Local non-bank financial services firm Sanlam Kenya Plc and Kenya Airways have rolled out a training programme geared at accelerating the uptake of insurance products among travel agents. The training campaign by Sanlam is part of the firm’s business development initiatives geared at unlocking value through corporate partnerships.
Speaking in Mombasa at the inaugural training event, Sanlam Kenya Head of Operations Caroline Laichena said the programme has been designed to equip the firm’s partners with the necessary skills to recommend appropriate insurance covers to their travel clients.
Featuring International Air Transport Association (IATA) accredited travel agents, Ms Laichena said the training will enhance the delivery capacity of such travel consultants while helping enhance insurance penetration.
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“The insurance sector is responding positively to market dynamics including the convenience of delivery general insurance products through key partners including travel agents,” Ms Laichena said. “Today, a client is more likely to buy a travel Insurance cover through their travel agent and it remains imperative on insurance companies such as Sanlam Kenya to play a key role in skills transfer for our business partners.”
Kenya Airways Area Manager Rose Kiseli welcomed Sanlam’s support noting that players in the travel industry have positively embraced such training opportunities.
“Nowadays, the value of travel agent by far supersedes the traditional air ticket and hotel booking consultants’ role.”
Today, discerning clients prefer to place their business with travel agents who can provide an all under one roof solution covering travel insurance and suitably designed yet exciting packages for business and leisure,” Kiseli said.
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The Sanlam Travel Insurance product with an upper limit of up to Ksh50 million ($500,000) provides protection for travellers, their personal belongings as well as many non-refundable trip costs. The package also includes affordable Trip Cancellation, Trip Interruption, Travel Delay, Baggage Coverage, Baggage Delay and transportation covers.
In addition, the cover also caters for other services including 24-hour Emergency Assistance and On Demand Medical Care, which provides travellers with access to on-call physicians, medical advice and physician referrals should they become sick or injured while on a covered trip including repatriation coverage for the insured.
Travellers with Pre-existing conditions are also covered under the plan to a tune of Ksh3.5 million ($35,000).
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