NEWS

MAPFRE ASSISTANCE successfully secured a number of new contracts and partnerships last month, testament to the fantastic, dedicated teams working for the company and the growing influence the MAPFRE ASSISTANCE brand now holds in the UK.

In particular, MAPFRE ASSISTANCE was delighted to have been awarded a contract to provide travel insurance and assistance services to the direct sale division of wholesale brokers Citybond Holdings Plc. The three-year contract, worth an estimated £4m per year in gross written premium, is effective immediately.

Citybond, one of the leading providers of travel insurance in the UK, has been catering to the needs of business and leisure travellers for 30 years.

Leire Jimenez, MAPFRE ASSISTANCE’s Head of B2B Travel, said: “Citybond is recognised to be a well-established company, servicing various channels of distribution and we believe we can help it grow further through new products and solutions to fit its customers’ requirements.

“With our huge worldwide network and vast experience in the travel insurance sector, we are confident that we can offer the peace of mind and the quality of service that Citybond’s customers expect.”

Mansukh Ganatra, CEO of Citybond added: “We are delighted to choose MAPFRE ASSISTANCE as our partner for this part of our business and very much look forward to a long and fruitful relationship with them – this is an exciting opportunity for both parties.”

The Citybond deal was not the only travel industry related deal signed by MAPFRE ASSISTANCE in the past month.

Another deal was one sealed with Rock Affinities, a unit of award-winning Rock Insurance. In what is a major new business partnership for MAPFRE ASSISTANCE, the deal is a comprehensive travel facility designed to compete in the fast-developing UK affinity market.

MAPFRE ASSISTANCE already has a successful relationship in place with Rock Insurance via Teletext Holidays, although this latest one is significantly larger. The new deal is a three-year contract that commenced on 1st October 2011.

Led by Stuart Cranley, the team also managed to secure a partnership with Great Rail Journeys, a specialist in escorted holidays by train. The UK's largest rail-based holiday company, it offers over 230 individual rail tours to over 40 countries.

The deal with MAPFRE ASSISTANCE will provide high net worth annual and single trip travel insurance for persons booking trips with Great Rail Journeys. The benefits to the firm’s customers will include access to good quality cover, including commensurate benefits matched with a first class ticket, and high-quality claims management.