Worldwide Risk Management

Featured organization: Able Volunteers International Fund

2010-03-25T12:49:00.000-07:00

AVIF is a fantastic affiliate of Worldwide Risk Management based in the UK.

Established in March 2006, AVIF is an independent non-profit UK registered charity. AVIF is registered with the UK government HMRC (Her Majestys Revenue and Customs) and receives no funding from the UK or Kenyan governments and no significant sustained funding from other sources.

International teachers volunteer their time, pay their own costs and fundraise to help donate
materials for their classes. Teaching English is only one aspect of our work. Volunteers are fully immersed into the community, mentoring children and training the community in eco-friendly technologies such as solar cooking. Activities include giving art classes, helping to build housing, setting up IT hardware donations, giving basic HIV/AIDS advice, playing games and football, and sharing music and dancing skills.

All consequent projects, highlighted by our volunteers and constant networking, are aimed at sustainable development for the entire community. We work alongside the Development Education Association to provide continued involvement for all teacher volunteers in development education.

To learn more about AVIF, please visit their website. And tell them you learned about their work through Worldwide Risk Management!

_____________________________________

If you would like to discuss putting together a travel medical insurance plan for your group of travelers, please don't hesitate to contact us.

Worldwide Risk Management, Inc.

American wants exemption from tarmac rule

2010-03-16T10:53:00.000-07:00

JetBlue, Delta also asked for exemptions; rules go into effect April 29

By Samantha Bomkamp

updated 15 minutes ago

NEW YORK - Add American Airlines to the list of carriers that want out of the government's new rule to limit the time passengers can be held on the tarmac.

American has filed for a temporary exemption with the Department of Transportation, saying delays caused by the closure of the main runway at New York's JFK airport could cost them millions in fines.

JetBlue and Delta asked for exemptions last week. Those three airlines are the largest operators at JFK.

The new rule is set to go into effect next month. It could mean fines of up to $27,500 per passenger if a plane is stuck on the tarmac for more than three hours. For an average Boeing 737, that could mean a fine of nearly $4 million.

For some of American's larger planes, like the ones that fly internationally, the fines would be even larger. A delayed flight on a Boeing 777 could levy a fine of $8.9 million.

American said the gridlock due to construction at JFK will lead airlines to "cancel flights rather than run the risk of incurring such crippling penalties." The airline said this could especially hurt passengers traveling from New York to destinations with a limited number of flights per day because they have fewer options to rebook if their flight is canceled.

The Federal Aviation Administration expects delays at JFK will average about 50 minutes during peak times and 29 minutes at other times during runway construction, expected to last until June 30. That is about the same as delays on busy summer days.

American, based in Fort Worth, Texas, said it supports JetBlue and Delta in their requests for exemptions, but only if they apply to all carriers at JFK.

"Any scenario under when which some but not all carriers at JFK would be subject to the tarmac delay rule would be unworkable, unfair and confusing to consumers," it said in the filing.

Kate Hanni of flyersrights.org, a passenger rights advocate who spearheaded the 3-hour tarmac limit, urged the DOT to deny the airlines' requests.

"Absolutely no way, no how should the DOT allow JetBlue, Delta and American off the hook for this rule," she said in an interview with The Associated Press. "Those are the three that chronically overscheduled flights and the reason that planes sit on the tarmac."

JetBlue, Delta and American have reduced their schedules by about 10 percent while the runway is shut down. But Hanni claims JFK traffic was overscheduled by as much as 56 percent before construction began.

______________

Don't let travel delays result in additional out-of-pocket expenses for you. Contact us to find out how you can protect yourself.

Worldwide Risk Management, Inc.

Smart travel for road warriors

2010-03-15T13:26:00.000-07:00

By Jenna Goudreau

updated 8:57 a.m. ET, Mon., March. 1, 2010

With the economy on the uptick, businesses are re-strategizing and that means more meetings. It’s likely that more business professionals will be packing their bags and hitting the road this year than last.

In a recent U.S. Travel Association Study, researchers found that more than 75 percent of customers prefer in-person meetings, and an overwhelming majority of corporate executives — 81 percent — believe a slow economy calls for more contact with clients, not less. While many businesses have slowed business travel in the last two years, greater confidence in the economy will drive reinvestment in travel to offer clients the face-time they need.

That means you’re likely to be on the road again soon, a prospect that may sound glamorous —seeing the world on the company’s dollar — but in reality can be time-consuming and exhausting.

To help you get the most out of your business trips, ForbesWoman asked travel experts to weigh in on how to reduce stress on the road, how to schedule strategically and how to work in some fun.

Build your routine
"The hardest part of business travel is the disruption of routine," says Chris McGinnis, travel author and director of Travel Skills Group. "The good part is it forces you to explore new things, but the bad part is that it often results in less sleep and productivity." One of the easiest ways to decrease your stress while on the road, he says, is maintaining routine practices that will help you function at optimum levels.

