful that category four and five hurricanes models did not predict a hurricane hitting Louisiana, Islamic insurance alternative (Takaful). Standard & Poor’s such as Katrina will become more commonplace. although it did purchase reinsurance for Texas and has published insurer financial strength ratings on 12 Florida, attorney Edward Collins told a joint legislative Gulf region insurers, which is an improvement insurance committee recently. In response, Senator considering only four companies were rated by the Russia welcomes foreign investors Don Cravins asked: “You didn’t take care of your service in 2004 and none were rated in 2003. business, so the citizens of Louisiana have to pay for Although the overall picture for Gulf insurance companies Yury Koleshnikov, an executive member of the market three to four years ago by buying up stakes your mistake?” is positive, there remains certain pressures on the Russian Insurers Union and CEO of Admiral in Russian companies, or setting up subsidiaries. Officials from Allstate argued that even if they had insurance industry that need to be recognised. Risk Insurance Company, said in a recent interview that However, this flow has been more of a gentle bought reinsurance for Louisiana, the company would management and corporate governance across the he welcomed any new foreign insurance company trickle than a flood, the pace of newcomers being still be revoking its wind and hail policies in 18 coastal region are generally fairly unsophisticated, and the more that would be interested in starting up in or dictated by a shortage of staff in regional areas, as parishes. A spokeswoman for the company said that no demanding regulatory environment now being imposed expanding into Russia. He added that the presence well as problems with fraud in the country, which is amount of reinsurance would have prevented a requires companies to be more proactive in both areas. of more foreign insurance companies in the Russian a greater problem in Russia than most European hurricane from striking. The size of the insurance market will remain small in market would lead to a growth in capitalisation and countries or indeed the rest of the world. As a result of the high costs incurred by Katrina, Allstate global terms, and to some extent, less of an interest to in the financial strength of domestic companies. Mr So far, Russian insurance companies have not been plans to drop wind and hail coverage on 30,000 more sophisticated international insurers, but the Koleshnikov conceded that it could take up to seven able to lobby their interests through legislative homeowners’ policies, but buyers who have both inherent profitability of these new markets do make years for more foreign companies to arrive in the agencies to protect the Russian market from homeowners and auto policies will be unaffected. them attractive to new players, says S&P. However, as country, but he believes that eventually the lure of opening itself up to foreign insurers. Once the Edward Collins also suggested at the hearing that the market opens up in response to trade agreements, Russia’s blossoming economy and growing middle country becomes a member of the World Trade Louisiana might create a fund like Florida’s to help cover competitive pressures from new providers may class will be too much for savvy insurers to resist. Organisation, however, it will be required to allow catastrophic losses. That fund is tapped if companies undermine the benefits to insurers of the strong growth Foreign insurers first started to enter the Russian branches of foreign insurance companies to open. suffer total losses of at least $5.5 billion. in risk awareness, it warned.

International Travel Insurance Journal www.itij.co.uk

10 COMPANYBRIEF

Ten years and a new MultiPlan acquires Protect your travel Insurance cover brand revealed PHCS: PPO deal documents extended Travel insurance services provider Travel Insurance MultiPlan Inc. and Private Healthcare American Express Insurance has launched a new In the wake of recent security alerts, Go Travel Facilities Group (TIF) has launched a new brand Systems Inc. (PHCS), two of the largest service, which promises to increase security Insurance is extending its cover to insure valuables identity to coincide with its tenth anniversary and a PPO provider service companies in the levels for important travel documentation. that passengers will have to check in at airports rather move to new offices. The specialist UK company – United States, have jointly announced that Research by the company has revealed that 31 than carry on as hand luggage. It is also going to which offers a range of services including MultiPlan will acquire PHCS in a deal per cent of reported incidents of passports being extend its cover for those stranded due to delayed underwriting, claims handling, administration, medical expected to close by the end of this year, lost or stolen occur between June and August. A return flights. screening, medical assistance and repatriation – subject to government antitrust approvals. defence system has been introduced in an As a result of the ‘critical’ level security alert issued unveiled its fresh new look at a party for clients and By Milan Korcok attempt to reassure holidaymakers by providing a following the exposure of a terror plot at Heathrow, staff. secure online security service for vital which forced many airlines to cancel flights and threw “Since we launched the company in 1996 we have According to a joint documents, which are scanned and stored, thousands of travellers’ holiday plans into disarray, focused solely on the travel sector and this has been announcement by allowing important information to be accessed passengers are at present not allowed to take hand instrumental in our success,” said Darryl Halliwell, both companies, the from anywhere in the world. Additionally, credit, luggage or valuables with them into the cabin, managing director. acquisition will create debit and loyalty cards can be cancelled by meaning all usual carry-on items have to be put in The move to new offices will enable expansion, and ‘the industry’s most making a single phone call to American Express, bags that are placed in the aircraft’s hold. Travel the new contemporary brand image endeavours to comprehensive in the event of loss or theft. According to Joanne insurance policies generally restrict cover for valuable reflect TIF’s forward-thinking and innovative medical cost Field, marketing manager for the company: items not carried in person, meaning that valuables approach to delivering travel insurance solutions to management “Online document storage can help save valuable placed in the hold are not insured. However, Go brokers for their clients. The company works with a provider’ in the time and simplify the whole process of organising Travel Insurance has extended its cover to include number of leading travel sector brokers and country. Financial a replacement passport.” these items, subject to the usual terms and conditions. intermediaries to deliver value added solutions for all terms were not distribution channels of travel insurance products. disclosed. The announcement describes PHCS as the nation’s largest proprietary Sainsbury’s Bank joins the fight primary PPO network, and the nation’s second In the competitive financial market, many banks are travel to Europe, with cover starting from as low as New underwriter largest independent care management provider, offering special benefits to entice customers, not least £9. At Alliance & Leicester, switching to its Premier contracting with nearly 450,000 providers and benefits related to insurance. Travel insurance, a or Premier Direct account offers competitive for travel insurer serving over 16 million health plan members. valuable asset for jetsetters around the world, is the interest rates and free or discounted travel MultiPlan is a provider of PPO networks and cost latest bonus for those in the UK who bank with insurance. Helen Palmer, head of current accounts The M.H. Ross Company, a provider of travel containment services that embraces over 4,000 Sainsbury’s Bank or Alliance & Leicester. Both at Alliance & Leicester, said: “The restructure of the insurance services, has recently announced a hospitals, 90,000 ancillary care facilities and 700,000 companies are offering deals on overseas insurance if accounts ensures we offer a choice of market collaboration with Old Republic Insurance Company, practitioner locations ‘typically used to complement people use their accounts for everyday banking needs. leading accounts with different benefits on differing a subsidiary of Old Republic International a health plan’s primary PPO network’. MultiPlan Sainsbury’s is offering a ten-per-cent discount on customer preferences.” Corporation. As of 1 March 2007, the firm’s travel claims 27 million Americans have access to its insurance policies will be underwritten by Old network. Republic, a leading provider of travel insurance Mark Tabak, MultiPlan’s CEO, states: -“The addition Uganda travel news MedSave offers services. The current underwriter relationship with of [PHCS’] national primary PPO network to our Global Alert will continue to protect travellers with comprehensive product line creates and end-to-end additional service policies written through 28 February 2007. solution for controlling rising healthcare costs while According to M.H. Ross company president, Lloyd T. maintaining employee choice.” Joseph Driscoll, MedSave USA has united with Subrogation Partners to Ross, the underwriter was selected for its protection PHCS president and CEO adds: “MultiPlan gives offer a new subrogation service to international and value for customers: “Old Republic, rated A+ our clients access to additional services and insurance companies, their assistance companies, and by AM Best, combines its financial strength with technology, and we strengthen MultiPlans position Third Party Administrators (TPAs). This new service outstanding company claims service and state-of-the- with medium and small payers that lease – rather offers international clients the ability to collect money on art technology, providing us a stronger partner for than own – their primary PPO networks. closed claims that may have been forgotten about, as the future.” The joint announcement notes that together, the well as being proactive in getting the ball rolling on new One of the US’s biggest publicly owned insurance companies receive an estimated $60 billion in claims. By partnering with Subrogation Partners, organisations, Old Republic has assets of charges annually for network discounting or MedSave is able to identify new claims that are the approximately $11.6 billion and its current stock negotiation. MultiPlan clients include large and mid- In order to ease family travel and to make it more responsibility of a third party and to further reduce market valuation is approximately $5 billion. M.H. sized insurers, third party administrators, self-funded affordable, AIG in Uganda has reduced its travel claims paid by insurance companies. By identifying Ross Travel Insurance Services has been protecting plans, HMOs and other entities that pay claims on insurance packages by 15 per cent. Commenting on potential claims, the companies leverage their travellers for 45 years with a variety of flexible behalf of health plans. the 15 per cent reduction, managing director Alex combined expertise and knowledge of subrogation laws insurance options. Its travel insurance packages MultiPlan is owned by a group of investors led by Wanjohi said that the idea is to help the emerging to aggressively pursue subrogation at no risk to the include assistance services, as well as insurance the Carlyle Group. PHCS is owned by Trustmark middle class and the public to have a fall back client. According to Jeffrey Baker, CEO of MedSave: “It benefits for cancelled or interrupted trips, medical Insurance Company, Assurant Health, and Guardian position when travelling. Travel insurance, he urged, is important that the international community has local and dental emergencies, lost or damaged baggage, Life Insurance Co. of America. must be seen as a necessity. expertise of two leaders in their respective markets. rental cars, travel supplier bankruptcies and more. This partnership allows our clients to pursue accidental Oz deal secures online market related losses outside of their responsibility.” Australia’s largest e-commerce travel integration into the booking path than we did in the insurance provider, Mondial Assistance, and entire last year,” said Johnson. AIG reappointed by eBay and Norwich budget airline Virgin Blue have launched a The e-Magin technology, which was developed in- Union team up travel insurance offering that allows house by Mondial Assistance Group, is the first of Opodo site travellers to purchase both flights and travel several products to be integrated into Virgin Blue’s America International Group (AIG) Europe (UK) Norwich Union Insurance has teamed up with eBay insurance online in a single transaction. online booking process, with other ancillary partners Limited has been reappointed as travel insurance to create an online insurance centre. eBay has Miles Clarke reports from Sydney to follow. Carole Tokody, regional e-commerce provider for Opodo. AIG has provided travel around 15 million customers in the UK who will manager at the assistance company, told ITIJ: “We insurance integrated with Opodo’s flight purchase now have easy access to information on Norwich Virgin Blue is the first airline in the Asia Pacific region offer a unique opportunity to help our clients process to customers in the UK, Germany, France Union’s range of motor, home and travel insurance. to implement the technology that offers guests integrate a travel insurance offering into their site and Italy since the company was founded in 2001. The two companies teamed up recently to give travel insurance as part of the standard online ticket while totally relieving them of managing the Chris Roe, head of tours at Opodo, commented: eBay motor customers seven days free insurance booking process. The company’s e-commerce process.“ Mondial handles the entire process, from “Travel insurance is a key part of our online offering. cover, but the latest move is reportedly the first ever partnership manager, Charles Johnson, said: “This is the initial underwriting and collection of premiums After five years of partnership, we remain impressed co-branded online insurance hub. According to Mark an exciting initiative for Virgin Blue which simplifies to claims management. by AIG Europe’s market leading technology and Godfrey from Norwich Union, the company is and streamlines the purchase of travel insurance for Basic travel insurance, which covers ticket service across Europe.” Meanwhile, the praise is offering eBay users quick and easy access to our guests.” cancellation and baggage protection is available at reciprocated by Jonathon Cooper, vice president of insurance information and quotes via the new online The airline has seen the uptake of travel insurance competitive rates for both domestic and travel at AIG Europe: “Opodo was one of the first insurance centre and he is confident that the on its website increase significantly since the international flights anywhere on the Virgin Blue travel providers to understand the importance of partnership will prove to be very successful with implementation of the new system. “We actually network. Passengers are also able to upgrade to a integrating insurance quotes with the flight purchase eBay’s loyal customer base. sold more of this policy type in its first day of more comprehensive cover. process in order to maximise sales.”

International Travel Insurance Journal www.itij.co.uk HEALTHMATTERS 11

Global TB alert Eau de human deterrent for mozzies West Nile update

Considering the rising numbers of mosquitoes of body odour mosquitoes can detect. Professor An elderly woman has died in New Haven, and the increasing number of diseases they are John Pickett of Rothamsted Research commented: Connecticut, US, due to complications from the known to carry, scientists in London think they “By plugging into something that is such a virulent West Nile virus, according to the state may have developed new bug repellent that uses fundamental part of the insects’ ecology, it gives you department of health. The name of the 75-year- a natural chemical found in human body odour the opportunity to get something that will be much old has not been released, although officials that the insects actually dislike. The scientists have more potent.” The scientists are hoping to develop made a statement saying she had been spending isolated chemicals in the odour of people who do a formula so effective that it may not be necessary a lot of time outdoors in the days prior to falling not get bitten, and are hoping to use them to to apply it the skin – applying it instead to clothing. ill. Mosquitoes carrying the West Nile virus have improve controls to prevent the spread of insect- They are currently comparing their results with been detected in New Haven on a weekly basis On 5 September, world health officials gave out an borne diseases such as malaria, dengue fever and those of repellents recommended by the World since early July, and have also been found in 12 unprecedented warning that deadly new strains of yellow fever. Health Organization, and apparently so far, results other municipalities. tuberculosis, virtually untreatable using drugs that Researchers from Aberdeen University in Scotland have been impressive. In addition to looking at Meanwhile, in Chicago, city workers are taking are currently available, appear to be spreading used a technique known as chromatography- mosquitoes, they are researching the possibilities of to the streets in the evenings to spray quickly across the globe. The new strains are electroantennography to identify which components repelling other criters such as tics. mosquitoes that carry the disease. Crews are known as extreme drug resistant TB, or XDR-TB. spraying several parts of the city with a low- They have been identified and have claimed lives all volume insecticide, starting at dusk every night. over the globe, including in developed countries such as the US, and rapidly developing Eastern China fights Encephalitis outbreak Europe. Worryingly, the deadly new strains have also been found in several places in Africa, where The death toll from an outbreak of encephalitis B Yuncheng, which originally had only 20,000 doses they could quickly put an end to all hope of (Japanese encephalitis or JE) has risen to 19, with a on hand. The vaccinations will be given away free of Russian containing the AIDS pandemic through treatment. In further 38 people infected in Yuncheng City of charge, but with a 3 yuan ($0.37) fee for the KwaZulu Natal, South Africa, scientists ran tests on Shanghai Province, local health authorities have administration of the injection. Hemorrhagic Fever people with TB in one rural region, and found that announced. JE causes an inflammation of the brain In a media blitz, the people in Yuncheng are being 221 out of 544 had strains of TB against which two and can be contracted by people of all ages, usually told to clean up their neighborhoods by sweeping Vladimir Ryzhkov, head of the Department of commonly used drugs had no effect; and 53 of the as the result of a viral infection passed to humans by away standing pools of water in which mosquitoes Epidemiological Surveillance in Rostov-on-Don, patients had XDR-TB, of which 52 died within 25 mosquitoes. Nine out of the 13 counties of the city, can breed. The hot weather and frequent rains in Russia, has made a statement concerning the days. All the XDR-TB patients had HIV, due to the which has a population of five million, have reported the province have provided ideal conditions for the worrying rise in the number of cases of virus attacking the immune system and making them cases of JE since 13 July. mosquitoes’ reproduction, but officials are reported Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever (CCHF) in more susceptible to infection. Doctors are now The Shanxi Provincial Health Department has to have said that as temperatures drop over the the region. Last year, there were only 16 concerned about the impact the news will have on allocated 400,000 doses of a JE vaccine to coming months, so should the number of JE cases. reported cases, but this year, the number of antiretroviral (ARV) drug treatment programmes recorded cases has so far reached 47, including and are worried that investment in the schemes will five fatalities. dry up, as some say there is little point in investing It has been stated that in the Southern Federal hugely in ARV programmes if patients are going to Wasps fly to the rescue on Cayman Islands District, cases of CCHF have already been die a few weeks later from drug-resistant TB. reported in the Dagestan, Kalmykia, Stravropol, Paul Nunn, who heads the World Health Having just about recovered from Hurricane Ivan, insect problem. The wasps will be introduced into Volgograd, Astrakhan and Rostov regions. Mr Organisation’s (WHO) TB resistance team, said the the Cayman Islands are now being hit by a different affected areas with the hope that in a years time the Ryzhkov said that the increasing number of situation was very serious: there are nine million phenomenon – the Pink Hibiscus Mealybug. The bug will be 90 per cent eradicated. However, the cases is associated with an increase in the cases of TB worldwide, and the WHO has insect feeds on the staple produce of the islands, present strain of the bug is extremely difficult to get density of ticks in the environment. This year so estimated that two per cent of them (180,000) such as cucumber, lettuce, avocado and mango, and rid of, as it protects itself from fire and pesticides by far, 2,492 people have sought medical attention could be XDR-TB. “This is raising the spectre of is seriously threatening the agriculture of the tiny having a sticky, protective coating on its body. Kurt in hospitals and outpatient departments because something that we have been worried might British protectorate. Confirmation that the bug is Tibbets, the Cayman Minister of Agriculture, told a of tick bites – a number that outreaches the happen for a decade – the possibility of virtually present on the Islands has prompted the meeting of farmers that they must not panic, despite figures for last year by 1,000. A sum of untreatable TB,” said Dr Nunn. Even in the US, government spring into action, and now, courtesy of that fact that it doesn’t know exactly where the bugs 2,750,000 roubles ($102,000) has been which has the most advanced drugs in the world, a the US Department of Agriculture, 5,000 wasps will are located on the Islands, how long it has been allocated from the city budget of Rostov-on- third of those diagnosed with XDR-TB have died. arrive every week in an attempt to quell the rising there, or where it came from. Don for tick eradication measures. As far back as March this year, the Centres for Disease Control registered that there had been 64 cases of XDR-TB, and 21 of those ended in death. In Latvia and Russia, too, there have been significant numbers of cases, but what is really concerning the WHO is that there are likely to be many more, undiagnosed cases. TB spreads easily in confined places such as aeroplanes, and multi-drug resistant strains have already spread everywhere, including the UK, and are extremely difficult and expensive to treat: patients must be given four out of six existing second-line drugs. But, with the XDR-TB strains being worse than originally thought, at least three out of the six drugs have no curative effect, and there are no third-line drugs existent to fall back on. World health officials and TB experts are meeting to discuss what needs to be done.

