Identity Protection Service For Travelers Launches

by Richard D’Ambrosio / July 19, 2016

Photo: dinar129

Generali Global Assistance (GGA) this week launched a suite of identity protection services specifically designed for travelers, including proactive identity monitoring and 24/7 multilingual customer service support.

GGA launched Iris Identity Protection Services this week at the Global Business Travel Association annual conference. Iris also provides emergency cash advances in local currencies, travel assistance, and credit freezes, and notifies card providers about lost or stolen cards.

As long as the Iris products are sold as part of an identity-monitoring bundle, GGA’s services are available for agents to resell at a markup to their customers, Paige Schaffer, president and COO of Generali Global Assistance’s Identity and Digital Protection Services Global Unit, told TMR. Or agents can offer a basic level of service to high-net-worth clients, as a client loyalty and retention tool.

The announcement marks an inaugural effort by GGA to market through travel companies, said Schaffer, who has worked in the agency community, including at Rosenbluth Travel. She said the company recently signed a “$2 to 3 billion” multinational agency that is offering it to their customers.

While there are many identity protection companies in the market, GGA’s Iris product is more proactive, in performing risk mitigation before theft occurs, Schaffer said. For example, Iris also offers identity theft prevention solutions, including innovative downloadable digital privacy protection software that can mitigate the risk of identity theft when individuals are traveling and using unsecured networks. Individuals are more susceptible to identity theft when traveling because they use unsecured sources, like hotel and airport WiFi systems, and are more likely to lose items, including mobile devices and wallets, Schaffer said.

In the event of an incident, the company’s support staff will liaise with local authorities, file international police reports, contact embassies, translate local documents, and help purchase transportation and hotel accommodations.

GGA, formerly Europ Assistance in the United States, is based in Bethesda, MD, and is a part of the Generali Group.