The Warehouse Launches Online Travel Insurance

6th May 2010

Media Release
For Immediate Release

The Warehouse Launches Online Worldwide Travel Insurance

In recent years, The Warehouse’s status as a great place to get a bargain has extended beyond big red-sheds and into the digital world, with thousands of New Zealanders logging on each week to shop at The Warehouse online (www.thewarehouse.co.nz).

With its latest move, The Warehouse is poised to become a major player in the insurance market with the launch of a fully online, comprehensive worldwide travel insurance product. General Manager of The Warehouse’s Financial Services division, Phil Devlin, is delighted with the move.

“Our research indicated that many New Zealanders travel overseas without any insurance – in fact, its somewhere between 20% and 40% of us. Most that leave uninsured are unaware of the importance of travel insurance, unsure of who to contact to buy it, or find it too difficult to understand. Not only does this create potential for financial hardship, it can have implications for people’s health and safety too,” he says.

“The events surrounding the recent Icelandic Volcanic eruption have really brought home the importance of travel insurance. Compared to the price people are willing to pay for their overseas holidays, travel insurance is a relatively minor cost - particularly when you consider the anxiety and uncertainty facing travellers in the last few weeks. We’re pleased to be launching a simple, convenient and comprehensive solution that we hope will help raise New Zealanders’ awareness of the importance of travel insurance. Best of all, and in true Warehouse fashion, it comes at a great price too,” says Devlin.

Richard Harrison, Head of Multi Channel Development for The Warehouse notes that more New Zealanders are making all of their holiday bookings online direct with the end service provider. He says that this trend has extended beyond just flight and accommodation, and now includes online rental car bookings, tickets for shows, restaurant bookings, and travel insurance.

“When we launched The Warehouse Online, our aim was to become a true multi-channel retailer – one that empowers customers to purchase goods and services in a flexible and convenient manner. The addition of our worldwide travel insurance policy is another step towards achieving this,” says Harrison.

To help deliver this solution The Warehouse has partnered with IAG New Zealand. IAG NZ is the country’s largest insurance company, and trades under a number of well-known brands including State and NZI. Purchasing a policy could not be easier, just log onto www.twti.co.nz and choose your destination and you are on the way.

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