Undiagnosed deaths in Nepal An unprecedented epidemic of an unidentified disease has killed at least 14 people, including seven children, in central Nepal in the past few weeks. According to The Kathmandu Post, the disease, which was first detected in dogs and chickens during the last week of June, has started to spread to humans in Netini, a far eastern village of the Nuwakot district, 50 kilometres northwest of Kathmandu. Local authorities are monitoring the situation closely.

www.itij.co.uk International Travel Insurance Journal 12 TRAVELMATTERS NEWSWIRE The passport rush Conference on More air passengers he Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority is set to aeronautical English bumped off Texpunge over 300 aircraft it deems unsafe from The last thing the US travel industry needs at the its register in an effort to check the recurrence of air moment is more problems, but thanks to reaction Some 100 delegates from 31 countries and A report released by the US Department of mishaps in the African region. to the recent terrorist threat at Heathrow, the various international organisations gathered in Transport (DOT) has revealed that airline Department of Singapore recently to passengers in the country are getting bumped off he UK Civil Aviation Authority has warned that as Homeland Security has address global concern flights more and more frequently; with figures Tmany as 18 million people are flying off on holiday announced that as of over communicative suggesting that the rate of bumped passengers is the without official safeguards against travel company 31 December 2007, competence in highest it has been in six years. Some 16,300 failure. anybody crossing the international civil passengers were bumped against their wishes in the US-Canada border will aviation. April-June quarter, which is a rate of 1.12 uwait and the US have signed an open-skies deal, have to show a Communication passengers per 10,000: one third higher than at the Keffectively eliminating most government passport, and if a difficulties have often same time last year. The airlines’ rate of what the restrictions on travel between the two countries. person flies or arrives been implicated in DOT calls ‘involuntary denied boardings’ is the Kuwait also plans to develop its airport to increase by sea into Canada, aviation accidents and highest since 2000. capacity. they will need to show runway incursion. The worsening problem is a reflection of the push a passport starting in According to the by airlines to fill a greater percentage of seats after a n an effort to counteract the effects on passenger just a few months International Civil very difficult few years for the industry at large. Inumbers of the terror plot at Heathrow, Ryanair time: from 8 January. Aviation Organisation Now, however, with travel demand on the up, launched a sale of four million free seats. The airline However, critics have (ICAO), more than continuing financial problems and record high fuel also confirmed that it would be adding new routes to been swift to question 1,500 passengers and prices, airlines are filling planes to way beyond its schedule: including Dublin to Malta, Stockholm the point of the crew have lost their capacity to maximize ticket revenues while holding and the Canary Islands, and doubling the frequency exercise, as despite lives in accidents down operating costs. American Airlines managed of its flights from Dublin to Berlin, Rome, Malaga and frequently repeated worldwide following to fill a record 87 per cent of seats last month, while Faro. false news stores, problems in Delta and Continental filled 85 per cent, which none of the 9/11 communication means many flights were sold out or oversold. assengers travelling with Ryanair will be able to hijackers came through brought about by a Southwest Airlines bumped nearly 32,000 Puse their mobile phones and email devices Canada. Concerns were also raised about the effect deficiency in the English language on the part of passengers voluntarily or involuntarily in the quarter, onboard from next summer, the company the new requirement will have on tourism in flight crew and controllers. Concern has the most for any American carrier, but, on the other announced. A deal has been completed with OnAir to Canada and the US – fewer than 25 per cent of prompted the ICAO to introduce new side of the coin, the Dallas-based airline also carried enable mobile communications on all of Ryanair’s Americans have passports, and only about 40 per requirements and establish minimum English more passengers than any of the other 19 airlines Boeing 737 aircraft. cent of Canadians do. Canada’s government has language proficiency levels for international civil included in the DOT report. rightly gained a reputation for producing reliable aviation staff. These will include proficiency The report also revealed that the percentage of he Centre for Asia Pacific Aviation (CAPA) has statistics, where officials have forecast the cost of the testing and certification for air traffic controllers delayed and cancelled flights increased from 2005, Tclaimed China Eastern Airlines is losing more new passport to be losses of $1 billion a year to and pilots, as well as corrective training for with more than 25 per cent of all domestic flights in money flying passengers because of skyrocketing fuel Canadian tourism, and $750 million to the US those unable to meet the standards required. June arriving late (at least 15 minutes behind). July prices than flying ‘virtually empty when demand was tourism industry. The majority of Americans who All 189 members states of the ICAO are shaped up as an even more disastrous month for decimated during SARS’. don’t have a passport say the cost of the document required to meet the new English proficiency the airline industry in general: during the week of 16 is prohibitive at $97. standards by March 2008. July, New York suffered a power failure, Tropical oeing Co. has thrown in the towel on its Storm Beryl arrived on the east coast, and on 26 BConnexion in-flight Internet venture, saying it has and 27, a Northwest Airlines computer glitch plans to shut down the unprofitable system by the delayed more than 2,700 flights. Further long delays year’s end. were caused for passengers following the alleged terror plot at Heathrow on 10 August, and the K ocean cruise passenger numbers grew by four resultant increased security measures. Uper cent to 1.07 million in 2005, with average revenue per passenger up to £1,253. If river cruise passengers are included, the total cruising figures for Air Berlin moves to 2005 were 1.14 million people.

supermarkets ccording to the American Hotel Lodging AAssociation, leisure travellers rather than businessmen mainly undertake petty theft of hotel belongings. Theft of items such as hotel souvenirs are amounting to more than $100 million a year.

eightened security at American airports could Hreduce the availability of short-hop flights, according to some experts. A report has showed that the number of domestic flights shorter than 400 miles in August 2006 is 25 per cent lower than the same period last year.

report by eMarketer has projected that by 2009 In a bold move that could signify the beginning of a Aleisure and non-corporate travel consumers will partnership between supermarkets and budget spend $122.4 billion on online travel. The four fastest airlines, Air Berlin has been selling cut-price tickets growing travel markets over the next four years will be at Lidl checkouts. Lasting for just one week, China, South Korea, India and Japan. customers at the German supermarket chain’s 390 UK stores were able to buy £19 vouchers that they erman airport operator Fraport AG reported a could then swap for one-way flights on the low-cost G53 per cent rise in second-quarter net profit, carrier, which serves 25 destinations in Europe. A boosted by higher passenger numbers and retail sales, spokeswoman for Air Berlin said the promotion mainly due to the football World Cup. would enable the airline to reach more customers in the UK, and insisted that the company would not irbus is facing an uphill struggle to placate angry lose money from the sale: “For us, it’s important to Acustomers after parent company European increase awareness of the brand and address new Aeronautic Defence and Space Co. admitted the customers. It’s a win-win situation.” Lidl made a A380 jetliner programme faces more delays due to statement saying there was ‘a natural match manufacturing problems. between a quality low-cost retailer and a quality low-cost airline’. The move in the UK follows other similar successful promotions in Germany and Spain.

International Travel Insurance Journal www.itij.co.uk TRAVELMATTERS 13

Airlines wait in hope for improvements Tourists stay longer Greek tourism gains

December will be a key month for the airline without discrimination towards Arabian or Asian New figures have shown that growth in In the wake of the conflict between Israel and industry after the security alert that paralysed British travellers. Advocates of profiling say trained airport international visitors to Australia has slowed, but Lebanon, and the recent bomb blasts in Turkey, airports in August, according to some industry and airline staff at security checkpoints should be those who are visiting the country are staying there has been an unexpected winner: Greek analysts. British Airways said that it had lost about allowed to judge which passengers aren’t likely to longer and spending more. Managing director of tourism. Forming a major pillar of the country’s £40 million from the disruption, but also noted that pose a threat – such as old women and families the Australian Tourism Export Council (ATEC) economy, tourism is heading for a bumper year forward bookings had returned to normal levels. with small children – and let them pass quickly Matthew Hingerty said information released in a in Greece. Stavros Andreadis, president of the Gehan Talwatte, managing director of Ascend, an through security in recent International Association of Greek Tourist Enterprises (SETE), aerospace analysis group, said: “In the long-term, order to focus on Visitors Survey revealed told news agency Reuters that he expected to the August events will seem more like a blip. But it those who may that the 5,037,483 tourists see an annual rise in arrivals of about eight or also depends on how quickly BAA moves things present a danger. who went ‘down under’ nine per cent, and a similar rise in revenues. back to normal.” Opponents to the in year ended 30 June To cap an outstanding performance at the Athens The British Airports Authority (BAA) has a lot on its scheme have two injected $18.8 billion into Olympics, SETE said the end of the summer plate at the moment, including submitting evidence basic objections: they the economy. The season, September and October, could be even to the UK’s Office of Fair Trading in a fight to say profiling is an increased lengths of stay better than expected, thanks to the bombing of maintain the current monopoly it holds over UK infringement on civil and expenditure figures tourist spots in Turkey putting many tourists off airports. It also came in for heavy criticism following rights, and not are particularly welcome visiting that country. It is estimated that roughly the events of 10 August, as its lack of contingency effective in the long considering both had 18 per cent of Greece’s gross domestic product plans threw Heathrow into chaos for days. British run. The debate decreased by two per comes from tourism, with one in five people Airways is still debating whether or not to sue the continues among cent during the 2004/5 employed in the sector. airports operator in a demand for compensation, airline industry officials, financial year. Britons were However, according to Andreadis, all is not while Ryanair has already started its claim against the with little hope of a the biggest contributors, completely rosy. Greece will be unable to cope government for compensation. Ryanair has said resolution any time in spending a massive $2.9 with thousands of tourists changing their travel publicly that if it won the £3 million claim, it would the near future. billion whilst on holiday or plans and flying into the country until it has donate the money to charity, and that it was In related news, an gap years, with an average improved parts of its infrastructure. Problems of pursuing the claim in order to encourage the open-skies agreement stay of 33 days. long queues and delays at Heraklion airport in Department of Transport to ‘return airport security between the ATEC is lobbying state and Crete are symbolic of the need for expansion, to where it was before 10 August’. European Union (EU) federal governments to and Greece has also been hit by long delays in The no-frills airline easyJet announced that it lost an and the US can be increase their ferry connections to the islands, expensive ferry estimated £4 million as a result of the security alert, salvaged and signed by the end of the year, commitment to investing in tourism in regional tickets and reports of mediocre services but is sticking to its profit estimates for the year. according to one EU transport official. Delay after areas – especially in the run up to next year’s onboard. Andreadis is actively encouraging his Despite the loss, the company said it was on course delay has dogged the open-skies agreement, federal election and the New South Wales state government to sit up and take notice of the to increase profits for the year by between 40 and furthered even more after officials in the US said election. ATEC has also determined to initiate a problems, saying: “The government has to … 50 per cent. During August, amazingly, easyJet saw they were going to halt the relaxation of its foreign regional tourism advisory panel aimed at helping draw up a long-term plan, five years or ten an 8.4 per cent rise in passenger numbers, ownership laws, which the EU said was imperative regional areas develop opportunities for attracting years, that would trigger investment in the sector notwithstanding the cancellation of 469 departures. to an open-skies agreement, but both sides still tourists, and is soon to launch an online and help build on this growth. Our tourism Another knock-on effect of the terrorist alert has appear to be confident of signing the agreement educational programme aimed at increasing product must be improved.” been a renewed call for passenger profiling, but before the year is out. knowledge of the inbound tourism sector.

