Cornerstone Insurance, Hepstar Partner on Travel Insurance Sales
Ebere Nwoji
South African based global insurance aggregator Hepstar,has entered into partnership with Cornerstone Insurance plc for sale of its travel insurance policy through Amadeus travel channels.
Amadeus is a provider of advanced technology solutions for the global travel industry. Its customer groups include travel providers Such as airlines, hotels, rail and ferry operators, travel sellers such as travel agencies and websites as well as travel buyers like corporations and travel management companies.
With this arrangement,Hepstar, said travel agents booking through Amadeus channels will have a variety of travel insurance products they can offer their travelers from a single booking page.
Hepstar’s Chief Operating Officer,Cluudia Snyman, speaking on the partnership said, “travel agents can now add an insurance policy to a flight booking in one fell swoop and never leave the booking flow. Trip and traveller details are automatically pre-populated so no data needs to be entered twice. This saves time and effort for the agent. Insurance bookings are fully integrated into the Passenger Name Record (PNR) and back office systems, allowing for easy reporting and after-sales servicing”, he said.
According to him, traveling is a wonderful experience, you get to explore new places, meet new people, and taste great cuisine. But traveling also comes with its share of risks. He added that travelers,should know to protect themselves against travel related risks with adequate travel insurance coverage.
Speaking further on his company’s motive in the partnership, he said, we’re making it easier for travel agents in Nigeria to book insurance products smoothly through the GDS. This will be hugely beneficial for travel agents and travellers alike”,
Also speaking, Head,Cornerstone Insurance plc E-Business and Alternative Markets, Kolawole Ladejobi, said his company’s aim in the deal is to revolutionise penetration and distribution of insurance through cutting edge technology.
He said with the partnerships, the two firms have made travel insurance more accessible for Nigerians and seamless for travel agents.
The General Manager Amadeus Nigeria, Yann Gilbert, said his company will continue to add new value to the travel ecosystem by ensuring that customers have everything they need to offer their travellers the best service.
“By integrating insurance content into our channels, travel agents can now save time by booking all the elements of a trip within their existing booking flow and with only a few key strokes, he stated.”
Donald Ullah from Rewards Travel, one of the pilot customers selling insurance through Amadeus in Nigeria, said by taking out travel insurance travellers are essentially covering themselves against travel risks such as lost or stolen luggage, cancellation cover and most importantly, unexpected medical costs abroad.
He said selling Cornerstone products through Amadeus takes no time and is extremely easy. “It is allowing our travel consultants to offer a complete and very competitive travel service to our customers.’’