ETG enhances ‘Book Safe’

EXPRESS Travel Group has updated its ‘Book Safe Agent’ insurance offering, with the new version including full insolvency cover for any ATAS-accredited wholesaler.

The policy was first launched at the Independent Travel Group conference 18 months ago ( TD 15 Nov 15) and is on offer to any ATAS-accredited agent member of ETG’s i talk travel, Independent Travel Group and Select Travel Group consortia.

The expanded offering was unveiled last Fri in Taiwan at the 2017 Select Travel Group conference by ETG executive gm Ari Magoutis.

Cited as a key way for members to differentiate themselves from OTAs, Magoutis said as well as protecting consumer funds the new Book Safe Agent policy would assist agents by mitigating the risk of credit card chargebacks in the event of supplier failure.

The policy also features client account insurance, management liability insurance and professional indemnity cover, and Select Travel Group members were urged to take out the policy as a way of standing out.

“This gives you a point of difference from your competitors who do not offer this cover,” Magoutis said, adding the policy would help combat internet pricing or online booking intentions by consumers.

“When clients show you a quote from the internet ask them how secure are deposited funds? Does the online provider have any insolvency provisions in place?”

Optional elements include Scheduled Airline Failure Insurance and Crisis Management & Brand Protection, with the policy priced from $2,550 a year.

The policy is available to ETG members now and comes with a full range of marketing material.