Month: September 2015

CSA Travel Protection Takes Home Silver Travel Weekly Magellan Award

CSA Travel Protection (CSA) owned by Europ Assistance Group, a global leader in assistance and insurance products and services, today unveiled that its Agent University program was named a 2015 Silver Magellan Award Winner in the Online Travel Services: Education Program category.

In August 2014, CSA Travel Protection kicked off a new education program for travel agents called CSA University. This program provides product and sales training for complex, heavily regulated travel insurance products, in a quick and easy-to-understand way.

“I would like to thank the CSA agent university training team and congratulate them on a job well done,” said Bob Chambers, vice president of operations. “With decades of travel insurance expertise under our belts, this is just another example of how CSA leads the way when it comes to customer and partner relations.”

With entries from across the U.S. and around the world, the Magellan Award winners represent the best in the travel industry and salute the outstanding travel professionals behind it all.

The Magellan awards is the premier awards program honoring a broad range of industry segments including Hotels and Resorts, Travel Destinations, Cruise Lines, Online Travel Services, Airlines and Airports, Travel Agents and Agencies, Tour Operators and Car Rental Companies. The Magellan is the award to win if you are in the business of travel.

“The creativity that travel industry marketers and designers display to inspire travel and enhance the travel experience continues to impress our expert judges and readers,” said Arnie Weissmann, editor in chief of Travel Weekly. “This year’s winners continue to raise the bar, establishing themselves as not just the most talented and creative people in the travel industry but among the most creative and talented of any industry.”

The Magellan Awards are judged and overseen by a one-of-a-kind panel of top travel professionals representing the best names and most accomplished leaders from the industry.   In determining winners, entries do not compete with one another, instead they are judged against a standard of excellence based on the long experience of Travel Weekly. To uphold this high standard of excellence, a category may have multiple winners, or may have no winners at all.

For a complete list of silver and gold winners, please visit www.travelweeklyawards.com.

About CSA Travel Protection

CSA Travel Protection, a Europ Assistance Group company, is dedicated to providing valuable travel insurance and emergency assistance services to protect travelers’ vacation investments and provide the peace of mind one deserves while traveling. With over 20 years of experience, CSA has developed a reputation for standing behind its customers and offering products and services to meet their needs. Through award-winning customer service, extensive experience and industry-leading innovation, CSA is with its clients every step of the way.

Travel insurance plans are administered by Customized Services Administrators, Inc., CA Lic. No. 0821931, located in San Diego, CA and doing business as CSA Travel Protection and Insurance Services.  Plans are available to residents of the U.S. but may not be available in all jurisdictions.  Benefits and services are described on a general basis; certain conditions and exclusions apply.

Elvis
Has a guest ever asked if you can introduce them to Elvis? Used under a Creative Commons license. Photo by Mark Surman on Flickr.com

Strange Travel Requests: “I’d Like to Meet Elvis”

Learn more about partnering with CSA

As a vacation rental manager you have probably encountered some strange requests from guests. You’re not alone— the American Society of Travel Agents (ASTA) has a list of the “Top 20 Strangest Requests” submitted by their members.

Business is all about keeping customers happy, especially in the travel industry. We want to help you help your guests, and we offer travel insurance and emergency assistance services that can do that very thing. In fact, all of our plans include Concierge Services which could help deal with some strange requests and questions that your guests may have.

Here’s a selection from the ASTA list and how a Guest Protect travel insurance plan* from CSA Travel Protection might be useful in such strange situations:

  • Will you watch my pet while I’m away? While our plans don’t cover pet sitting, the 24 Hour Emergency Assistance Services included with our plans can arrange for the return of pets to the insured’s home if the pet is traveling with them and they are unable to take care of the pet due to a medical emergency. Also, our Vacation Rental Damage Protection plan may cover damage by pets if your rental is pet-friendly.
  • Are there toll roads on the way to Hawaii? A car stuck between California and Hawaii is in more trouble than CSA’s Roadside Assistance service can help with. However, as long as they’re in an area regularly traveled by car, if your guests find themselves stuck with a flat tire, dead battery, keys locked in the car or they just need a tow, and they have purchased a Guest Protect plan from CSA Travel Protection, they just need to call our hotline and our friendly service provider will be there to help.
  • Can you please plan a honeymoon for me, my bride and my mother? That may make for an awkward vacation, but our Guest Protect plan provides coverage for the entirety of the vacation rental reservation, so guests do not need to worry about purchasing separate plans.
  • I’d like to meet Elvis. Unless you’re in Las Vegas or Graceland, if a guest says they saw Elvis, they might want to speak with a medical professional. The Guest Protect plan includes access to Teladoc**, a service that allows travelers to call and connect instantly with a network of physicians for information, advice, and treatment, including prescription medication, when appropriate.

**Teladoc services may not be available in all states, and international services may be limited.

Travel insurance plans are administered by Customized Services Administrators, Inc., CA Lic. No. 0821931, located in San Diego, CA and doing business as CSA Travel Protection and Insurance Services.  Plans are available to residents of the U.S. but may not be available in all jurisdictions.  Benefits and services are described on a general basis; certain conditions and exclusions apply.

Travel insurance plans are underwritten by: Generali U.S. Branch, New York, NY; NAIC # 11231. Generali US Branch operates under the following names: Generali Assicurazioni Generali S.P.A. (U.S. Branch) in California, Assicurazioni Generali – U.S. Branch in Colorado, Generali U.S. Branch DBA The General Insurance Company of Trieste & Venice in Oregon, and The General Insurance Company of Trieste and Venice – U.S. Branch in Virginia. Generali US Branch is admitted or licensed to do business in all states and the District of Columbia.

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