Author: Steven Bartholow

Weathering the Storms—CSA is Here to Help

Hurricane season is upon us and CSA Travel Protection has launched a new online Hurricane Kit Dashboard with easy-to-use tools for many of our partners and their guests to help ease the travel insurance claims process if a mandatory evacuation occurs.

If your property is located in a potential hurricane zone, it’s recommended that you prepare an evacuation plan for your guests and remind them to be ready to leave the accommodations if necessary. CSA partners with vacation rentals in hurricane zones receive our annual Hurricane Kit that helps answer travel insurance questions you and your guests might have during a mandatory evacuation, and can help expedite processing of claims resulting from a mandatory evacuation.

The new online Hurricane Kit Dashboard gives our partners access to a digital version of the kit with forms that are easy to email or print, the ability to order extra materials from the kit, and a new “why buy” travel insurance flyer to help advertise travel insurance to guests during hurricane season.

Thankfully, forecasters predict* fewer hurricanes this season compared to previous years, but that’s no reason to be caught unprepared. All it takes is one hurricane making landfall near your vacation rental for your guests to regret not protecting their trip costs.

As an industry leader and long-time provider of vacation rental insurance and emergency assistance services, our Guest Protect plan can help reduce the negative impacts of mandatory evacuations due to tropical storms and hurricanes on your vacation rental business, can help maintain your customer satisfaction and retention, and is a way to increase revenue to your bottom line.

To learn more about CSA’s Guest Protect Vacation Rental Insurance Plan call us at 800-989-8684 or click here.

*The Department of Atmospheric Science at Colorado State University suggests a “below-average probability of United States and Caribbean major hurricane landfall” in 2015.

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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Flight Delays on the Rise, but Travel Protection with Flight Insurance Can Help

In 2014 more flights were delayed, a greater number of passengers were involuntarily bumped from their flights, and the rate of lost, stolen or delayed bags increased 13 percent from the previous year, according to the Airline Quality Rating 2015 report conducted by Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. Additionally, consumer complaints to the U.S. Department of Transportation about airlines rose 22 percent in 2014.

These types of interrupting events can affect your guests and even impact your business if guests are unable to make it to the rental as scheduled. But, there’s a simple solution. You can offer your customers CSA Travel Protection’s Guest Protect plan which can help take some of the pressure of traveling off their shoulders and is a way to increase revenue to your bottom line.

Reservation cancellations can disrupt your inventory flow and upset guests if they lose their non-refundable payments. The Guest Protect plan can help reinforce your cancellation policy, and, since you offer them the travel insurance plan, you can help save the day!

CSA Travel Protection’s Guest Protect plan includes Baggage, Travel Delay, Trip Interruption and other coverages which could reimburse your insured guests for certain travel-impacting events like those the Airline Quality Rating report suggests are on the rise. More than ever, travelers are in need of a way to protect their trip costs and hedge against unexpected and potentially expensive mishaps that can be covered by travel insurance.

“You handled our claim with such kindness. And you settled it so quickly.  We couldn’t be happier. Sometimes insurance companies get a bad rap. You can be sure we will recommend that our friends always get their trips insured with you. Thank you again.”

-Joan and Royal M. from Andover, MA

Click here to learn more about CSA’s travel insurance and Vacation Rental Damage Protection plans.

Insurance is underwritten by Generali US Branch, New York, New York; NAIC #11231. Generali US Branch operates under the following names: In California: Generali Assicurazioni Generali S.p.A. (U.S. Branch) In Virginia: The General Insurance Company of Trieste and Venice – U.S. Branch.
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Vacation Rental Damage Protection: An ‘Essential Tool’

Learn more about partnering with CSA

When accidents happen, it’s nice to know the damage could be covered.

The potential for guests to cause damage to a rental property you manage is a serious issue. A survey of vacation rental managers concluded that the most common reason for a “problem stay” was some kind of damage to the rental, according to a survey of the U.S. vacation rental market conducted by PhoCusWright* in 2012.

Fortunately, there is a simple solution that can not only provide coverage for accidental damage to the vacation property you manage, but also increase revenue to your bottom line. Vacation Rental Damage Protection from CSA Travel Protection is offered at flat-rate prices and is designed to be a more attractive option for guests than the traditional security deposit. We offer multiple levels of coverage that can accommodate varying security deposit requirements. Also, guests may feel more confident reporting damage with the knowledge that they have coverage for accidental damage.

Cheryl Catton, a rental manager with Rose Real Estate in South Carolina, recently described CSA Travel Protection as an “essential tool” for her office.

“The damage protection is a huge part of our functionality as we are a vacation rental company and, as everyone knows, accidents happen,” said Catton.

She believes that CSA’s insurance products have been helpful to her homeowners and renters, and said that it is used as a marketing selling-point by the property management company she works with.

“We had a property where a child had gotten sick on one of our bedroom floors and the mother tried to clean it with bleach. Not realizing that the bleach would leave the carpet stained, she immediately called and we went and took photos. We filed a claim, and CSA had the carpet replaced in that area. This is just one example of how effective the program is for both renters and owners,” she said.