Penelope Trunk, chief executive of Brazen Careerist, an online career management community, traveled almost every week for her company in the last year. She knows a thing or two about routine: She sticks to one airline, Northwest, so that she knows what to expect and can reap the benefits of being an elite passenger. Similarly, she almost always stays in a Marriot hotel, so she knows the food, fitness centers and accommodations will be consistent. Plus she opts for cabs over rental cars to eliminate some of the transportation anxiety.

Trunk also tries not to eat unhealthy foods on the run, and sets her priorities before every trip. As a frequent business traveler, seeing the sights is less important to her than a good workout. "Everyone's got their top 10 things they want to do," she says. "Know your priority list." Creating a checklist of what you want to accomplish on a trip will help keep you focused, without wasting time or exhausting yourself.

Schedule strategically
If you haven't organized your time, running around to meetings will be extremely stressful, says career consultant Simma Lieberman. And it wastes the time you've set aside for fun things. Avoid languishing at lunches for two hours, she advises, by clearly communicating the purpose and lengths of meetings before you attend. Also, if possible, she suggests not scheduling meetings back-to-back to allow some time in between to recoup and prepare for the next.

Greece designated a member of the Visa Waiver Program

2010-03-15T13:16:00.001-07:00

Secretary Napolitano Announces Greece's Designation as a Member of the Visa Waiver Program

Release Date: March 9, 2010

For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
Contact: 202-282-8010

Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Janet Napolitano today announced the designation of Greece as a member of the Visa Waiver Program (VWP)—strengthening passenger information sharing and ensuring strict security standards while streamlining travel for Greek citizens visiting the United States.

_______________________

See the full press release here.

Worldwide Risk Management, Inc.

Mexico - travel warning issued

2010-03-15T13:04:00.000-07:00

Travel Warning
United States Department of State
Bureau of Consular Affairs
Washington, DC 20520

This information is current as of today, Mon Mar 15 2010 16:03:50 GMT-0400 (Eastern Daylight Time).

MEXICO

March 14, 2010

The Department of State has issued this Travel Warning to inform U.S. citizens traveling to and living in Mexico of concerns about the security situation in Mexico, and that it has authorized the departure of the dependents of U.S. government personnel from U.S. consulates in the Northern Mexican border cities of Tijuana, Nogales, Ciudad Juarez, Nuevo Laredo, Monterrey and Matamoros until April 12. Family members of US Government personnel assigned to other areas of Mexico outside the Mexican border states are not affected by this departure measure. This Travel Warning supercedes that of February 22, 2010, and announces the authorized departure of some dependents and updates security incidents.

While millions of U.S. citizens safely visit Mexico each year (including tens of thousands who cross the land border daily for study, tourism or business and nearly one million U.S. citizens who live in Mexico), violence in the country has increased. It is imperative that U.S. citizens understand the risks in Mexico, how best to avoid dangerous situations, and who to contact if victimized. Common-sense precautions such as visiting only legitimate business and tourist areas during daylight hours, and avoiding areas where prostitution and drug dealing might occur, can help ensure that travel to Mexico is safe and enjoyable.

Recent violent attacks have prompted the U.S. Embassy to urge U.S. citizens to delay unnecessary travel to parts of Durango, Coahuila and Chihuahua states(see details below) and advise U.S. citizens residing or traveling in those areas to exercise extreme caution. Drug cartels and associated criminal elements have retaliated violently against individuals who speak out against them or whom they otherwise view as a threat to their organizations. These attacks include the abduction and murder of two resident U.S. citizens in Chihuahua.

__________________

Access the full report from the US Department of State here.

Travel warnings issued affect the scope of your travel medical insurance. Contact Worldwide Risk for detailed information on how this will affect you.

Worldwide Risk Management, Inc.

Adventures in Kenya

2010-03-15T12:47:00.001-07:00

Some of our clients recently traveled to Kenya with grass-roots organization The Village Experience.

They spent their time around the East African country participating in service projects centered around sustainable development within villages, women's cooperatives, camps for Internally Displaced Persons, and children's homes.

On this particular day they enjoyed a picnic lunch in the Maasai Mara national park. Breathtaking!

If you would like to discuss putting together a travel medical insurance plan for your group of travelers, please don't hesitate to contact us.

To learn more about this organization's amazing work, you may access their site through our links page.

________________
Worldwide Risk Management, Inc.

Worldwide Risk Management launches blog

2010-03-15T12:35:00.000-07:00

WRM is pleased to announce the launch of its interactive blog! We are incorporating this into our new website, which is scheduled to go live March 2010.

This forum will serve as a hub of helpful information for our globetrotting clients. We will be providing you with the latest information on our products, travel news, and support.

We want to hear from you! Take advantage of this opportunity to pose your questions to us.

And of course - we want to hear about your adventures for which you purchased one of our products. Please share photos with us from your recent travels and share the posting with your colleagues and friends.

Stay tuned for the re-launch of worldwiderisk.com.

cheers!