TRAVEL GUARD UPDATE

June 2008 – Destination Wedding and Honeymoon Issue

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Welcome to the June edition of TRAVEL GUARD UPDATE, a monthly review of key issues for the travel media. These brief items — including news updates, tips and guidance — are designed to keep today’s travelers up-to-date on the changing travel landscape and help them make more informed decisions on their travel investment.

Travel Guard invites your comments and suggestions on any areas you'd like to see covered in this regular update. E-mail your thoughts to us at emckeon@mmgmardiks.com.

*Editor’s note: Destination weddings continue to thrive with couples seeking romance in a far-away locale. This month we look at the destination wedding and honeymoon market, including how brides and grooms can look after their substantial travel investment.

For more information on any of the below topics, please contact Erin McKeon (emckeon@mmgmardiks.com or 212-219-7560, ext. 6767). For more information on travel insurance programs, visit Travel Guard's Web site: www.TravelGuard.com.

Destination wedding trend: Travel Guard’s most recent Pulse Poll found travel agents reporting a 32 percent increase in destination wedding bookings this year, confirming the steady trend of couples marrying away.

No worries, mon: Despite predictions for an active 2008 hurricane season, 87.8 percent of travel agents say their soon-to-be newlyweds aren’t letting hurricane worries get in the way of booking their destination weddings and honeymoons. Only 9 percent of travel agents have seen a decrease in destination wedding and honeymoon bookings due to hurricane jitters.

White sand – white dress: The Caribbean is the paradise of choice for 54.5 percent of destination weddings and honeymoons, according to travel agents. Agents rank Mexico second in popularity at 30.5 percent.

Money talks: Travel agents are stating that 60 percent of their newlyweds are spending $2,000 - $4,999 for their honeymoon vacations. Another 32.1 percent are spending $5,000 - $9,999. Of that money, agents say 64.2 percent of it is budgeted for hotel costs and 21.4 percent is spent towards personalized experiences/private itineraries.

The Love Boat: When it comes to honeymoons, agents report 39.8 percent of their clients are taking cruises. In a close second, 38.4 percent are taking a walk on the wild side with adventure-themed honeymoons.

TRAVEL TIP: ROMANCE PROTECTION

A honeymoon and/or destination wedding is often one of the most expensive trips a couple will take in their lifetime. Though their thoughts may be filled with the perfect day and stay, the bride and groom should think ahead and cover their investment just in case the “happily ever after” doesn’t quite start while on their trip.

Travel Guard’s Cruise, Tour & Travel insurance plan can help with the coverage couples need wherever and whatever type of honeymoon or destination wedding they decide is right for them. Coverages in the event of a trip related expense include trip cancellation, interruption and delay; emergency medical treatment or evacuation; lost, stolen or damaged baggage or personal effects; and baggage delay.

Also, even the most adventurous of brides and grooms can get travel insurance protection with My Travel Guard, which offers coverage for many activities that may be excluded in per-trip travel insurance plans. These activities include mountaineering, aviation, hang gliding, skydiving, parachuting, bungee jumping, snow skiing or snowboarding, spelunking, water skiing and jet skiing.

Both plans through Travel Guard offer the bonus of a 24-hour hotline, through Travel Guard Assist, to help brides and grooms with such travel assistance services as last-minute or emergency travel changes, emergency medical assistance, lost baggage tracking, live e-mail and phone messaging to family and friends and cash wire transfers. Other value-added travel services include golf course reservations, event ticketing, floral services and restaurant referrals and reservations.

For more information on Travel Guard's complete line of travel insurance and assistance services plans, visit www.TravelGuard.com.

EXCEEDING EXPECTATIONS: HURRICANE CUTS HONEYMOON SHORT

Newlyweds David C. and Jessica P. were three days into their seven-day honeymoon in Jamaica when Hurricane Dean prevented them from continuing on with their plans. The New York couple quickly booked a flight back to the U.S., leaving behind pre-paid arrangements including four nights at their resort and an itinerary of island adventure.

When their plane landed in Atlanta their airline told them they were on their own. Calling upon David’s mother for help, they were able to get a flight from Atlanta to Philadelphia and finally from Philadelphia to New York. As luck would have it, their flight to Philadelphia was delayed overnight due to covered inclement weather. When David and Jessica arrived in Philadelphia the next day, they were met with more bad news: their flight to New York was cancelled. Through the Travel Guard Assist travel assistance hotline, they were able to catch a later flight home to New York.

Although their honeymoon wasn’t quite the adventure they had planned, the newlyweds’ coverage through Travel Guard enabled them to receive full reimbursement for their pre-paid resort hotel room in Jamaica, pre-paid vacation itinerary, early flight home and the costs incurred for their delay in Atlanta.