Contact us at clientservices@csatravelprotection.com or (800) 989-8684 to find out how we can build a valuable and profitable travel insurance program for you and your guests.

Learn more about partnering with CSA

The Vacation Rental Damage Protection plan is an insurance product designed for guest purchase only. As an owner you may suggest this plan to your guests to help protect them from paying out of pocket for accidental damages caused to your rental or belongings during their stay.

*Data from “A Market Reinvented: The U.S. Vacation Rental Landscape” (A PhoCusWright Special Project, December 12, 2012)

This plan provides insurance that applies only during the covered trip. Your customers may have coverage from other sources that provides them with similar benefits but may be subject to different restrictions depending upon their other coverages. Customers may wish to compare the terms of this policy with their existing life, health, home and automobile policies. The purchase of this plan is not required in order to purchase any other travel product or service offered by you by your travel retailers.

Plans are available to residents of the United States. Benefits and services are described on a general basis. Certain terms and conditions may apply. Your travel retailer may not be licensed to sell insurance, and cannot answer technical questions about the benefits, exclusions, and conditions of this insurance and cannot evaluate the adequacy of your existing insurance. For questions or complete information on policy benefits, limits and exclusions, please contact CSA at (800) 348-9505 or http://www.csatravelprotection.com/certpolicy.do for a sample Description of Coverage or Insurance Policy for this plan.

These plans are administered by CSA Travel Protection and Insurance Services. Services are provided through CSA’s designated providers. Travel Insurance is Underwritten by: Generali U.S. Branch, New York, New York; NAIC # 11231 (all states except as otherwise noted) under Policy/Certificate Form series T001. California is Underwritten by Generali Assicurazioni Generali S.P.A. (U.S. Branch), Colorado is Underwritten by Assicurazioni Generali – U.S. Branch, Oregon is Underwritten by Generali U.S. Branch DBA The General Insurance Company of Trieste & Venice, and Virginia is Underwritten by The General Insurance Company of Trieste and Venice – U.S. Branch.

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98% of Impacted Travelers Satisfied with Their Travel Insurance

Learn more about partnering with CSA

Staying at a vacation rental can be one of the most relaxing travel experiences, but getting there can be a real pain. About one in four American adults had to cancel or interrupt their travel plans, or had their trip delayed because of medical conditions, natural disasters including severe weather, or carrier-caused problems, according to a U.S. Travel Insurance Association survey* conducted in 2014.

Luckily, travel insurance can help with these types of travel impacting events and we have a plan designed specifically for vacation rental guests. CSA Travel Protection’s Guest Protect plan, includes coverages such as Trip Cancellation, Trip Interruption and Travel Delay, which could reimburse your insured guests for certain events that regularly affect vacationers.

Not only could your guests benefit from travel insurance, but so can your business. By partnering with CSA, you can offer your guests travel insurance and earn commission for plans that are sold. The survey shows that 98% of “impacted” travelers reported satisfaction with their travel insurance policies in the year before the survey. A satisfied traveler is good business for all of us.

More than ever, travelers are in need of a way to protect their trip costs and hedge against unexpected and potentially expensive mishaps that can be covered by travel insurance. In fact, USTIA’s survey found the number of American travelers whose journeys were impacted has jumped from 17 percent in 2013 to 25 percent in 2014.

If you’re a vacation rental property manager and like the idea of increasing customer satisfaction while increasing revenue to your bottom line at the same time, fill out our partner interest form and we’ll work with you to build a valuable travel insurance or vacation rental damage protection program for you and your guests.

Learn more about CSA’s Vacation Rental Damage Protection and travel insurance plans.

*The USTIA survey results are based on an Ipsos poll of 1,005 U.S. adults ages 18 and older from Dec.2-4, 2014. Results are considered accurate to within +/- 3.5 percentage points of the U.S. population.

Travel insurance plans are administered by Customized Services Administrators, Inc., CA Lic. No. 821931, located in San Diego, CA and doing business as Generali Global Assistance 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 Retailers may not be licensed to sell insurance, in all states, and are not authorized to answer technical questions about the benefits, exclusions, and conditions of this insurance and cannot evaluate the adequacy of your existing insurance. This plan provides insurance coverage for your trip that applies only during the covered trip. You may have coverage from other sources that provides you with similar benefits but may be subject to different restrictions depending upon your other coverages. You may wish to compare the terms of this policy with your existing life, health, home and automobile policies. The purchase of this plan is not required in order to purchase any other travel product or service offered to you by your travel retailers. If you have any questions about your current coverage, call your insurer, insurance agent or broker. This notice provides general information on Generali Global Assistance’s products and services only. The information contained herein is not part of an insurance policy and may not be used to modify any insurance policy that might be issued. In the event the actual policy forms are inconsistent with any information provided herein, the language of the policy forms shall govern.

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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