www.itij.co.uk International Travel Insurance Journal 14 AIR AMBULANCENEWS

International Travel Insurance Journal www.itij.co.uk AIR AMBULANCENEWS 15

Cayman confusion FAA gets tough Partnership in the People’s Republic for air service The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in the US One of the aeromedical rescue service Prepare for take-off The Cayman Islands is still unsure as to the future has fined a Georgia-based air ambulance company sector’s last – and biggest – frontiers is Until now, the PLA has been able to use only its of its air ambulance service, despite reporting $1 million as a civil penalty for operating as an air opening up, as the People’s Republic of own military-specification helicopters – which are, positive progress in issue 67 of ITIJ (see Success carrier without the appropriate certificate. The fine China begins to introduce air ambulance to say the least, spartan in terms of onboard for the Cayman Islands). Health minister is part of a settlement reached after the FAA operations using western-made medical facilities, patient comfort and safety. Anthony Eden has defended a decision to seek a ordered the company to stop its operations on 19 equipment. Robin Gauldie heads east Understandably, western insurers have been single vendor for air ambulance service patients of May 2006, when it found Medway Air Ambulance reluctant to place much trust in such equipment, the Cayman Islands National Insurance Company had entered into an agreement with Maryland- In the looking-glass world (CINICO). This is despite the fact that it already based American Flight Group (AFG) that violated of 21st-century China, has a contractual agreement with CMN Inc. to FAA regulations. where a theoretically manage its air ambulance evacuation and medical According to an FAA statement, AFG was allowing Marxist state allows its treatment process overseas. The announcement other services – one of which was Medway – to armed forces to function as that the Health Ministry was directing CINICO to use its air carrier certificate for a monthly fee, while virtually privatised, profit- put its air ambulance contract out to a competitive the companies maintained operational control over making entities, the tendering process was made by Mr Eden at a their own flights and crews. If AFG had supervised People’s Liberation Army Cabinet press briefing on 11 August. all aspects of the other carriers’ operations and they (PLA) still controls and Mr Eden says he is committed to continually were operating aircraft types for which AFG was operates most regional seeking ways to improve the Health Ministry’s licensed, that would have been allowable. But the hospitals and rescue services to CINICO clients. Chief Medical Officer, FAA says AFG did not exercise operational control services. But the PLA is Dr Gerald Smith, who is responsible for referring of the carriers concerned, and in one case an rolling out helicopter rescue operations across CINICO clients overseas, will chair the tendering aircraft used was not a type for which AFG was this vast country, most recently in eastern China’s making it difficult to provide an adequate level of committee. Moreover, the committee will also licensed. The FAA has revoked the air carrier Jiangsu Province, where the PLA is using a newly medevac cover to travellers over much of one of include key certificate for AFG, purchased Robinson R44 helicopter. In southern the world’s largest countries. And given China’s stakeholders such as and Medway has China, meanwhile, two new civilian outfits – notoriously cumbersome and secretive the Health Services since obtained its Guangdong General Aviation and Gunagdong bureaucracy, using fixed-wing or rotor-craft Authority (HSA). Mr own certificate and Baiyun Aviation Corporation – are now providing medevac equipment based in other countries in the Eden was quick to resumed operations. civil-operated air ambulance service. region has rarely been an option, especially when a note that all According to Rick China’s civil aviation authority (CAAC) is rapidly rapid response is required. Even now, officials at applicants who meet Moore, owner and loosening restrictions on civil helicopter PLA Hospital 454 say the helicopter medevac the tender criteria president of operations and private ownership of light aircraft, service will be primarily for extreme emergencies. will be considered by Medway, safety was citing increased demand for medical use among "The service could be the difference between life the government’s never compromised. other motives for opening up China’s air traffic and death for those in remote or inaccessible Central Tenders Other certification management. places," said hospital spokesman Yin Jun, adding Committee without was also reportedly that the service will not be made available for political interference. sold by AFG to Aero A step forward for medevac ‘regular emergency situations in which it is more The decision to put National, Alton, Western insurers point out that steady growth in convenient and efficient to use a road ambulance’. the CINICO contract M&N Aviation and travel to the People’s Republic has led to a That said, money talks. Each rescue flight out to tender has Trans Caribbean significant deficit in aeromedical provision, but the operated by Hospital 454 will cost at least come under early Airways. Trans situation is improving, according to Adrian 20,000 yuan (US$2,500). Although the service, criticism; former Caribbean’s licence Lawrence, head of medical operations at Europ in common with other new medevac operations health minister to operate had been Assistance in the UK. "We have been closely in China, is primarily intended for local people, Gilbert McLean, under whose administration suspended by the FAA, but AFG had neglected to monitoring the growth in popularity of China as a charging foreign insurance companies to use it CINICO came into being, thinks having a single- check this fact. mainstream tourist destination,” he said. Trips to will help the PLA to defray the costs of down source air ambulance provider is a bad idea. This is not an uncommon occurrence, says the China are no longer the preserve of hardy time, maintenance and infrastructure. Besides questioning the feasibility of an air FAA, which admits that malpractice among Part 135 backpackers and adventurous travellers of old. At the moment, only a tiny number of Chinese ambulance service based in Cayman, there is also operators has been widespread. In response to We are seeing an increase in tourism across the hospitals have helipads, or the aircraft to use his belief is that a single-source air ambulance criticism by the US National Transportation Safety spectrum and particularly amongst our older them, and few, if any, of China’s fledgling civil provider will not be cost-efficient and that no Board claiming that the FAA has lost its grip on the client base, which often presents its own aviation companies operate at a profit. insurance company is suited to have an exclusive sector, the FAA insisted that it is continually problems." In response to these trends, the Partnership with foreign providers of aeromedical air ambulance provider. But the current health investigating cases where air carriers allow other company has established a dedicated office in evacuation policies could provide much-needed minister insists that the collective aim and companies to operate under their certificate. Beijing, which moved to Shanghai earlier this revenue, allowing China to expand its air motivating factor is to provide the best air “These cases send a strong message that the FAA summer, and has developed new relationships ambulance coverage still further. Maybe – just ambulance service to CINICO clients: “This is a strictly enforces its safety regulations and will take with emerging air ambulance service providers. maybe – the aeromedical sector is looking at a complex issue that will need to be carefully action in situations where an air carrier is engaged Until recently, however, getting emergency cases scenario in which everybody wins, from Chinese examined. At the end of the day, as minister of in the franchising or rental of its air carrier from remoter areas to hospitals in Beijing, villagers in remote regions to prosperous health, I want to be assured that our people have certificate,” stated FAA administrator Marion C. Shanghai or Hong Kong had been problematic. Western travellers and their insurers. access to an efficient system.” Blakey in a statement.

www.itij.co.uk International Travel Insurance Journal 16 AIR AMBULANCENEWS

Taiwan Straits opens for medevac Medic’Air enters Membership issues International SOS has carried out the first direct condition remained stable throughout the flight. China raised by legislators cross-Straits medical evacuation since the signing of A medical specialist team from the Beijing Alarm an agreement between China and Taiwan earlier Centre, comprising an Intensive-Care-Unit-trained France’s Medic’Air International now has a medical What happens when, in an area that has more than this year, allowing direct air access by chartered doctor and a flight nurse arrived in Guangzhou on team based in the Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan one air ambulance company serving it and where flights across the Taiwan Straits for emergency 14 September in a dedicated air ambulance, a University that since mid-August has been fully residents have purchased membership for one air medical rescue. This is the first time since 1949 that Hawker 800XP, to escort the patient home to operational. It has already carried out two successful ambulance provider or the other, a competitor is any flight of this nature has been possible. Taiwan. The patient arrived in Taipei later the same operations, mobilising the new team into action. dispatched to the scene of an accident? This is a China’s Cross-Straits day and was met by The first evacuation was a domestic flight from question that lies on many lips across the US, and Aviation Transport a doctor and nurse Lhassa, Tibet to Cheng Du, China; the second was although as yet no solution has been found, the Exchange Council from International an international repatriation, from the Schenzen mechanisms have been put into place to find one. and the Taipei SOS Taiwan who province, China to Brussels in Belgium. State senator Kim Hendren and other lawmakers in Airlines Association escorted him to the The team consists of Chinese medical doctors, who Arkansas have met with providers of air ambulance signed the local hospital. are all bilingual (Chinese-English or Chinese-French) services to try to bash out a solution. agreement on 14 The assistance and is managed by one of Medic’Air International’s Ideas have been circulating: one suggestion is to get June. According to company’s alarm French medical doctors. Twenty-four hour logistical help from service members themselves. This means the managing centres in Beijing director of and Taipei worked International SOS in closely with the China, John patient’s family in Williams, the Dongguan and company had been Taipei, the local lobbying both authorities for 18 months to be treating doctor in Dongguan and the receiving allowed to set up a facility, and eventually its Cross- hospital in Taipei to ensure that the patient arrived Straits Emergency Medical Rescue Service came into home safely. Dr Charles Van Reenen, medical being on 28 June: “This operates direct flights by director, North Asia region, International SOS chartered passenger aircraft across the Taiwan Straits explained that prior to the availability of a direct for emergency medical cases. Today saw the first service across the Taiwan Straits, patients who operational flight and we are immensely proud to needed evacuating or repatriating to Taiwan from have been selected to operate the service.” Southern China had to travel by road ambulance to A 71-year-old man had suffered a stroke while visiting Shenzhen or Macau before they could be relatives in Dongguan, Guandong Province, and his transported by commercial or charter flight to family subsequently contacted International SOS. Taiwan. He continued: “In this particular case, the After reviewing the man’s medical reports and travel time is reduced by three to four hours consulting the local treating doctor in Dongguan, the because we no longer have to do a stopover, go assistance doctors recommended that the patient be through customs clearance and transfer the patient evacuated home on an air ambulance, escorted by from the road ambulance to the air ambulance.” medical specialists to ensure that the patient’s medical support is offered on all Chinese territory through a that if a call is made to 911, or to a dispatcher in partnership with a local services company. Medical whichever country a client is in, the name of the teams based in Paris and Tokyo complete any service for which the injured party has a Ontario rescue remaining repatriation and evacuation organisation. membership should, if possible, be declared, and Paris looks after repatriations on commercial airlines, where appropriate, the correct air operator would goes orange Learjet 55 and Falcon 50 aircraft, whilst Tokyo is be dispatched. This makes perfect common sense, also equipped to deal with repatriations on but, of course, will not always be practical. Ontario’s air ambulance service has been in commercial airlines. On 1 September, supervising Although it remains unclear to Hendren what operation since 1977 and transfers over 17,000 doctor Huaqun Gao left Paris to settle in Shanghai in legislators should do to solve the problem, he patients each year. Despite being in operation for order to coordinate medical contacts, as well as to hopes that by raising the issue he will hear back nearly 30 years and employing about 244 flight create a link with the hospital structures in Shanghai. from constituents on the issue. “I’d like to know paramedics, most people are still not very clued up what people think about that,” Hendren concluded. about transport medicine and why it is an important “I don’t know how we’re going to handle it, but it’s part of the region’s medical system, something we need to work on.” according to Action in the This same sentiment has been reiterated in the state’s Carroll County, which has witnessed a Middle East growing number of air ambulance services in the region. Originally, Western Carroll County Air Charter Service (ACS) in London has Ambulance District (WCCAD) would call up the played an important role in bringing nearest helicopter if assistance was required, which Dr Chris Mazza, the relief to civilians during the crisis in happened to be Air Evac. But now, with more than service’s chief the Middle East. It was able to assist in five different companies close by, the choice of executive. That is the motivating factor both evacuating foreign nationals and which provider to use is not an easy decision to behind the recent re-launch of the service under transporting aid cargo to Lebanon as recent make. According to chairman Bob McVey, when the the new name ‘Ornge’, alongside a newly painted events in the country unfolded. Large-scale ground ambulance crew feels a patient needs an fleet of bright orange planes and choppers, all of operations continue in order to help alleviate airlift, it calls for the dispatch of an air ambulance, which are meant to give the operation a new profile the suffering of civilians caught up in the not for a specific one. Problems arise for many in Ontario. Dr Mazza went on to outline his conflict. Western District residents who have paid intentions: “Transport medicine is a critical link in the Air Charter Service’s passenger department memberships with Air Evac, as no reciprocity of chain of healthcare and it allows people to choose arranged four MD-82 charters from Larnaca membership benefits exists with other air where they want to live without being fearful that carrying a total of 646 Scandinavian evacuees ambulance companies if Air Evac cannot respond they won’t be able to get to a centre of excellence.” back to their homeland. The flights were within 15 minutes, and a helicopter from a different Ornge has the ability to provide hospital-level care completed within 24 hours of receiving the provider is dispatched instead. Ultimately, patient to a patient during transport to a hospital or health request for repatriation. Moreover, in the first care is paramount and the decision as to which centre. The name is a catchy play on the bright three weeks of the crisis, Air Charter Service’s provider to use will be based upon response time. orange ‘heritage colour’ that has graced Ontario’s cargo department was able to get involved in Fourteen companies now exist in the Western air ambulances for years, according to spokesperson flying relief aid to the region. As the aid effort District vicinity: Air Evac and Eagle Med are listed Mike Sheiner. got underway, ACS arranged five AN-12 jointly as number one. What is to stop any of these Despite the 26 bases across Ontario, Ornge faces charters with a cargo of food and essential companies stating an arrival time that is exaggerated a huge challenge in providing transport medicine in goods into Larnaca. in order to win business and then turn up late Ontario due to the vast size of the local With new aid routes now opening up, ACS is under the pretence of another emergency? This population. Only Ontario, British Columbia and also working on charters into other airports was another point raised by legislators as a host of Alberta have significant air ambulance programmes, including Damascus, where an ACS chartered new issues come under scrutiny with the addition of so the goal according to Dr Mazza is to create a DC-8 has delivered a consignment of relief new air ambulance services. nationwide organisation goods from Copenhagen.

International Travel Insurance Journal www.itij.co.uk PRAGUE 2006 The 14th International Travel Insurance 3rd International Private Healthcare

Conferenceplus the NEW Air Ambulance Forum and the 5th ITIJ Awards Ceremony

with a difference… We are delighted to welcome all delegates to a new and improved conference, bristling with new sessions, hot topics, and networking opportunities galore. The industries red letter day event just got BIGGER, BUSIER, AND BETTER!!! The International Private Healthcare Conference 2006 will take place in the stunning city of Prague, and boasts a brand new agenda set up, featuring dual track lectures in both Travel and Private Healthcare, multiple panel sessions and the ever popular break out groups. And it’s not just the conference itself that will be special this year – the many delights that Prague has to offer has allowed us and our sponsors to create some rather special evening events, providing yet more networking access as well as good old fashioned fun! Visit the all new ITIC website at www.itic.org.uk for the full low down and make sure to check out the new pre-conference networking features in the “Interact” panel (previously “my ITIC”) From the 31st October to the 3rd of November, this event looks ready to set new standards for industry interaction – see you there!

INDUSTRY AWARDS 2006 Tuesday 31st October Wednesday 1st November

Morning registration for air ambulance ITIC Sessions attendees and welcome luncheon Welcome and introduction to healthcare in the Lunch Czech Republic. Opening speaker 1: Czech Minister of Health Air Ambulance Sessions Panel: Is regulation necessary? The impact of The legal implications of the EU Gender CAMBTS/EURAMI accreditation vs benefits. Directive, a global overview. Panellist 1: Louis Wright, Sales & Marketing Manager - Speaker 2: Philip Woolfson, Avocat (Paris & Brussels) - Luxembourg Air Rescue Steptoe & Johnson LLP Panellist 2: David Bump, VP Programme Development - Air Trek House Debate: Do insurance and assistance Panellist 3: Dr Michael Braida, CMO - AXA Assistance companies serve the client or has cost containment become more important? Speaker & Panel: Working practise – flying times Our participants debate this issue. for medical crews. Looking at the financial and Panellist 1: John Tangney, Managing Director - Tangney Tours practical implications of restricted hours. Panellist 2: Philippe Belliard - Europ Assistance Panellist 6: Dr Chris Idzikowski, Panellist 3: Chris Peach, former Assistance Doctor Centre Director - London Sleep Centre Panellist 4: Maria Santamaria, Mapfre Asistencia Panellist 7: Sean Culligan, Operations - AMREF Panellist 8: Dr Michael Churchill-Smith, Medical Lunch Director - Skyservice Aviation Private Healthcare Sessions 17:00-17:30 New delegates welcome & orientation Cost vs quality and global pricing. The panel 17:30-19:30 Evening registration discusses the difference in pricing around the globe and financial benefits of overseas or domestic treatment. Welcome function sponsored by Hygeia Corporation Panellist 1: Abhijeet Sachdev, Managing Director - Privat Hospital Panellist 2: Dave de Loose, Head of Provider Relations - Vanbreda International Panellist 3: Robert Rodriguez, Operations Director - Baptist Health International

Cost Containment: What are the advantages of overseas dental care? Speaker 4: Thomas Antalffy, Partner - VitalEurope Ltd

ITIC Focus Group* 13:15-14:30 Emerging Problem Zones from a medical and financial perspective. Moderated by Dr Michael Braida and Joe Valdez 14:30-16:00 Claims & Subrogaiton Moderated by Dick Atkins Air Ambulance Focus Groups* 14:30-15:30 Air Ambulance Medical Directors Forum Dr Michael Churchill-Smith, Medical Director - Sky Service Aviation 15:30-16:30 Research & Statistics Dr Alex Veldman, Medical Director - Med Call Air Amb 16:30-17:30 Medical Malpractice: Is your carrier adequately insured? Don Jones, President - Air Ambulance Specialists Martha Turnbull - RBC Insurance

19:00-22:00 Networking Quiz** and buffet dinner for all delegate, sponsored by OneWorld Assist

ITIC, IPHC & IAAF Agenda The International Travel Insurance Conference International Private Healthcare Conference plus the NEW Air Ambulance Forum Thursday 2nd November Friday 3rd November

Private Healthcare Sessions ITIC Sessions The developing US market. Emerging markets - developments in Eastern Although the richest and most sophisticated Europe. economy in many areas, travel insurance in the US Speaker 1: Andrew Apps - GoodHealth is still relatively unknown and unused. Our next speaker looks at the development of the US travel Licensing to sell in a foreign country. insurance industry. Speaker 1: Jon Ansell, CEO - World Access America Speaker 2: Financial Services Authority

Debate: FMU vs Moratorium – debating the Cost containment in the US. Our panel of benefits of both policy types – fully underwritten and experts looks at several cost containment issues partially underwritten policies. Which is the more Panellist 2: Virgil Bretz, CEO - Hygeia Corporation preferable to the insurer and why? Panellist 3: Art Weinblatt, Vice President of Managed Care Panellist 3: Carl Carter, Managing Director - IMG Europe - HCA East Florida Division Panellist 4: Sarah Mason, International Sales Manager - Panellist 4: Martha Turnbull, Director, Operations & Norwich Union Healthcare Medical Claims - RBC Insurance Panellist 5: Ori Karev, Managing Director & VP cross Panellist 5: Franz Benstetter, Head of Managed Care border service -United Health Group International Services - Munich Re Panellist 6: Tom Hudson, Legal Council - Medex Assitance Panellist 6: Andrew Sandilands, Head of Sales & Corporation Customer Realtions - InterGlobal Ltd

Focus Groups* Light lunch served in the exhibition area 09.30-10.30 Commercial Repatriations 10.30-11.30 Advantage Air Ambulance broker or owner? Hospital Focus Groups* 11.30-12.30 Reinsurance 12.30-13.30 Sales & Marketing 14:30-15:30 Implications of cross border treatment – quality, liability, practicality & desirability Dr Glen Staples, New Business Lunch served in the exhibition area Development Director - Netcare 911

ITIC Panel Sessions The retired: Problem or opportunity? 19:30-02:00 Black tie conferecnce finale The elderly person continues to represent an and ITIJ Awards Dinner increased proportion of the population, with a greater disposable income. Speaker 1: Dr Marios Kyriazis, Gerontology - Kings College University Panellist 2: Peter Staddon, Head of Technical Services - British Insurance Broker’s Association Panellist 3: Mike Starko, MD - OneWorld Assist Panellist 4: Dr Marios Kyriazis, Gerontology - Kings College University

Disaster Management – how prepared are we? Seemingly major disasters on the increase; have we learned the lessons of the past? Panellist 5: Foreign Minister - tba Panellist 6: Dr Eric A Guile, Medical Director - Global Assistance, Bali Panellist 7: David Fitton, Head of Crisis Group, Consular Directorate – Foreign Office

18:30-21:30 Evening drinks reception & 3 hour Jazz River Cruise** all delegates invited. Sponsor tba

31 Oct - 3 Nov

* Focus Group sessions are optional and not part of the main conference agenda. They will be hosted in break out rooms. Places are limited and on a first come first served basis.

