Latest news, articles & updates No Images? Click here Giving Back Lunch. Left to right: Caleb Poppenbeck and Johann Poppenbeck (HopeBuilders International), Melinda Harvey (International Justice Mission), Lisa Tarzia (Mission Travel), Christine Gobius and Kaitlyn Gaudion (Interserve), Kate Munns and Jenny Crameri (WorldShare) Hi there, welcome to this month's Mission Travel newsletter. Featured in this newsletter: 2016 Giving Back, travel insurance myth busting, 2017 tour updates and some exciting news! Giving Back 2016 Overview Mission Travel is dedicated to financially supporting Australian Christian mission organisations as they transform our world. Last week we celebrated our Giving Back program with our 2016 beneficiaries. Lisa Tarzia, Director of Mission Travel, shared the origin of Mission Travel and the vision which led to the development of the Giving Back program. The beneficiaries also shared about their projects and how they will be impacted by the donation. "It was so moving to hear the amazing stories, and it is such a delight to donate money to worthy projects," says Lisa. Since 2010, Mission Travel has donated a total of $225,000 to various Christian mission organisations. Our aim is to give away more each year, so that by 2020 we have donated half a million dollars to Christian missions. "It's a big goal, but that's what drives me to lead this business forward," says Lisa. Client involvement: Every client who purchased travel between 1st May and 31st October this year had the opportunity to vote for one of the four beneficiaries. It was a huge success, and the voting results were quite level, which meant the money was fairly evenly distributed. We included our clients in the process, because it's our clients that make Giving Back a possibility. So THANK YOU for choosing Mission Travel as your travel agent! Watch our 1 minute Giving Back video Just as important as booking your flights and knowing where you're staying, is organising adequate travel insurance. As with all insurance, you hope that you don't need to use it! However, we encourage you to ensure that you have all the right information and are fully covered for any unforeseen circumstances! There are so many options available for travel insurance, but it is very important to make sure you're fully aware of the terms and conditions as you might find that you're not covered as much as you think you are or even covered at all! Myth 1 - "It's cheaper and more convenient to go with the complimentary travel insurance on my credit card." Don't be fooled!....You get what you pay for and nothing is free! Paying for your trip by using a credit card to activate an insurance policy can incur surcharges of $200 or more, which obviously means the insurance is not 'complimentary'! Also, make sure you know the excess charge, as high excess fees will make lodging a claim very expensive. Also, travellers can get caught out if they don't activate their insurance or have restricted coverage, which differs based on the provider. Myth 2 - "Travel cover is premium quality simply because it is attached to a premium credit card." Travellers should never assume they will be adequately covered without reading the complete Product Disclosure Statement. We encourage our clients to purchase a standalone policy, so they can have the flexibility to choose the appropriate level of cover they need. As professional travel consultants, we can assist in choosing the right level of cover depending on the type of holiday you are planning. Myth 3: "It’s all about price in the end." Travel insurance extends far beyond simple cover. When travellers are overseas and need help, particularly in medical situations, being able to reach an expert here in Australia, 24 hours a day, can make a world of difference. In emergencies, specialed travel insurance providers are better equipped to help travellers get home safely. Similarly, travel agents are equipped to help customers prepare and lodge claims for travel insurance purchased through their agency. At Mission Travel we have an emergency 24/7 hotline for all our clients wherever they are around the world. It's exactly the customer service experience you need if you end up in an emergency situation! COMING SOON! NEW ONLINE BOOKING FACILITY! We are super excited...we can hardly contain it! In a few weeks we will have a new 24/7 online booking facility that has access to real-time pricing. But this isn’t any old online booking system. You have the option to HOLD the booking and get one of the Mission Travel staff to check over it the next business day to see if there may be a mission or humanitarian airfare that is a better option. Our clients will get the best of both worlds, best prices available and good old fashioned customer service if they want it, all with the knowledge that 50% of our profits go to mission organisations! More details to come. Tour News Update Ridley Reformation Tour28 June - 11 July 2017Limited Spaces Berlin - Zurich - Geneva: Celebrating the 500th anniversary of the Protestant Reformation NEW! - Scandinavia 4 - 24 August 2017 Sweden - Norway - Denmark Christian and Pre-Christian Heritage Tour Info night - Thursday 16 Feb 2017 6-7:30pm, Surrey Hills, VIC. Steps of PaulGreece and Turkey7th – 24th September 2017This tour will bring the book of Acts and the Epistles to life! Did you know..... We have a dedicated travel consultant for holiday bookings – honeymoons, beach getaways and more… email Deanne today for a quote or call on 1300 554 654.
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