14 June 2010

M&S Money Warns Tourists Of Hurricane Season

M&S Money warns tourists holidaying in the Caribbean during the hurricane season should make sure they have the necessary financial protection before heading to the sun.

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) is advising tourists to follow all weather updates and FCO Travel Advice when planning a journey to the Caribbean during the hurricane season which normally starts in June and lasts until November, especially in light of the news that Hurricane Alex has strengthened in the Gulf of Mexico.

In the event of a hurricane, the FCO travel advice will be regularly updated if it approaches a populated area. However the FCO will only advise against travel to an area or region if it considers that the risks of travel there are too high.

Tourists travelling to the Caribbean independently from a package tour should remember that they will not benefit from the protection provided via a package tour. For example, an independent traveller whose flight is cancelled could find they are unable to claim for subsequent connections, facing the cost of new flights or accommodation.

The popularity of package tours has decreased in recent years. The 17.9million package holidays in 2008 made up 39% of all holiday trips abroad that year, compared with 20.6million in 2002 when 52% of all overseas holidays were of this type.

Andrew Ferguson, M&S head of General Insurance, said: "Holidaymakers who have booked flights as part of a package holiday enjoy protection if they are unable to travel. However, travellers booking flights independently can often find themselves stranded and out of pocket and should make sure they have adequate insurance."

Independent Traveller cover is included as standard in M&S Premier annual multi-trip insurance, and is available as an optional extra with single trip travelling insurance.

Ends

For further information please call the M&S Money press office:

Liz Neild on 01244 686 068
liz.a.neild@mandsmoney.com

Simon Coughlin on 020 7992 1574
simon.coughlin@mandsmoney.com

An ISDN line is available for broadcast interviews

Notes to Editors

* FCO press release 28/05/10

** ONS report ‘Social Trends Chapter 13: Lifestyles and social participation’, 16/2/10

*** Full policy details

Independent Traveller cover – summary of additional cover provided:

• Cancellation or curtailment cover extended to include cover for loss of travel and accommodation costs and travel expenses incurred if the Foreign & Commonwealth Office or the World Health Organisation advise that it is not safe to travel, or recommend evacuation from the country or specific area or event to which you were travelling. This does not cover cancellation or curtailment if the FCO advice is in response to war and/or terrorism at the destination.
• Delayed departure cover extends to:
  loss of booked accommodation if you choose to cancel your trip because your flight was cancelled, delayed for more than 12 hours or you were denied boarding,
  or
  additional accommodation or travel expenses incurred in reaching your destination if you choose to make other travel arrangements because your flight was cancelled, delayed for more than 12 hours, diverted or re-directed after take-off or you were denied boarding.
• Missed departure cover extended to include cover for additional accommodation or travel expenses incurred in reaching your destination if you miss any connections including those within the UK on the return journey.
• Accommodation cover extended to provide insurance for:
  loss of booked accommodation if you are unable to travel,
  or
  additional accommodation or travel expenses incurred if you need to move to other accommodation, or the cost of your repatriation if it becomes necessary to curtail the trip
• UK, European and Worldwide cover available
• Single trip or annual multi trip travel insurance policies
• Premier and Standard cover available
• Up to £10m medical emergency cover and up to £6,000 cancellation cover with the Premier policy
• Independent Traveller Cover (option on single trip and standard annual multi-trip policies)
• M&S Travel Insurance Premier Cover has been Five-Star Rated for features and benefits by Defaqto, an independent research company
• Save 20% when you buy online (Available to new customers only)
• M&S Cardholders will receive 150 M&S points when they take out a new annual multi trip or 50 M&S points for a new single trip policy

M&S Money (the trading name of Marks & Spencer Financial Services) was founded in 1985 as the financial services division of Marks and Spencer Group plc, making 2010 the company's 25th anniversary.

The company is a top-ten credit card provider and the second-largest travel money retailer in the UK.  M&S Money also offers a range of insurance cover, including home insurance and car insurance, as well as loans, savings and investment products.

In November 2004, Marks & Spencer sold M&S Money to HSBC. HSBC Holdings plc, the parent company of the HSBC Group, is headquartered in London. The Group serves customers worldwide from around 8,000 offices in 88 countries and territories in Europe, the Asia-Pacific region, the Americas, the Middle East and Africa. With assets of US$2,364 billion at 31 December 2009, HSBC is one of the world’s largest banking and financial services organisations. HSBC is marketed worldwide as ‘the world’s local bank’.

M&S Money has an executive committee comprising an equal number of representatives from HSBC and Marks & Spencer.

M&S Travel Insurance policies are provided by AXA Insurance UK plc. Terms, conditions, exclusions and limitations apply. Calls are monitored and recorded.