** All additional social networking functions are subject to confirmation Lines are closed for nominations!

Nominations have been made and the votes have been counted. We are delighted to announce the three finalists in each category with the highest number of votes, in alphabetical order: Insurer/Underwriter of the Year Award - presented by Medex Global Group: A.I.G Insure For All Mondial Cost Containment/Provider of the Year Award - presented by Direct Line: Global Excel Management Hygeia Corporation MCI Spain Air Ambulance of the year Award: Air Ambulance Professionals Canadian Global Air Ambulance Skyservice Lifeguard INDUSTRY AWARDS 2006 Assistance/Claims of the Year Award - presented by Hygeia Corporation: Intergroup Fortis Sos International ITIJ Marketing Campaign - presented by M Consulting: To be announced on the night

So, here are the reasons that you should not miss this event:

Unrivalled networking opportunities The International travel insurance & private healthcare conference offers over eighteen hours of dedicated networking time. We offer our delegates the ideal platform to network in formal and more relaxed environments during sit down and buffet-style lunches, coffee breaks, cocktail receptions, post conference social events and gala dinner and awards ceremony. Interactive panel sessions The combined conferences offer more panel discussions than ever before! With several sixty to ninety-minute ‘chat show’ style sessions - you can ask the questions you want answers to! You will not get a better chance than this to question the leading players in the industry directly.

Meet, interact and do business with the people who really matter Our unique ‘INTERACT’ tool (previously MyITIC) enables you to pre-arrange meetings before the event. This allows you to view the current delegate list and message the attendees directly without ever seeing their email address. This year we offer you the NEW AWARD opportunity to create your own profile by adding a photograph and short introduction so CATEGORY FOR that you will be recognized at the conference. Here you can also get the latest conference ITIJ ADVERTISERS news and developments. Vote for your choice of the best promotional Exhibit - the sales and marketing solution proven to generate leads and new business campaign The perfect environment for you to engage in “face to face” meetings. The exhibition area or individual advertisement is the place where you can make new and long lasting business relationships in these quickly strategyof the developing industries. With the conference taking place over ‘full days’ we offer our travel insurance industry exhibitors a constant stream of visitors and host all coffee breaks and two lunches in this dedicated area to maximize exposure to your products and services. for2006

sponsors of the sponsors of the sponsors of Cost Assistance/ the Insurer / sponsors of the Marketing Containment Claims Handler Underwriter Communications Award Award Award Award NEWS 21

Turbulent Thailand stays peaceful

Despite the coup have also cracked down on political activities and d’etat that occurred in curtailed some civil liberties. In fact, a small group of Thailand on 19 demonstrators were detained for protesting at the September, the army’s declaration of martial law. country remains Despite tourism earnings counting for a large outwardly peaceful, proportion of Thailand’s gross domestic product, and there have been officials in the industry do not seem concerned that no reported delays to the coup will affect the travel trade for very long, travel in or out of the and with the high season coming up, many hotel country. Despite and resort owners hope they are right. Kurdish militants threaten more bombings some hotel chains reporting a significant drop in bookings following news of the military takeover, In late August, the terrorist Kurdistan Freedom Crackdown Thailand itself remains calm in good spirits. Falcons (TAK) threatened more attacks on tourist Security forces have raided DTP offices and The military has taken control of government Brits abroad lose £3 areas throughout Turkey, with Istanbul and other meetings on several occasions in the past year. The offices, but the transition has not been a violent one, major port cities along the country's western and crackdown on Kurdish civil society and political and on the streets of Thailand there is little evidence billion to thieves southern coasts particularly at risk through the organisations is another indicator that the conflict of any change, apart from the presence of military end of the summer tourist season. IJET Intelligent between the PKK and the Turkish military is personnel and equipment. Pacific Aisa Travel Risk Systems has the latest information escalating. The ongoing military campaign in the Association (PATA) members in Thailand are keen to southeast means that tensions between Turkey and reassure the global travel industry that tourism TAK made the threat on its website, demanding the its Kurdish population are already higher than facilities and services are currently operating as release of PKK leader Abdullah Ocalan. Most normal at the moment, and violence between the normal. Both tourists and indigenous people seem recently, the group claimed country's military and to have reacted very calmly to the situation, and responsibility for the 27 August Kurdish militants in the pictures from Bangkok have shown good bombings in Istanbul and TAK and the Kurdistan communication and relationships between the Marmaris that injured 27 Workers Party (PKK) military and local inhabitants. One British tourist people, and are also suspected could escalate further, commented in particular on the lack of a threatening in at least four more bombings particularly if these or dangerous atmosphere, citing jovial exchanges throughout Turkey since that unlikely but possible with the army personnel guarding certain parts of date. Also in late August, police events occur: the city. detained a suspected Kurdish • Deadlier attacks: The coup came following months of sparring A new survey published recently by Halifax Travel militant in Izmir carrying plastic Most TAK and PKK between the former prime minister and his political Insurance shows that thieves have stolen almost £3 explosives. attacks generally do opponents, which pushed Thailand into a billion worth of items from British holidaymakers In the wake of the recent spate not cause deaths, but leadership crisis. It has been reported that the over the last five years. Tellingly, over half the items of bombings, the largest if a future bombing is military took over just before the ousted prime stolen from nearly seven million Brits could not be Kurdish political party in Turkey particularly deadly or if minister was to place friends and business claimed back as the victim did not have travel called on the PKK on 11 it especially inflames associates into positions of political power, insurance. Despite 80 per cent of travellers September to declare a public opinion, the furthering his company’s own interests. While knowing they needed a crime reference number in unilateral ceasefire. The plea came amid rising Turkish military is likely to escalate its offensive Thailand’s new military rulers have promised to put order to claim, one in four did not bother to obtain Turkish nationalistic sentiment that is making the against the PKK in the southeast. This, in turn, a civilian government in place within two weeks, such information. possibility of a truce less likely. The Democratic would prompt even more TAK bombings. and hold new elections by October 2007, they According to the results of the survey, almost a Society Party (DTP) held a press conference in • Turkish ground incursion into northern Iraq: If the third of all thefts occurred from accommodation Diyarbakir in southeastern Turkey to make the military escalates its current attacks on PKK bases in abroad, with money the most likely item to be announcement, saying that the ongoing fighting northern Iraq by sending in a significant number of stolen. Meanwhile, the Post Office has just ground forces, Kurdish militants will likely launch Age published research that shows cash is the most Although TAK attacks generally result in few even more reprisal bombings in Istanbul and other popular method of payment for British casualties, they often target areas heavily- coastal cities. discrimination: the holidaymakers – 47 per cent prefer to use local Although TAK attacks generally result in few trafficked by foreigners, such as markets, currency, around a third use their credit or debit casualties, they often target areas heavily- end is in sight card, while travellers cheques sales have dropped banks and tourist sites. Travellers should be trafficked by foreigners, such as markets, banks continued from p.1 12 per cent in the last year. warned to remain aware of their and tourist sites. Travellers should be warned to One quarter of British tourists who were victims of surroundings while visiting areas frequented remain aware of their surroundings while months, with a further 27 per cent revealing they crime said the incident had ruined their holiday, with by large numbers of foreigners … visiting areas frequented by large numbers of had taken more than three vacations during the one in ten saying the experience was so disturbing foreigners, and to consider avoiding public same period. they would not return to the country where it between the group and the Turkish military was transportation. They should immediately inform “Insurers should do more to provide competitive happened. Halifax has advised that prevention is collectively damaging all of Kurdish society. The DTP local authorities about any suspicious packages. rates for this growing market,” said Mason. better than cure, and is encouraging its customers statement was followed by a bombing in Diyarbakir Militants often plant explosives inside trashcans “Older people should not be penalized for going to always use a hotel safe for belongings where on 12 September, an implicit rejection of peace by in public areas. Increased security measures abroad and should be able to find affordable possible, and only carry around as much money as either Kurdish separatists or Turkish nationalists – the may result in roadblocks and identity checks, travel insurance.” is needed. identity of the bombers is unknown at the moment. particularly after attacks.

www.itij.co.uk International Travel Insurance Journal 22 WORLDMARKETS Bella Italia Italy is a sophisticated country of insurance-savvy, keen travellers. Roger St Pierre provides a background for doing business in this European hub

Stop anyone of a non-Italian background on the Travelling light streets of New York and ask them where Umbria Italy, which has a population of 58 million – slightly is. It is unlikely that they will even have heard of the below that of the UK – is today the fifth largest place, let alone know where it’s located. But go to outbound travel market in Europe. Its working an Umbrian village way up in the hills and talk to a citizens enjoy four weeks of paid holiday, usually little old lady who has never been out of the take at least two separate holidays a year and are province. The chances are she’ll be a mine of high spending when away from home. An information about America. The Italians have always estimated 19 million Italians travel abroad each year, been worldly-wise, ever since the golden era of mostly in July and August, December and January, Rome when they built the greatest empire in with an average stay of 15 nights. Given the recent history and ruled most of the then known world. state of economic uncertainty and, for many Italians, Constrained by what were some of Europe’s stagnant or declining disposable income levels, the lowest wage levels in what was then an essentially once traditional month-long August vacation has agrarian nation, until recent times Italians become a thing of the past and Italians are now traditionally stayed close to the land they worked more likely to spend their holiday allowance by so hard. taking a series of much shorter breaks, which opens But while they did not venture abroad much for opportunities for those marketing single-trip travel leisure, emigration was massive, especially when insurance policies. industrialisation really got under way in the mid This has been a rapidly growing outbound market, 1800s, and as a result an outgoing attitude and a with numbers having doubled in just the last five love of travel are now deeply ingrained in the years alone, and leisure travel accounting for 85 per Italian psyche. cent of the 25 million trips abroad that involve at All photos © fototeca ENIT except where indicated

a steady flood of incoming visitors ever since the Taking an increasing days of the Grand European Tour that attracted interest in the insurance Byron and other notables. Italy’s hospitality industry accounted for 15.5 per cent of all non-national- sector, however, it is resident bed nights in Europe’s hotels five years ago – a figure beaten only by Spain on 21.5 per cent, banks that are likely to with France in third place on 11.2 per cent. But spearhead the France has now overtaken Italy once more, as has the US, pushing Italy back in the World Tourism predicated mega-merger Organisation inbound tourism rankings, which currently find it in fifth place. onslaught. Problems beset many sides of the economy but often a down is compensated by an up: as an

least one night’s stay out of the country. It should be noted that travel within Europe still dominates, with long-haul still a relatively low volume sector, most of it comprising visits to friends or family abroad. However, 2005 produced a worrying slowdown, both in inbound and outbound terms. In the wake of the introduction of the euro, prices had risen sharply, affecting the spending power and holiday budgeting of Italian families, while similar difficulties in the other EU economies, especially in France and Germany, adversely affected incoming numbers. Japanese arrivals also declined, though there was an increase in visitors from such emerging countries as Russia, China and the new European Union member states of the east. The net result was zero overall growth in tourism spending. Traditionally, Italy’s travel industry has been very much a two-way affair, with

International Travel Insurance Journal www.itij.co.uk WORLDMARKETS 23

instance, national airline Alitalia’s woes, wrought by customer-satisfaction orientation likely to survive in the strong growth of low-cost carriers in the the long run. country, simply meant a switch of business from David Rochester, senior pricing manager at the one Italian company to others and more spare cash UK’s Halifax Travel Insurance, believes global for such considerations as insurance cover. warming might play a big role in how Italy’s It’s also hoped that all the razzmatazz that tourism future pans out: “Travel insurers across surrounded the 2006 Turin Winter Olympics will Europe need to prepare now for the impact of swing the pendulum back in Italian tourism’s favour. climate change on our travel habits, on where we Helping too will be the recently created Comitato want to go and when we want to go there,” he Nazionale per Il Tourismo (National Committee for says, adding, “In the future, people might be Tourism) and the recent setting up of a new looking for a winter holiday in Italy and a summer national tourism website. Unlike in some countries, holiday in Sweden!” Italian tourism has solid backing and commitment According to the recently published Halifax Travel from its government and president Romano Prodi Insurance Holiday 2030 report, Bill McGuire, has already signalled his sympathy with the Benfield professor of geohazards and director of the industry’s ongoing needs if it is to realise its true Benfield Hazard Research Centre, is advising that: potential. “The number of heatwaves occurring in the Inbound tourism at present is mainly centred in Tuscany region is forecast to rise dramatically. The the centre and northeast, around such great cities Amalfi area will suffer from far more unbearable hot as Milan, Rome, Venice and Florence plus the and humid nights, with an additional 35 to 42 © Distretto Turistico dei Laglni - Stresa (VB) dei Laglni © Distretto Turistico

economy is based on small and medium sized US$30,010. Unemployment is currently running … stagnant or declining disposable income levels, companies, with few mega corporations and the at under 10 per cent. National GDP is US$1.3 most important of them, Fiat, in seemingly terminal trillion at present, with Germany France, the UK, the once traditional month-long August vacation has decline. A tight fiscal policy, imposed in order to the US, Spain, the Netherlands, Belgium and become a thing of the past and Italians are now meet the requirements of the Economic and Switzerland among the main trading partners. Monetary Union, has helped Italy benefit from Doing business in Italian calls for good people more likely to spend their holiday allowance by taking lowered interest and inflation rates. Italy adopted skills. Most Italian business people, especially the the euro from the new currency’s inception. younger ones, now have at least a rudimentary a series of much shorter breaks, which opens With its population forecast to decline by a third command of the English language, however. over the next 50 years, largely due to the When doing business, remember that an Italian opportunities for those marketing single-trip travel lowest birth-rate in Europe, Italy is at the heart will rarely forge a deal with someone he has insurance policies. of the debate over immigration, having never met face to face, so in order to crack the experienced a wave of incomers from North market you need to go there in person and press Africa and the Balkans in recent times. There the flesh. They are a hospitable, charming people Italian Lakes and rural Tuscany. Italians, however, ‘tropical’ nights when temperatures fall to no less are now said to be more than a million and once they are comfortable with you they are intend to head south to the sun, whether it be in than 20˚C. Both these regions are likely to see at Romanians – whose language is close to Italian relatively easy to deal with, though bureaucratic Italy’s southern provinces or holidaying abroad. least 20 additional dry days a year, leading to – residing in the country. processes can be irritatingly long and quick Research by the Touring Club Italiano indicates increased fire risk. “There will also be more flash Life expectancy stands at 77 for men and 83 for responses to emails are not yet the norm. Full that visitors to Italy are attracted most by cultural floods while long, dry spells will lead to water women, while average income per year is and accurate documentation is also advisable. considerations (33 per cent), environment (27 per shortages,” McGuire predicts. cent), social (five per cent), family visits (15 per Italy is an insurance-minded nation, however. The cent) and business (20 per cent). overall demand for insurance products is growing at around 12 per cent and the ratio of premiums to Insurance-minded GDP has increased every year since 1999 and now Italians have been quick to embrace new stands at more than four per cent. But, with France technology and right from the start of the at six per cent and the UK at 10, there is obviously telecoms revolution have had one of the highest still plenty of room for growth. penetrations of mobile phones in the world. The Traditionally, the Italian market has been a worldwide Web is increasingly important in the battleground for a large number of locally owned travel and related insurance business, though players, with no mega companies as there are many Italians use this exciting new media more for elsewhere, but this is changing. Leading non-life information research purposes than actual booking companies at present include Ras, Sai, Generali and needs and still prefer making their purchase of Assitalia but non-Italian companies, especially from holiday products face to face over a travel agency France and Germany, are now moving in. Heavily counter. Despite the accelerating inroads of the government regulated, the industry is overseen by Internet, more than half of all package holiday the Instituto per Viglanza sulle Assicurazione Private sales are still made in person at travel agents, di Interesse Collettivo (the Institute for Control of along with the purchase of key add-ons like travel Private Insurance Companies). Taking an increasing insurance and car hire. interest in the insurance sector, however, it is banks that are likely to spearhead the predicated mega-merger onslaught.

