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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“The practice of automatically charging consumers for ancillary travel insurance unless consumers take action to decline coverage does not comply with the requirement of ‘informed consent.’ Consumers must be given the opportunity to affirmatively accept travel insurance or any other insurance coverage.”

-Informational memo by Kevin M. McCarty, Commissioner of the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation

State insurance regulators for two major rental markets, California and Florida, recently issued statements against the use of the opt-out sales practices to sell travel insurance.

Recently you may have heard discussion about different ways in which travel insurance and vacation rental damage protection can be sold, and that the practice of “opt-out” sales is something that the industry is diligently moving away from. We must adapt to changing trends in regulation in order to keep growing as an industry.

As an industry leader, CSA Travel Protection stays up-to-date on regulatory issues that impact your business and we strive to proactively address developments as they happen and keep our partners informed.

The Florida Office of Insurance Regulation issued an informational memorandum on February 3, 2015. Click the image to see the full memo.

The Florida Office of Insurance Regulation (OIR) issued an informational memorandum on February 3, 2015 advising that the practice of automatically charging for ancillary travel insurance without obtaining the informed consent of the applicant, more commonly known as opt-out, does not comply with the requirement of informed consent. The OIR’s position applies to all insurance sales to residents of Florida, regardless of the origin of sale. In addition, if your business operates in the state of Florida, you may be subject to further restrictions on sales.

On March 9, 2015, the California Department of Insurance issued a notice stating that using opt-out sales practices to sell travel insurance on travel websites violates California law. Further, the Department warns that the California Insurance Commissioner can enforce pre-sale travel insurance disclosure requirements by imposing fines and suspending or revoking the license of any limited lines travel insurance agent.

Review the memorandum from the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation and the notice from the California Department of Insurance (click links to view documents).

What does this mean for you?

If you’re already a CSA partner, we’re ready immediately to help you adhere to these recently published positions. We have been working with software providers in preparation for this change in the regulatory environment and we are in the process of developing new best practices and marketing tools.

If you’re not a CSA partner, contact us at clientservices@csatravelprotection.com or (800) 989-8684 to find out how we can build a valuable travel insurance program that’s focused on maximizing your revenue and guest satisfaction, while minimizing risks related to non-compliance.

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