Fiscal policy In 2002, insurance premiums collected by Italian insurers increased by 14.1 per cent to US$86,239 million, with US$32,454 million coming from casualty insurance policies, and growth has continued since then. Back in 1951, Italy was one of the six countries that signed the Paris Treaty that set Europe off There has, however, been increasing consolidation on the path towards integration and it has been a of the agency sector, with franchising having been keen supporter of the united Europe concept ever the buzz-word of the past half-decade, and there since. Today the fourth largest economy in Europe is no doubt that the expansion of broadband and ranked eight in the whole world behind the technology in private homes will increasingly steer US, Japan, Germany, China, India, the UK and business away from the shopping street retailers, France, Italy is also the world’s sixth largest exporter with only those companies with a strong of manufactured goods, according to the OECD. Its

www.itij.co.uk International Travel Insurance Journal 24 NEWSANALYSIS “Is there a doctor onboard?”

Travel insurance is all well and good, but what if you fall ill during your flight? Diana Bentley looks at how well prepared airlines are in case of medical emergency and where responsibility for onboard health actually lies

Onboard medical incidents can be an anxious these minimum standards and enforce their own experience for an afflicted passenger, their additional requirements for members. companions and crew alike. A stricken passenger at An association of representatives of the civil aviation 30,000 feet is not what any airline wants and the authorities of various European states who have quality of care that can be given is limited. Rules agreed to cooperate on safety standards – known as regarding training of crew, necessary onboard the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) – will medical kits and treatment procedures are well soon take over some of the JAA’s work, Dr Johnston established in most countries, and continue to be explained. As a European Union body, the EASA will monitored and improved upon. But with the have the power of the EU’s lawmaking capacities development and imminent arrival of two new behind it. aircraft – the Airbus A380, which will carry 550 “Currently, cabin crew must have basic first aid passengers, and the A350, which will have a longer training that is tailored with specific reference to flight capacity than existing aircraft – onboard health what can occur on an aircraft,” says Dr Johnston. is an issue that is likely to be again in the public eye. Some airlines, however, provide additional training to that which is required as a minimum standard. Who governs? BA says its cabin crews undergo rigorous first aid Much sickness onboard is thankfully minor. British training, above and beyond statutory Airways (BA), which carries about 34 million requirements, as part of their entrance training. passengers a year on about 400,000 flights, reports Five days are devoted to learning life-saving that the most common medical problems encountered onboard are fainting, diarrhoea, vomiting, bruises and sprains. The most common potentially serious problem is chest pain or other suspected heart problems, while other, more serious problems, like deep vein thrombosis (DVT) can surface later. But who governs the conduct of onboard health and what rules apply? Generally, airlines must comply with the rules of the authority with whom they are registered. In the UK, for example, the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) regulates aircraft registered in Great Britain. “Rules relating to onboard health are laid down in Europe by the Joint Aviation Authorities (JAA) operations manual, known in the industry as JAR-OPS 1,” explains Dr Raymond Johnston, head of the CAA’s Aviation Health Unit. “This sets out medical standards for fitness for cabin crew and provides general guidelines for cabin crew on the treatment of passengers.” Countries’ individual regulators, like the CAA, can subsequently build on

International Travel Insurance Journal www.itij.co.uk NEWSANALYSIS 25

first aid kits. And we don’t use a telemedicine service land depends on many factors, such as distance as our planes are usually very close to airports from the planned destination, airport facilities – where we can land if we have a medical including fuel availability and ground support – and emergency.” available medical facilities, on which telemedicine This may be reasonable in the case of a short haul companies also advise. “We have data on 15,000 airline and it remains the decision of the airline as to medical facilities in 5,000 cities,” says MedLink’s Joan what it will carry onboard. “It’s up to the airline Sullivan Garrett. “So we help the captain with which what kind of backup they need and want but a lot of airport would be closest to the best facilities for the airlines use telemedicine services and a lot are patient, but their ground operations people also looking at them,” says the CAA’s Dr Johnston. But advise about the airport’s capabilities and other should telemedicine services be compulsory? “It’s factors. It’s not just the health of the ill passenger like any other new treatment or procedure,” he that’s at stake but the safety and health of all of the says. “You have to consider the accumulated others.” Once the passenger has been handed over evidence before you make anything mandatory or to the care of the airport and local emergency decide whether something is an effective – and a medical service providers, airlines consider that the cost-effective – way to intervene.” patient is no longer under their care. Some insurers, too, it seems, are not so concerned Bigger planes and those with longer flight capacity about telemedicine services. “We only expect may naturally see an increase in the number of people to receive minimal treatment onboard onboard health incidents. “[Such flights] may be a anyway,” says a spokesperson for BUPA’s travel problem for those with cardio-vascular problems or insurance arm. “Our policies cover people for being problems like asthma,” says Sullivan-Garrett. Larger procedures as well as more general first aid skills, passengers may fear subsequent legal problems, hospitalized after a diversion, and in cases where planes also have less ability to make diversions, as and refresher courses must be completed although airlines like BA indemnify their Good they can’t get proper treatment we can send a certain airports are too small to accommodate them annually. Cabin crews of Singapore Airlines Samaritans against any legal proceedings that may doctor or nurse or an air ambulance.” Norwich or do not have the facilities to service them. Recent undergo a four-month training programme that arise following the assistance of a passenger. Union – also a travel insurer – has a similar developments in the aviation world may increase includes health and safety. Crews will have specific Many airlines now use the services of telemedicine approach: “Our experience is that airlines take the the need for a review of the treatment of onboard training for the new double-decker A380 craft, companies, which provide immediate advice by safety of their passengers seriously so they will make illness, but airlines, thankfully, have a variety of including medical and health programmes. satellite telephone or high frequency radio from the decision that is right for them,” says the advisers apart from their own staff, consultants and Under JAA rules, two different sorts of equipment doctors who are particularly knowledgeable of company’s David Ross. regulators. The International Air Transport must be used on airlines: a first aid kit that includes airborne conditions. One of the most renowned is Association (IATA) has a Medical Advisory Group, basic medical supplies like bandages and antiseptic Phoenix-based MedAire, which provides a range of Flight diversion and the ASMA and the International Academy of cleaner, and a medical kit that contains more support through its MedLink service – from first aid However minor most onboard illnesses may be, Aerospace Medicine (IASM) are also considering the complex equipment and drugs, which can only be there may well come a time when a passenger may issues presented by new aircraft. used under the supervision of a qualified person Crews will have specific need immediate treatment not available onboard. Advances in medicine too – including better such as a doctor or a nurse. Many airlines exceed Around one in every 1,000 BA flights is diverted for methods of diagnosis – may help in future. “There the minimum requirements laid down by their a medical emergency. “Ultimately, the decision on are devices being developed that in the next five relevant regulator, however. training for the new double- whether to divert rests with the captain; however, years may be able to help with the rapid diagnosis In the UK, semi automated external defibrillators – they’ll take advice from our telemedicine service of, for instance, heart attacks,” says Sullivan Garrett. used in cases of sudden cardiac arrest – do not decker A380 craft, including and, potentially, any medical professional onboard,” “And these may well be able to make a difference to have, by law, to be carried onboard an aircraft, but says BA’s Dr Popplestone. Where a plane decides to onboard treatment.” some airlines stock them by choice. Low-cost or medical and health short haul airlines may not. Since 2004, the Federal Aviation Administration of the US has required that programmes. all planes in the country carry defibrillators, though some airlines already did. “Some airlines like Qantas and Virgin Atlantic used them before the US rules and medical kits, staff and crew training, airport and came into force,” says Joan Sullivan Garrett, in-flight medical advice – for around 90 airlines founder and Chairman of MedAire, the US- including Aer Lingus, Air Canada, British Airways, headquartered global telemedicine company. “We Cathay Pacfic, Delta Airlines, Qantas Airways, regard them here not as medical equipment but as Thomas Cook Airlines and Virgin Atlantic Airways. part of first aid.” “All of our doctors are active practitioners and also Medical standards, however, evolve with medical undergo specific training in altitude physiology,” says developments and with what regulators consider Sullivan Garrett. MedLink’s medical advice, she says, desirable for passenger safety. Presently, the JAA is can be given in over 140 languages through reviewing what needs to be carried onboard and its interpreters: “Most pilots and crew speak English but conclusions are expected later this year. their proficiency varies. Also, not only do crew and anyone else helping onboard sometimes need Handling cases onboard interpreters, but the interpreters must be familiar As to who may be especially at risk on a flight, the with medical terminology.” CAA’s Dr Raymond Johnston says: “The (US- One dilemma that can arise, points out Sullivan- based) Aerospace Medical Association (ASMA) has Garrett, is that an airline may be carrying equipment general guidelines on fitness to fly, but each airline that only medical professionals can use, but no such has its own rules, and passengers with health professional may be onboard, or those that are may problems should ask their airline for advice if they not want to use it. Before taking on clients, think they need it.” According to BA, most people therefore, telemedicine companies generally discuss with existing medical conditions can fly on a with airlines what they are confident and commercial aircraft without any difficulty, but when comfortable about doing in medical emergency cabin air pressure is equivalent to an altitude of cases. If telemedicine doctors believe an ill 6,000 to 8,000 feet, special care is sometimes passenger needs to be hospitalized or needs urgent needed. “Passengers with problems like heart medical attention, it identifies the closest hospital in disease or breathing difficulties should discuss their case the plane needs to be diverted, though in journey with their doctor before booking, and if some more isolated parts of the world, finding they are flying with us they or their doctor can speak adequate medical facilities nearby can be a challenge. to our Passenger Medical Clearance Unit,” says BA’s Dr Mark Popplestone. Cost-effectiveness Onboard, apart from crew training and basic Not all airlines have telemedicine services that supplies that may be stipulated by regulators, how require expensive onboard satellite communications airlines respond to a passenger’s illness is up to systems. Easyjet, the UK-based low-cost airline, is them. When the crew does not feel they can handle one airline that sees no need presently to have such an incident alone, a call is put out for a `Good facilities. “We’re a short haul airline,” says an Easyjet Samaritan’ – a doctor or nurse who may happen to spokesperson. “We don’t have equipment like be onboard and who may offer to help. Such defribullators onboard, though we do have standard

www.itij.co.uk International Travel Insurance Journal 26 FEATURE Air ambulance Part : HEMS In modern emergency medical services While JAA´s HEMS philosophy requires (EMS), helicopters performance class 1 helicopters, in the US under play an essential life- the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and in non-JAA member states (e.g. Switzerland) HEMS and cost-saving role, operators successfully function with single engine helicopters. Those types are characterised by a where time and beneficial relation between take-off mass and engine performance, high reliability and low operational special treatment for costs. Amazingly, in high mountains they have been heavily injured or sick proven reliable and efficient for many years. patients count the Especially in rural and most. Peter Moeller mountainous areas and Tim Junk gives an helicopters are generally up-to-date guide to the only means of Europe’s most transport that is able to popular craft guarantee the location Helicopters are used for so-called primary and or scene of an accident secondary missions. Predominantly, the aim of primary missions is to bring a medical crew as fast as can be reached within possible to a patient requiring urgent medical the specific time period treatment. Especially in rural and mountainous areas, helicopters are generally the only means of transport set by several national that is able to guarantee the location, or scene of an medical service accident, can be reached within the specific time period set by several national medical service regulations regulations. Furthermore, a medical indication e.g. spine trauma or crainiocerebral injury (CCI), make Twin-engine helicopters: transportation by helicopter necessary to avoid the Eurocopter EC 135 shocks and vibrations caused by more common This is the most common modern type of HEMS ground transportation methods. helicopter used for primary bases in Europe. The Secondary missions are ambulance flights where a EC 135 has replaced the MBB Bo 105 and patient is transported from one hospital to another, surpassed it in profit for HEMS operations. typically because he or she is in need of specific Noteworthy characteristics of this craft are excellent treatment that can only be offered in specialised customer service from the manufacturer, and the institutes (i.e. burn injuries). The necessity of ‘Fenestron’ (caged tail rotor), which minimizes the transportation by helicopter is proportional to its danger of tail rotor strikes, which can happen when time benefits and gentle transportation a helicopter is on the ground with its rotors still characteristics, which can be a medical imperative. turning. Examples of organisations currently Most ambulance helicopters are equipped as employing this model are ADAC, öAMTC (German intensive care vehicles that require a spacious cabin and Austrian Automobil Club), Deutsche and fully redundant systems. Rettungsflugwacht (DRF), Air Zermatt, REGA, the european Joint Aviation Authorities (JAA), only • The craft must have low noise capability. ANWB, and Mont Blanc Helicopters. In the beginning (twin-engine) helicopters of performance class 1 – The utilisation of helicopters for rescue missions which are designed in case of a single engine failure Common HEMS craft MD 902 Explorer started in the armed forces parallel to the to be able to continue operations with the Single-engine helicopters: With nearly the same external dimensions as the EC development of helicopter technology. Integration remaining engine, as well as in critical situations like into civil rescue systems took place several years takeoff and landing – may be used for HEMS later, but initially with a low density of operations. operations. Typically, it was only private organisations, however, that provided a practical area-wide solution for an HEMS helicopters in Europe have to fulfil the integrated air rescue system (1970 in Germany, following requirements as a bare minimum: 1987 in Great Britain, 1989 in Luxembourg), as the • Equipment for night flights must be carried if armed forces or other public organisations were operating on a 24-hour basis. more concentrated, due to their technical and task- • Craft must be of a compact design to be able to orientated requirements in specific areas such as the use small landing sites in order to position medical open sea, coastlines or mountains. crew as close as possible to a patient. Helicopter Emergency Medical Services (HEMS) • Craft must have a large cabin to take required providers started with light, single-engine turbine medical equipment, medical crew and a patient as helicopters, like the Bell Jet/Long Ranger and the comfortably and as realistically as possible. Allouette II or III from Sud Aviation. With the • In mountainous and maritime regions, rescue development of the Messerschmitt Bölkow Blohm helicopters should be equipped with a hoist or (MBB) Bo 105 (the first of its kind – a light, twin- similar equipment to reach needy persons where a engine helicopter using composite materials), helicopter cannot necessarily land. however, twin engine helicopters then entered the • The main and tail rotor must have a high position market for practical HEMS use, along with a new on the craft to avoid injuries to people walking philosophy of performance and safety requirements. closely around the helicopter while the rotors are Nowadays, according to the HEMS philosophy of still turning.

International Travel Insurance Journal www.itij.co.uk FEATURE 27

on 9 January 1981. After 213 were built in the US, • Daylight operations only or 24 hours service production was transferred to the Mirabel plant in • Maintenance costs Canada in February 1989. During its life, the original • Fuel efficiency 412 has been upgraded several times. • Compatibility with existing fleet • Service of the manufacturer (availability of service Flight logistics stations, spare parts and reliability) Light twin-engine helicopters like the EC 135 and Various parts of the world require different the Agusta 109 are mainly used for primary capabilities for HEMS operations, so an operator missions, whilst bigger helicopters like the EC 145, would be wise to invest in the helicopter best suited Bell 412 or Bell 222 are popular for secondary for any given environment. missions and the transport of intensive care patients Helicopter vehicles have proven to be an essential because of their spacious cabin and compartment tool for emergency medicine, their influence and areas. All of the helicopters listed above travel within use having grown steadily for over 30 years. a speed bracket of about 220 to 240 kilometres per Technological advancements in both ‘power to weight’ and efficiency will continue to push HEMS use far into the foreseeable future. Whilst it is Helicopter vehicles have evident that these aircraft save lives on a daily basis, proven to be an essential their use is more than just immediate. Risks and costs of post-trauma treatment are dramatically tool for emergency reduced by the existence and reliability of a well- medicine their influence equipped and effective Helicopter Emergency Medical Service System. and use having grown steadily for over years Peter Moeller, born in Bonn, started his helicopter pilot career in the German hour. Their range is between 500 kilometres and Army’s aviation unit on the 600 kilometres. Bell UH 1D. In 1983, he So, which helicopter will an operator choose to use? began work for Air Lloyd as To answer this, the operator must weigh up the a helicopter pilot and following factors with the general requirements of instructor in Europe and the craft’s day-to-day operations: Africa, later becoming head of training, and eventually managing director of the company. He 135, but with a bigger cabin, the MD Explorer from 109 Max, with transverse stretcher stowage and • Cabin size and load capability left in 2006 to start a career with Luxembourg Air MD Helicopters is very popular for dual use – i.e. bulged side door transparencies. The landing gear • Type of operation (primary or secondary missions Rescue as chief pilot in the helicopter department both primary and secondary missions. While offers advantages when landing on rocky surfaces in or mixed) and crew-training manager. He currently has a Eurocopter uses a conventional tail rotor installed at mountainous regions, therefore the A-109 is • Area of operation (flat or mountainous, congested total of around 13,500 flight hours. very high position on the EC 145 or a Fenestron on espacially prominent in Switzerland and Italy. or non-congested) the EC 135, MD uses no tail rotor at all for the Explorer. Instead, the state-of-the-art technology Eurocopter EC 145 that is used to control the helicopter around the Whilst the EC 135 is mainly used for primary vertical axis is called NOTAR (NO TAil Rotor). It missions, the EC 145 (the first of which was officially uses a vectored air-flow through the tail boom, delivered in 2002) is popular for secondary missions produced by a high-power internal fan. The and the transport of intensive care patients. This is advantages of this system are obvious: a dramatic primarily because of its spacious cabins and drop in the potential for a ground accident, a compartment areas, a particularly beneficial feature substantial reduction in ambient noise and less vibration for the patient compared to helicopters equipped with conventional tail rotor systems. For these reasons, the MD Explorer is expected to become more and more common for HEMS use. The Explorer is used by organisations such as Luxembourg Air Rescue (LAR), DRF, Knaus The necessity of transportation by helicopter is proportional to its time benefits and gentle transportation characteristics which can be a medical imperative when transporting a patient from one hospital to Helicopter, as well as the UK’s Kent Air another. After an international competition, in which, Ambulance, Yorkshire Air Ambulance and Great for example, it faced the Agusta A-109K2, it was North Ambulance. selected in December 1997 by France for the Securité Civile for HEMS operations. Agusta A-109 The A-109 has been developed into a number of Bell 412 mission specific configurations since its first flight in The 412 is a member of the UH-1N/Bell 212 1971. Aside from its primary use as executive family, featuring a powerful, four-blade main rotor. transport, it is used widely in medevac, police and Bell claims that the 412EP offers the lowest seat- patrol roles worldwide. Previously, medevac mile costs in its class and the highest dispatch configured A-109As were based on the standard reliability of any twin-engine helicopter in the world airframe, but modifications engineered by the US today. The Model 412 was announced on 8 firm Custom Aircraft Completions resulted in the A- September 1978 and it received its FAA certification

www.itij.co.uk International Travel Insurance Journal 28 FEATURE

Vacations would not be vacations without today’s obligatory stint on the local bungee jump or rapids run. But it’s not just twenty year-olds that are flinging themselves from bridges in search of holiday thrills. Ian Youngman finds out who’s covered Dangerous times: sport for all

Every new trip to the coast seems to reveal the and parapenting. less of a problem with regard to claims and latest wackiest water ‘sports’ activity, and often This trend offers both problems and opportunities consumer bodies. involves something inflatable and precarious-looking. for travel insurers. The traditional way of dealing Otherwise, vacations today often involve some with risky activities is to have a long list of what is Rising to the challenge other precarious ‘fun’ activity, like being catapulted included, and an even longer list of what is Increasing numbers of people of all ages are seeking into the stratosphere in a reverse bungee or scaling excluded. Trying to pick up activities that may be or out an active and challenging lifestyle and might not new heights on a rock face. Yes, even your average could be dangerous but are not specifically stop to consider whether their travel insurance holidaymaker can’t help but have a go at the odd bit excluded can be done by various clauses and covers them for a particular sport or activity. They of off-piste skiing if the challenge arises. exclusions precluding cover for any dangerous can be tempted to try something new while away So, scuba diving, rock climbing, mountain biking, activities. Listing activities is much fairer, and causes on holiday, seeking out specialist activities that they motor racing, and white water rafting: the holiday activities of adventurous twenty and thirty- somethings? No, these are what many over 60s are opting for during adrenaline pumping activity holidays. People of all ages and nationalities are increasingly looking for risk and excitement on holiday. There The traditional way of dealing with risky activities is are, in fact, two variations: those who take part in these activities while at a conventional beach, ski or country resort, and those who go for a specific to have a long list of what is included, and an even adventure holiday. In researching this feature, I encountered specialist holidays which sound like longer list of what is excluded. the fevered imagination of comedy sketch writers, including gorilla tracking, rain forest canopy walking, walking up Sydney Harbour Bridge, dune and wadi bashing, mud buggying, cage shark diving

International Travel Insurance Journal www.itij.co.uk FEATURE 29

Insurers vary greatly on what is automatically covered, what can be covered for extra premium, and what can only be covered by specialist policies.

cannot do at home, without making sure they have can think of, while others have added exclusions adequate cover. This trend will undoubtedly cause only after a claim on that activity has happened. arguments between customers and insurers as to Where insurers try to protect themselves is a what is or is not covered. What is also likely is an catchall exclusion. In an era where insurers have to increase in disputes where customers blame travel be seen to treat customers fairly and lawyers argue agents, event organisers, travel insurers, and against ‘blanket’ exclusions and restrictions – which intermediaries, for not making it clear what activities are weighted in favour of the insurer – these can insurance did or did not cover. It is almost inevitable become a publicity disaster. Such wording usually that when someone is killed or seriously injured effectively excludes any especially hazardous pursuits during a ‘dangerous’ activity, which insurance does or activity. Some try to soften the exclusion by not cover, but where insurance was available, the saying that the exclusion does not apply to holiday family will take legal action against intermediaries or activities where experts employed by a local travel agents for failing to offer this protection. organiser give the traveller tuition. Insurers around the world have a common attitude to dangerous’ activities: they exclude them. The US Caught in the middle not covered. know precisely what is, can and cannot be covered; and the UK lead the way in recognising the need for Between the specialists and the mainstream The evidence suggests that there are several things and tell their customers. wider cover, however. This is done in three ways – insurers are those with substantial travel portfolios that insurers could or should do. If they do not There is undoubtedly premium opportunity for a wider range of activities included in standard travel where they are not the carrier, but use one or want to cover, at any price, ‘dangerous’ activities, insurers who want to cover these special activities policies, a wider range of activities that will be more insurers. They seek to include activities, they should make policies, brochures and all which so many more people are now undertaking covered on request, and the rise of specialist covers which are riskier than lying on the beach, but not advertising very clear as to what is or is not on holiday. For holidaymakers who only decide to aimed specifically at groups of ‘dangerous’ activities. very dangerous. Normally included activities could covered. Those who want to get extra premium by be adventurous when they get to their location, or In the US and the UK, for example, travellers can be jet skiing, rowing, rollerblading or skating and covering these activities should also make it very who cannot get insurance in advance, there are choose from 500 or more policies from over a water skiing. clear what they will cover, for what price, and what surely also opportunities for insurers to offer hundred suppliers. In others, there may be as few as The attitudes of specialist travel insurers and their limitations apply. Both categories need to ensure insurance at the destination. a dozen insurers, mostly being unwilling to cover policies are often very different from the larger that all agents, intermediaries and travel agents ‘dangerous’ activities. insurance groups for whom travel is one of many Nevertheless, many holidaymakers travelling from lines. One leading travel insurance specialist major countries can arrange cover for the activities automatically covers over 40 adventure sports they will or might be doing in advance of their trip. including bungee jumping, jet skiing, scuba diving and Others will not know until they reach a destination, white water rafting. Another, for those over 50, what activities they can or might do, so request automatically protects leisure activities including extra cover when there. People travelling from canoeing, snorkeling, sailing, jet skiing, surfing, countries where they cannot arrange cover in trampolining, hill and fell walking and cycling. advance can look for specialist cover at their Yet another travel specialist lists one hundred destination, if it is available. ‘dangerous’ activities. Some they include automatically, others they will include on request Hazardous terrain and for extra premium. Most of these activities Winter sports insurance has become more refined they will cover for medical expenses only, often as skiers are getting more adventurous and need with excess, but not personal accident or cover for more hazardous pursuits. There are many personal liability. insurers offering winter sports cover, and plenty At the two heat extremes of ‘dangerous sports’ are offering specialist cover for higher risk winter sports. winter sports and safari activities. While we have The type of activities that standard travel policies will already looked at cover for those heading to colder cover, with or without a winter sports extension, climes, it would appear that safari adventures are normally includes such things as cross-country skiing, certainly becoming mainstream as more and more glacier walking or trekking and dog sledding. Other operators add Africa to their programmes: gorilla activities such as heli skiing and off-piste snow trekking in Uganda, open vehicle game drives all boarding and skiing are available within winter sports over Africa, mokoro canoe rides in the Okavango cover, but some are only on offer from specialist Delta, bush walks all over Africa, and shark cage travel insurers. Insurers vary greatly on what is diving in South Africa, to name but a few, are not automatically covered, what can be covered for trips that are hard to find these days. extra premium, and what can only be covered by Regarding claims, figures are scarce, but there are specialist policies. Activities that are usually excluded reports from insurers warning people to take care, from standard and winter sports polices, and that get fit, and to check their cover. Many ‘dangerous’ are generally only covered by specialist ‘dangerous activities are probably less risky, however, than sports’ insurers include bob sleighing, ice hockey and ‘traditional’ holiday ones of drunken diving into ski jumping. swimming pools from hotel balconies. Off the slopes, and taking typical travel policies from major insurers, there are standard exclusions that Opportunity abounds are apparent. Insurers are generally not prepared to Although a few insurers, almost all in the London consider covering certain activities even for market, offer special travel insurance for ‘dangerous ‘ additional premium. These include canoeing, polo, activities, this is an underserved niche. In many pot holing, scuba diving and sky diving. But for each countries, there is nowhere for people who want insurer, what is or is not specifically excluded such travel insurance to buy cover for these appears extremely random. There is a strong activities, and in others, the travel insurance suspicion that in some cases underwriters have sat industry and wording are relatively unsophisticated, down and excluded all the ‘dangerous’ activities they so policy wordings are very vague on what is or is

www.itij.co.uk International Travel Insurance Journal 30 SERVICEDIRECTORY To have your company listed in the Service Directory email: [email protected]

1. AIR AMBULANCE AIR AMBULANCE cont. Pacific Flight Services Pte Ltd Katherine Yeo – Assistant Marketing Mgr AFRICA ST Aerospace Engineering Bldg [email protected] Seletar West Camp www.fly-pfs.com Air Ambulance Worldwide Inc. Mark Jones – President Seletar Airport Tel: +65 6481 3756 797796 Fax: +65 6482 1727 35246 US Hwy 19 North [email protected] SINGAPORE #210 www.airambulanceworldwide.com Palm Harbor Tel: +1 727 781 1198 Florida 34684 Fax: +1 727 786 0897 South Pacific Air Ambulance Scotty Watson – Managing Director USA NEW ZEALAND [email protected] AUSTRALIA Tel: +649 256 9000 AMREF Flying Doctor Service Dr Bettina Vadera – Medical Director SINGAPORE Fax: +649 256 9111 Wilson Airport [email protected] LangataRoad www.amref.org PO Box 18617 Tel: +254 20 600 090 Nairobi Fax: +254 20 344 170 EUROPE KENYA Air Ambulance Worldwide Inc. Mark Jones – President Netcare 911 Aeromedical Shane Marais 35246 US Hwy 19 North [email protected] #210 www.airambulanceworldwide.com Netcare 911 House [email protected] Palm Harbor Tel: +1 727 781 1198 49 New Road www.netcare911.co.za Florida 34684 Fax: +1 727 786 0897 Halfway House Tel: +27 11 254 1392 USA Midrand 1685 Fax: +27 11 254 1405 SOUTH AFRICA Augsburg Air Ambulance Roland Schoberth – Director AUSTRALASIA Roseggerstr 17 [email protected] D-86368 www.ambulanzflugdienst.de Air Ambulance Worldwide Inc. Mark Jones – President Gersthofen Tel: +49 821 299 1020 GERMANY Tel: +49 821 299 2030 35246 US Hwy 19 North [email protected] #210 www.airambulanceworldwide.com Palm Harbor Tel: +1 727 781 1198 Florida 34684 Fax: +1 727 786 0897 AeroMed 365 Paul Golder – Commercial Director USA Worth Corner Business Centre [email protected] Turners Hill Road www.aeromed365.com Asia Assistance Partners Siriporn Wongurai – Int Ops Director Pound Hill Tel: +44 8707 596 999 Crawley RH10 7SL Fax: +44 8707 559599 184/235 Forum Tower [email protected] UK 36th Flr Ratchadapisek Rd www.aapartners.net Huaykwang Tel: +662 645 3733-5 – Flight Operations Manager Bangkok 10320 Fax: +662 645 3732 Air Medical Ltd Glenn Salt THAILAND Oxford Airport [email protected] Kidlington www.airmed.co.uk Asia Medical Assistance Abhijeet Sachdev – Vice President Oxfordshire Tel: +44 1865 842 887 OX5 1QX Tel: +44 1865 370 642 DLF City-ll [email protected] UK M.G Road www.privathealthcaregroup.com New Delhi Tel: +91 9899 198 198 DRF German Air Rescue Frank Spirgatis – Director, Fixed Wing Gurgaon 122002 Fax: +91 1242 235 2527 INDIA Raiffeisenstr 32 [email protected] 70794 Filderstadt www.german-air-rescue.de GERMANY Tel (24hr): +49 711701070 – Co-ordinator CareFlight International Colin Robshaw Fax: +49 711701071 Westmead Hospital Campus [email protected] PO Box 159 www.careflight.org Westmead Tel: +61 1300 655 855 Euro-flite Air Ambulance Juani Missonen – Coordinator NSW 2145 Fax: +61 2 4751 2995 AUSTRALIA Helsinki International Airport [email protected] PO Box 187 Tel: +358 20510 1900 FIN-01531 Fax: +358 20510 1901 Medical Wings Jarin Kiatfuengfoo – Director Vantaa 222 Room 3602 [email protected] FINLAND Bangkok Int Airport www.medicalwings.com Viphavadeo-Rangsit Rd Tel: +662 247 3392 EMC Meditrans Servé de Klerk – President Sikan, Donmuang Fax: +662 535 4355 Bangkok 10210, THAILAND Hoevestein 23 [email protected] Postbus 4190 www.emc.nl 4900 CD Tel: +31 162 496 000 Mediflight Debra O’Brien – Operations Manager Oosterhout Fax: +31 8 42 24 64 86 THE NETHERLANDS Royal Adelaide Hospital [email protected] North Terrace www.mediflight.com.au Adelaide Tel: +61 8 8223 6618 FAI – rent-a-jet AG Volker Lemke – Director Sales & Marketing SA 5000 Fax: +61 8 8223 6340 AUSTRALIA Flughafenstrasse 100 [email protected] D-90268 Nuremberg www.rent-a-jet.de GERMANY Tel: +49 911 36009 31 Fax: +49 911 36009 59 CATEGORY KEY 1. Air Ambulance 8. Healthcare Clinics Global Medical Support Otto Karud – Marketing Director

2. Assistance Companies 9. Hospitals Ullevaal University Hospital [email protected] 0407 Oslo www.globalmedicalsupport.com NORWAY Tel: +47 22 96 50 50 3. Air Ambulance Interior 10. Medical Escort on Commercial Airlines Telfax: +47 22 96 50 51 4. Cost Containment 11. Medical Provider

5. Claims Management 12. Medical Screening IFRA Bernhard Fantner – Assistant to Director Bahnhofplatz 13/5 [email protected] 6. Critical Care Patient Transport 13. Re-insurance POB 160 www.ifra.at 3500 Krems Tel: +43 2732 825 610 7. Funeral Directors 14. Travel Agents AUSTRIA Fax: +43 2732 851 01

International Travel Insurance Journal www.itij.co.uk call +44 (0) 117 925 5151 To make an alteration to a listing email: [email protected] SERVICEDIRECTORY 31

AIR AMBULANCE cont. AIR AMBULANCE cont. Jet Executive International Charter Günter Krahé – Ground Ops Manager Air Trek Air Ambulance David Bump – Vice President Mündelheimer Weg 50 [email protected] 28000 A-5 Airport Road [email protected] D-40472 www.jetexecutive.com Punta Gorda www.medjets.com FL 33982 Toll free: +1 800 633 5387 Düsseldorf Tel: +49 211 602 7775 USA Tel: +1 941 639 7855 GERMANY Fax: +49 211 602 77766 “Homebase Frankfurt/Main”

American Care Air Ambulance Joel Reynolds – General Manager Luxembourg Air Ambulance Andy Breeden – Operations 8775 Aero Drive [email protected] 175A, rue de Cessange [email protected] Suite 120 www.americancareairambulance.com L-1321 www.air-ambulance.lu San Diego Tel: +1 858 627 0515 LUXEMBOURG Tel (24 hr): +352 420 440 1 CA 92123 Fax: +1 858 627 0534 Fax: +352 420 440 366 USA

Canadian Global Air Ambulance Jeff McIntosh – President Med Call GmbH Michael Diefenbach – CEO Toronto [email protected] Winnipeg www.canadianglobalair.ca Bahnhofstrasse 22 [email protected] Vancouver Toll Free: +1 800 563 3822 65185 www.medcallgmbh.com CANADA Tel: +1 204 888 5555 Wiesbaden Tel: +49 611 9310 310 Fax: +1 204 888 9111 GERMANY Fax: +49 611 9310 311 JET ICU Carlos Elcoro – International Program Director Medical Jet Services & Partner W Dichtl 15725 Fairchild Drive [email protected] Clearwater www.jeticu.com Radetzkystr 19 [email protected] FL 33762 Tel: +1 877 453 8428 Vienna www.medicaljetservice.com USA Tel: +1 727 524 9825 1030 Tel: +43 1 713 2799 Fax: +1 727 524 9826 AUSTRIA Fax: +43 1 713 2799-19 National Air Ambulance George Martinez – Mgr Flight Co-ordination 3495 SW 9th Ave [email protected] Red Star Aviation Mustafa Atac – CEO Fort Lauderdale www.nationalairambulance.com FL 33315 Tel: +1 954 359 9900 Sabiha Gokcen Int Airport [email protected] USA Fax: +1 954 359 9500 J Blok Kurtkoy 34912 www.redstar-aviation.com Istanbul Tel: +90 216 588 0216 TURKEY Fax: +90 216 588 0225 Skyservice Air Ambulance David Ewing – VP Int. Market Development YUL/Trudeau Int Airport [email protected] Swiss Air Ambulance/REGA Walter Stunzi – PR/Marketing Mgr 9785 Avenue Ryan www.skyservice.com Montreal (Quebec) Tel: +1 514 497 7000 H9P 1A2 Fax: +1 514 636 0096 PO Box 1414 [email protected] CANADA Zurich Airport www.rega.ch CH-8058 Tel: +41 333 333 333 SWITZERLAND Fax: +41 44 654 3590 2. ASSISTANCE COMPANIES Tyrol Air Ambulance Jakob Ringler – Managing Director AFRICA PO Box 81 [email protected] A-6026 www.taa.at AMREF Flying Doctor Service Dr Bettina Vadera – Medical Director Innsbruck Airport Tel: +43 512 224 220 AUSTRIA Fax: +43 512 288 888 Wilson Airport [email protected] Langata Road www.amref.org PO Box 18617 Tel: +254 20 600 090 Nairobi Fax: +254 20 344 170 NORTH AMERICA KENYA

Aerojet Stuart Hayman – President Connex Assistance Egypt Lara Helmi – Int Network Director 4631 NW 31st Ave #220 [email protected] Office II [email protected] Ft Lauderdale www.aero-jet.com Ist Floor www.connexassistance.com FL 33309 Tel: +1 954 730 9300 6 Sad El Aali Street Tel (24hr): +2 02 336 0005 USA Fax: +1 954 485 6564 Dokki, Cairo Fax (24hr): +2 02 762 0003 EGYPT

Air Ambulance Professionals, Inc. Brian L. Weisz – President Netcare 911 Aeromedical Shane Marais Ft. Lauderdale Executive Airport [email protected] Netcare 911 House [email protected] 1535 South Perimeter Rd www.airambulanceprof.com 49 New Road www.netcare911.co.za Hangar 36B Ft. Lauderdale Tel: +1 954 491 0555 Halfway House Tel: +27 11 254 1392 Florida 33309 Fax: +1 954 491 6114 Midrand 1685 Fax: +27 11 254 1405 SOUTH AFRICA USA AUSTRALASIA Air Ambulance Specialists, Inc. Donald Jones – President Asia Assistance Partners Siriporn Wongurai – Int Ops Director 8001 S.Interport Blvd. [email protected] Suite 250 www.airaasi.com 184/235 Forum Tower [email protected] Englewood Toll Free: +1 800 424 7060 36th Flr Ratchadapisek Rd www.aapartners.net CO 80111 Tel: +1 720 875 9182 Huaykwang Tel: +662 645 3733-5 USA Fax: +1 720 875 9183 Bangkok 10320 Fax: +662 645 3732 THAILAND Air Ambulance Worldwide Inc. Mark Jones – President Asia Medical Assistance Abhijeet Sachdev – Vice President 35246 US Hwy 19 North [email protected] #210 www.airambulanceworldwide.com DLF City-ll [email protected] Palm Harbor Tel: +1 727 781 1198 M.G Road www.privathealthcaregroup.com New Delhi Tel: +91 9899 198 198 Florida 34684 Fax: +1 727 786 0897 Gurgaon 122002 Fax: +91 1242 235 2527 USA INDIA

AirMed International LLC Cindy Horvath – Clinical Care Co-ordinator Blue Dot Assistance Dr Faustinus Wirasadi – President Director 1000 Urban Center Drive [email protected] Blue Dot Center [email protected] Suite 470, Birmingham www.airmed.com Blok K, L, M www.idn.co.id AL 35242 Tel: +1 205 443 4840 Jl Gelong Baru Utara 5-8 Tel: +62 21 5696 2399 USA Fax: +1 205 443 4841 Tomang, Jakarta Barat 1440 Fax: +62 21 5696 2499 INDONESIA

www.itij.co.uk International Travel Insurance Journal 32 SERVICEDIRECTORY To have your company listed in the Service Directory email: [email protected]

2. ASSISTANCE COMPANIES cont. ASSISTANCE COMPANIES cont.

Customer Care Pty Ltd Janine Benson – Operations Manager MK International Emergency Services Minas Kaloumenos – General Manager Level 3 [email protected] 95, Ioanninon Street [email protected] 60 Miller Street www.customercare.com.au 10444 Athens Tel: +30 210 5154600 North Sydney 2060 Tel: +612 9202 8222 GREECE Fax: +30 210 5131660 NSW Fax: +612 9202 8220 AUSTRALIA

Global Assistance & Healthcare Mario Babin – Chief Executive Officer SER Assistance Ltd. Dr S Zareceansky – Gen Mgr & Director Jalan Pattimura [email protected] 50/2206 Dizengoff Street [email protected] 15 Kebayoran Baru www.global-assistance.net Dizengoff Tower Tel: +972 544 370 002 Jakaita Tel: +62 21 725 8115 64332 Tel-Aviv Fax: +972 362 919 91 12110 Fax: +62 21 725 7961 ISRAEL INDONESIA

First Assistance Mary-Jo McDonald – General Manager SOS International Helle Drager – Marketing Manager PO Box 17-310 [email protected] Nitivej 6 [email protected] Greenlane www.firstassistance.co.nz DK-2000 www.sos.dk Auckland Tel: +64 9 356 1650 Frederiksberg Tel: +45 7010 5055 NEW ZEALAND Fax: +64 9 525 1278 Copenhagen Fax: +45 7010 5056 DENMARK

Medical Wings Jarin Kiatfuengfoo – Director TBS Team 24 d.o.o Edvard Hojnik – General Manager 222 Room 3602 [email protected] Ljubljanska Ulica 42 [email protected] Bangkok Int Airport www.medicalwings.com 2000 Maribor www.tbs-team24.com Viphavadeo-Rangsit Rd Tel: +662 247 3392 SLOVENIJA Tel: +386 2618 2301 Sikan, Donmuang Fax: +662 535 4355 (Croatia, Slovenia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Fax: +386 2618 5800 Bangkok 10210 THAILAND Macedonia, Serbia-Montenegro, Kosovo )

South Pacific Air Ambulance Scotty Watson – Managing Director NORTH & CENTRAL AMERICA NEW ZEALAND [email protected] ASISTUR Emilio Guevara – Managing Director AUSTRALIA Tel: +649 256 9000 SINGAPORE Fax: +649 256 9111 Prado 208 [email protected] e/ Colon y Trocadero www.asistur.cu Habana Vieja Tel: +537 8664499 Ciudad Habana 10100 Fax: +537 8668087 EUROPE & THE MEDITERRANEAN CUBA

ARC Transistance Hans Biekmann – Network Director Assured Assistance Inc. Martha Turnbull – Director of Operations 11 Avenue Pleiades [email protected] 6880 Financial Drive [email protected] B-1200 Brussels www.arctransistance.com Mississauga Tel: +1 905 816 2495 BELGIUM Tel: +32 2 776 04 70 Ontario Fax: +1 905 813 4719 Fax: +32 2 776 04 99 L5N 7Y5 CANADA

Atlantic Assist Adriano Gouveia – Operations Manager CMN Inc. Peter Lozier – Vice President Rua da Alfandega 10-2.D [email protected] 140 Renfrew Drive [email protected] PO Box 750 www.atlanticassist.com Suite 103 Markham www.canmednet.com 9000-056 Funchal Tel: +351 291 214 200 Ontario Tel: +1 905 669 4333 Madeira Fax: +351 291 214 202 L3R 6B3 Fax: +1 905 669 2221 PORTUGAL CANADA

Express Assist Vardan Azatian – General Director Global Excel Management Brian Allatt – CEO 11-th Radialnaya, 2 [email protected] 73 Queen Street [email protected] 115404 www.expressassist.ru Lennoxville, Quebec www.globalexcel.ca Moscow Tel: +7 495 775 2090 JIM IJ3, CANADA Tel: +1 866 566 1130 RUSSIA Fax: +7 495 775 2091 4242 Cranmore Court Fax: +1 819 566 8335 Belle Isle, Fl 32812, USA

Global Voyager Assistance Costas Danilenko – CEO Medex Assistance Corporation Linda McGee – SVP of Sales PO Box II [email protected] 8501 LaSalle Road [email protected] 125124 www.gvassistance.com Suite 200 www.medexassist.com Moscow Tel: +7 495 775 0999 Baltimore Tel: +1 410 453 6300 RUSSIA Fax: +7 495 775 0998 MD 21286 Fax: +1 410 453 6301 USA

Life Assistance Igor A Striganov – General Director OneWorld Assist Taka Katsube – Dir Assist & Cost Mngment Engineernaya St. [email protected] 10th Floor [email protected] 12A www.lifeassist.ru 6081 No.3 Road www.oneworldassist.com 127410, Moscow Tel: +7 495 755 5678 Richmond, BC Tel: +1 604 303 2113 RUSSIA Fax: +7 495 631 0465 V6Y 2B2 Fax: +1 604 276 4593 CANADA

Mapfre Asistencia Pablo Alvert Sanz – Dep Reg Dir Europe TMCA Margaret Whartom – Ops Manager Sor Ángela de la Cruz, 6 [email protected] 217 Broadway [email protected] 28020 Madrid www.mapfreasistencia.com Suite 600 www.tmcatravel.com SPAIN Tel: +34 91 581 1320 NYC Tel: +1 212 964 8580 Fax: +34 91 581 1850 NY 10007 Fax: +1 212 406 1520 USA

Marm Assistance Jill Atac – CEO World Travel Protection Canada Inc. Dr Ron Mayer – President & Chf Med Officer Sabiha Gokcen Int Airport [email protected] 400 University Avenue [email protected] J Blok Kurtkoy 34912 www.marmassistance.com 15th Floor www.wtp.ca Istanbul Tel: +90 216 588 0588 Toronto Tel: +1 416 977 3565 TURKEY Fax: +90 216 588 0602 Ontario M5G IS7 Fax: +1 416 205 4676 CANADA

International Travel Insurance Journal www.itij.co.uk call +44 (0) 117 925 5151 To make an alteration to a listing email: [email protected] SERVICEDIRECTORY 33

4. COST CONTAINMENT 5. CLAIMS MANAGEMENT

Air Ambulance Technology Egon Kuntner – President Global Assistance & Healthcare Nathan Hannah – TPA Mgr Asia/Pac A-5282 [email protected] Ranshofen www.airambulancetechnology.com Jalan Pattimura [email protected] AUSTRIA Tel: +43 7722 85051 15 Kebayoran Baru www.global-assistance.net Fax: +43 7722 85051-22 Jakaita Tel: +62 21 725 8115 12110 Fax: +62 21 725 8951 EUROPE INDONESIA – CEO ChargeCare International Philip Marshall – Director of Operations Global Excel Management Brian Allatt PO Box 18 [email protected] 73 Queen Street, Lennoxville [email protected] Holsworthy www.chargecare.co.uk Quebec, JIM 1J3, CANADA www.globalexcel.ca EX22 7WB Tel: +44 1409 261 368 4242 Cranmore Court Tel: +1 866 566 1130 UK Fax: +44 1409 261 633 Belle Isle, FL 32812 Fax: +1 819 566 8335 USA M & V Administrators GmbH Jennifer Venables – Corp. Ops Director 6. CRITICAL CARE PATIENT TRANSPORT Obergütschstrasse 33 [email protected] Postfach 7622 www.mv-administrators.com CH-6003 Luzern Tel: +41 41 210 6040 EUROPE SWITZERLAND Fax: +41 41 210 6039 Lufthansa German Airlines Doris Ehring – Product & Process Management Marm Assistance Jill Atac – CEO FRA SQ/B [email protected] Frankfurt Airport Tel: +49 561 9933 7020 Sabiha Gokcen Int Airport [email protected] D-60546 Fax: +49 561 9933 117 J Blok Kurtkoy 34912 www.marmassistance.com GERMANY Istanbul Tel: +90 216 588 0588 TURKEY Fax: +90 216 588 0602 7. FUNERAL DIRECTORS OneWorld Assist Jeanette Harper – Business Dev. Manager PO Box 419 [email protected] Funeralcare International Roger Waddington Fleet www.oneworldassist.com GU51 9AY Tel: +44 7786 982 624 221 Upper Richmond Road [email protected] UK Fax: +44 1252 627 391 Putney Tel: +44 20 8788 5303 London SW15 6SQ Fax: +44 20 8788 2525 NORTH AMERICA UK

CMN Inc. Peter Lozier – Vice President Global Networks Funeral Assistance Cristina Almudi – Managing Director 140 Renfrew Drive [email protected] Suite 103 Markham www.canmednet.com 23 Blindmans Lane [email protected] Ontario Tel: +1 905 669 4333 Cheshunt www.gnfa.info L3R 6B3 Fax: +1 905 669 2221 Hertfordshire, EN8 9DR Tel: +44 1992 640 066 CANADA UK Fax: +44 1992 785 030

Global Excel Management Brian Allatt – CEO MK Funeral & Transportation Services Minas Kaloumenos – General Manager 73 Queen Street, Lennoxville [email protected] Quebec, JIM 1J3, CANADA www.globalexcel.ca 95, Ioanninon Street [email protected] 4242 Cranmore Court Tel: +1 866 566 1130 Belle Isle, FL 32812 Fax: +1 819 566 8335 10444 Athens Tel: +30 210 5154600 USA GREECE Fax: +30 210 5131660

Global Medical Management Raija Itzchaki – Assistant VP Marketing 7901 SW 36th Street [email protected] Rowland Brothers International Melanie Walkling – Manager Int. Dept Suite 100 www.gmmusa.com Davie Tel: +1 954 370 6404 299-305 Whitehorse Road [email protected] FL 33328 Fax: +1 954 370 8613 West Croydon www.rowlandbrothersinternational.co.uk USA Surrey Tel: +44 20 8684 2324 CR0 2HR Fax: +44 20 8684 8000 Health Systems International Peggy Novotny – VP / Gen Mng. Int Bus. UK 5975 Castle Creek Parkway [email protected] Suite 100 www.us-hsi.com Servilusa Vanda Castro – Manager Int Dept Indianapolis Tel: +1 317 806 2000 IN 46250 Fax: +1 317 806 2033 Agencias Funerarias SA [email protected] USA International Dept. www.servilusa.pt Rua do Entreposto Industrial Tel: +35 121 470 6300 8-2 Esq, 2610-135 Amadora Fax: +35 121 470 6499 Hygeia Corporation Joe Radigan – Chief Operating Officer PORTUGAL 15500 New Barn Road [email protected] Suite 200 www.hygeia.net Miami Lakes Tel: +1 305 594 9291 FL 33014 Fax: +1 305 594 9201 8. HEALTHCARE CLINICS USA Number One Health Group Dr Charlie Easmon – Director Medsave USA Jeffrey Baker – President 1 Harley Street [email protected] 1400 Old Country Road [email protected] London www.numberonehealth.co.uk Suite 109 www.medsaveusa.com W1G 9QD Tel: +44 207 307 8756 Westbury Tel: +1 516 622 1784 UK Fax: +44 207 504 3758 NY 11590 Fax: +1 516 294 6761 USA

TMCA Margaret Whartom – Ops Manager Privat Travel Clinics Abhijeet Sachdev – Vice President 217 Broadway [email protected] DLF City-ll [email protected] Suite 600 www.tmcatravel.com M.G Road www.privathealthcaregroup.com NYC Tel: +1 212 964 8580 New Delhi Tel: +91 9899 198 198 NY 10007 Fax: +1 212 406 1520 Gurgaon 122002 Fax: +91 124 235 3794 USA INDIA

www.itij.co.uk International Travel Insurance Journal 34 SERVICEDIRECTORY To have your company listed in the Service Directory email: [email protected]

9. HOSPITALS 10. MEDICAL ESCORT ON COMM AIRLINES cont. EMC Meditrans Servé de Klerk – President ASIA Hoevestein 23 [email protected] Bangkok Medical Center Jane Bailey – Int Marketing Executive Postbus 4190 www.emc.nl 4900 CD Tel: +31 162 496 000 International Medical Center [email protected] Oosterhout Fax: +31 8 42 24 64 86 2, Soi Soonvijai 7 www.bangkokhospital.com THE NETHERLANDS New Petchburi Road Tel: +66 2310 3460 Bangkok 10320 Fax: +66 2310 3367 THAILAND Voyageur Aeromedical Travel Marc Lucus – General Manager Voyageur Buildings [email protected] Privat Hospital Abhijeet Sachdev – Vice President 43 Colston Street www.voyageur.co.uk Bristol BS1 5AX Tel: +44 (0)117 927 3554 DLF City-ll [email protected] UK Fax: +44 (0)117 925 5940 M.G Road www.privathealthcaregroup.com New Delhi Tel: +91 9899 198 198 Gurgaon 122002 Fax: +91 124 235 3794 NORTH AMERICA INDIA Air Ambulance Worldwide Inc. Mark Jones – President Wockhardt Hospitals Pradeep Thukral – Head International Marketing 35246 US Hwy 19 North [email protected] Mulund Goregaon Link Road [email protected], [email protected] #210 www.airambulanceworldwide.com Mumbai-400 078 www.wockhardthospitals.net Palm Harbor Tel: +1 727 781 1198 INDIA Tel: +91 9819015749 Florida 34684 Fax: +1 727 786 0897 UK Toll Free No:0 808 234 6343 Tel: +91 22 26596502 USA US Toll Free No: 1 800 730 6373 Fax: +91-22-55994242 EUROPE American Care Air Ambulance Joel Reynolds – General Manager 8775 Aero Drive [email protected] Xanit Hospital de Benalmadena Dr. Juan Bosco Rodriguez Hurtado – Director Suite 120 www.americancareairambulance.com San Diego Tel: +1 858 627 0515 Camino de Gilabert s/n [email protected] CA 92123 Fax: +1 858 627 0534 Benalmadena www.xanit.net USA 29630 Tel: +34 952 367 190 Malaga Fax: +34 952 367 191 SPAIN 11. MEDICAL PROVIDER NORTH AMERICA AMREF Flying Doctor Service Dr Bettina Vadera – Medical Director Baptist Health International Center of Miami Yohandra Fuentes – Finance Manager Wilson Airport [email protected] 8940 North Kendall Drive [email protected] Langata Road www.amref.org Suite 601-E www.baptisthealth.net/international PO Box 18617 Tel: +254 20 600 090 Miami, Fl 33176 Tel: +1 786 596 2373 Nairobi Fax: +254 20 344 170 USA Fax: +1 786 596 5979 KENYA

Atlantic Assist Adriano Gouveia – Operations Manager Rua da Alfandega 10-2.D [email protected] 10. MEDICAL ESCORT ON COMMERCIAL AIRLINES PO Box 750 www.atlanticassist.com 9000-056 Funchal Tel: +351 291 214 200 Madeira Fax: +351 291 214 202 AFRICA PORTUGAL AMREF Flying Doctor Service Dr Bettina Vadera – Medical Director 12. MEDICAL SCREENING Wilson Airport [email protected] Langata Road www.amref.org PO Box 18617 Tel: +254 20 600 090 Travel & Medical Insurance Services Michael J Turner – MD Nairobi Fax: +254 20 344 170 KENYA 1st Flr Suite, West House [email protected] 46 High Street www.travelandmedical.net AUSTRALASIA Orpington, Kent Tel: +44 845 058 8000 BR6 0JQ Fax: +44 845 053 3000 UK CareFlight International Sue Robshaw – Co-ordinator

Westmead Hospital Campus [email protected] Travel Screen Sandra Howell – General Manager PO Box 159 www.careflight.org Westmead Tel: +61 1300 655 855 The Seedbed Centre [email protected] NSW 2145 Fax: +61 2 4751 2995 Vanguard Way www.travelscreen.co.uk AUSTRALIA Shoeburyness Tel: +44 1702 587 007 Essex SS3 9QY Fax: +44 1702 584 731 UK Medical Wings Jarin Kiatfuengfoo – Director 222 Room 3602 [email protected] Bangkok Int Airport www.medicalwings.com 13. RE-INSURANCE Viphavadeo-Rangsit Rd Tel: +662 247 3392 Sikan, Donmuang Fax: +662 535 4355 Bangkok 10210 THAILAND Crispin Speers & Partners ltd David Stirling – Marketing Manager Mediflight Debra O’Brien – Operations Manager St Clare House [email protected] 30-33 Minories www.cspinsurance.com Royal Adelaide Hospital [email protected] London EC3N 1PE Tel: +44 20 7977 5700 North Terrace www.mediflight.com.au UK Fax: +44 20 7702 9276 Adelaide Tel: +61 8 8223 6618 SA 5000 Fax: +61 8 8223 6340 AUSTRALIA EUROPE 14. TRAVEL AGENTS

AeroMed 365 Paul Golder – Commercial Director Voyageur Aeromedical Travel Marc Lucus – General Manager Worth Corner Business Centre [email protected] Voyageur Buildings [email protected] Turners Hill Road www.aeromed365.com 43 Colston Street www.voyageur.co.uk Pound Hill Tel: +44 8707 596 999 Bristol BS1 5AX Tel: +44 (0)117 927 3554 Crawley RH10 7SL Fax: +44 8707 559599 UK Fax: +44 (0)117 925 5940 UK

International Travel Insurance Journal www.itij.co.uk ONTHEMOVE 35

AAWI New head for CII Fortis boosts CONTRIBUTORS

adds 21st David Macintosh, a senior partner at Davies Arnold decision-making Diana Bentley is a freelance journalist based in Cooper, is to become the next chairman of the Fortis Insurance in the UK has London, who has contributed to a wide number of member Professional Standards Board (PSB), the Chartered announced that Bob Newton has newspapers and magazines, including The Times, The Mark Jones (pictured), Insurance Institute (CII) has announced. He will be been appointed as non-executive Sunday Times, The Daily Telegraph and the Evening Standard. president of Air Ambulance succeeding Rt Hon The Lord Hunt of Wirral, who will director. Mr Newton has 35 Worldwide Inc. (AAWI), is complete his two-year term as president later this year. years of industry experience at Miles Clarke is a Sydney-based writer and has a pleased to announce the addition of a new flight nurse CII president Peter Hales paid tribute to the outgoing Aviva plc, and NFU Mutual degree in Journalism. He has some 27 years' media to the company’s team of medical staff, which now chairman, and was quoted as saying: “David [Hunt] will Insurance Society, and will now experience in newspapers, radio and for the past 14 numbers 21. Pamela Wheeler has been a critical care be a hard act to follow, but in David Macintosh I believe take an active role in working years as a freelance contributor to print and online nurse for 17 years, and a flight nurse for five, managing we have got exactly the right person to do so.” Among with the board, bringing an independent perspective publications on business and travel matters around to notch up 1,500 patient transfers, providing neonatal his other attributes, Mr Macintosh is a past president of that, Fortis hopes, will challenge the senior the world. and paediatric specialities. AAWI has also recently the Law Society of England and Wales, and is highly management team even further. Fortis chief executive, purchased a new 3,000-square-foot call centre in respected in the industry. He is also a non-executive Barry Smith, comments: “We are delighted that Bob Robin Gauldie is a freelance journalist specialising in travel, aviation and related sectors. A former editor of Tarpon Springs, Florida, where its operations will be director of Markel Underwriting Agency, and has has chosen to join the organisation. We believe Bob’s the pan-European travel industry newspaper TTG based. The company was founded in 2004, and has considerable experience in commercial litigation extensive knowledge and in-depth experience can push Europa, he has also edited Destination ASEAN (the grown into a worldwide supplier of medical escort, air including fraud investigation with international the boundaries even further by continuing to strengthen official publication of the Association of South East ambulance and commercial stretcher services. dimensions. our proposition and development and delivery to Asian Nations), ABTA Magazine (the official publication customers in the broker and intermediate community.” of the Association of British Travel Agents), and Travel Mr Newton joins Fortis from NFU Mutual, where he Agent International. He contributes to The Times, The held the position of deputy chief executive. Previous to Sunday Telegraph, The Scotsman, The Sunday Mirror, ACE USA names Zurich creates new this, he held a director position at Aviva, was general and to numerous specialist magazines. He is also the author of more than 20 travel guidebooks to manager of CGU Insurance, and enjoyed a 27-year destinations from Dublin to Sri Lanka. senior vice president role career at General Accident, where he ultimately led UK ACE USA, the US-based retail operating division of the Zurish Financial Services Group general insurance. iJET Intelligent Risk Systems (www.ijet.com), the ACE group of companies, has appointed Scott Lambert has announced the travel risk management company, provides real-time as senior vice president of ACE Global Solutions. He appointment of Rocco travel intelligence information through its award- will have responsibility for leading the company’s Maggiotto to the newly created winning Worldcue (copyright) technology platform for International Advantage product and underwriting team, global function of director of AXA’s shifts tracking and communicating with travellers. iJET including overseeing staff customer development, Olivier Mariée has joined AXA in the newly created services are backed by regional and category specialists management and its general insurance. He will be role of group marketing director for the UK, reporting from the fields of intelligence, security, travel and health, who staff an around-the-clock operations overall growth and reporting to John Amore, CEO general insurance, and directly to the chief executive of AXA UK, Nicolas centre in Annapolis, MD, US. profitability. This unit is located in the New York offices. Moreau. He has also become a member of the AXA provides international UK Executive Committee. Olivier will now lead the Milan Korcok is an award-winning freelance health insurance products and overall development and implementation of the UK’s policy and economics writer who covers travel services for US-based Lynch era over marketing, customer care, brand and external insurance, public health, and medical education issues businesses. communication strategies. in Canada and the US. He has been writing about Mr Lambert has more After 21 years, Geoffrey Before joining AXA UK, Mr Mariée was senior vice health financing and policy issues in these countries than 19 years’ experience Lynch has retired as president and head of customer care and distribution at since the 1960s and is a frequent contributor to in the insurance industry, Chairman of the London AXA SA in France, where he was responsible for leading North American professional journals and consumer media. He lives in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. and was most recently serving a senior vice president of Market Political Risks developing global customer and partner initiatives and regional operations for ACE’s professional liability and Business Panel. The panel building best practice programmes for distribution and Peter Moeller, born in Bonn, started his helicopter management liability product lines. was created in 1985 by marketing. pilot career in the German Army’s aviation unit on the He joined ACE USA from AIG, where he had spent the Lloyd’s Underwriters Further afield, AXA has also appointed a new group Bell UH 1D. In 1983, he began work for Air Lloyd as a ten years, holding positions that included assistant vice Non Marine Association, regional chief executive for Japan and Asia-Pacific. helicopter pilot and instructor in Europe and Africa, president, and zone manager. He has extensive a former constituency of Phillipe Donet will take up his new post on 1 October, later becoming head of training, and eventually underwriting experience in professional liability, Internet the present Lloyd’s and is currently chairman of AXA Japan Holding, the managing director of the company. He left in 2006 to and technology exposures. Market Association, as a representational platform for Japanese subsidiary of AXA SA in Paris. start a career with Luxembourg Air Rescue as chief pilot in the helicopter department and crew-training the political risks market. Mr Lynch has been In addition, Andrew Penn has been appointed as CEO manager. He currently has a total of around 13,500 succeeded as chairman by David Wright, Practice of AXA Asia Pacific Holdings, succeeding Les Owen, flight hours. Leader for War and Political Risks at XL Capital Group. who is retiring. Roger St Pierre is an avid traveller who has visited World Access 119 countries and rising. He writes and broadcasts 9-10 November 27-29 November extensively on the tourism industry, motoring, cycling promotions Centre for Asia Pacific Association of British Travel and music. He is also fascinated by how the global Travel insurance and assistance provider World Access Diary dates Aviation Strategy Summit Agents Travel Convention economy works. At 15, he already had five regular has announced several promotions and new Pan Pacific International Hotel Marbella, Spain newspaper columns covering sport but also happens to be a qualified associate of the Chartered Insurance recruitments. Pamela Dufour has been named as senior Singapore www.abta.co.uk Institute and writes regularly on business and financial vice president of operations, and will run the www.centreforaviation.com 15-17 October 1 December matters for a number if prestigious publications. company’s customer service and assistance centre of Financial Service Forum 11 November E&O Seminars: Focus on more than 300 people. She is also responsible for Palm Springs Renaissance Hotel Business Link Exhibitions & Digital Risks Ian Youngman ACII is a specialist freelance insurance managing the 24/7 multilingual customer support Palm Springs, US Conference Monterey, California writer and researcher who writes for a wide range of operations, including travel, concierge and medical www.fiancialpro.org Northamptonshire County www.insruanceskillscentre.com publications. As well as researching and publishing assistance services and claims management. Also new Cricket Club specialist management reports on insurance, he is a 19-21 October to the operations team are Susan Yates, vice president UK 6-8 December ghostwriter for various companies and organisations. The Adventure Travel World Product Management Skills He previously had extensive industry experience with of assistance and concierge services, and Marlo Revely, www.businesslink.com Summit and Techniques Seminar insurers and brokers. director of performance and quality management. Bell Harbour International 14-15 November Marriott Hotel, Scottsdale World Access has seen significant growth and Conference Centre Middle East Insurance Forum Arizona, US diversification over recent years, and is restructuring to Seattle, Washington, US Dubai, UAE www.dormanconsulting.com Published on behalf of Voyageur Publishing & Events Ltd, build centres of excellence in product marketing and 31 October-3 November Voyageur Buildings, 43 Colston Street, communications. Subsequently, Robert Cavaliere has 15-17 November 7-9 December International Travel Bristol BS15AX, UK been named as vice president of product marketing, a 6th Annual Selling to Seniors Insurance Law Institute Insurance Conference Seminar new organisation responsible for product development Adams Mark Hotel The information contained in this publication has been published Hotel Intercontinental Praha St Louis, US Austin, Texas, US in good faith and every effort has been made to ensure its and management across all lines of business, including accuracy. Neither the publisher nor Voyageur Ltd can accept any Prague, Czech Republic www.lifeinsuranceselling.com www.utcle.org responsibility for any error or misinterpretation. All liability for travel, financial services and healthcare. He was www.itic.org.uk loss, disappointment, negligence or other damage caused by reliance on the information contained in this publication, or in the previously vice president of emerging channels, 28-30 November 11-12 December event of bankruptcy or liquidation or cessation of the trade of responsible for new market opportunities. Emily Porter 8-9 November Insurance Success Seminars Pricing and Rate Making in any company, individual or firm mentioned, is hereby excluded. UNEP FI Annual General has been named vice president of communications, Birmingham AIIA Education Plain English Seminar Meeting Printed by Pensord Press running internal and external communications, creative Facility Marriott Hotel, Scottsdale Geneva, Switzerland production and community outreach for the company. Alabama, US Arizona, US Copyright © Voyageur Publishing 2004. Materials in this publication www.unepfi.org www.aiia.org www.dormanconsulting.com Ms Porter has previously held positions in marketing and may not be reproduced in any form without permission. communications for American Express, Applix and ASTA. INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL INSURANCE JOURNAL ISSN 1743-1522

www.itij.co.uk International Travel Insurance Journal