Occupation: World Nomads General Manager, UK and Europe.

Background: A global travel insurance company which established its European headquarters in Cork in 2019. Offering insurance to travellers from more than 100 countries, it has doubled its Irish workforce.

Already well established in the USA and across Australia and the Pacific region, World Nomads opened its Cork facility in 2019 as a strategic foothold into Europe’s strong travel insurance market. 

Playing a pivotal role in its global strategy, the company sees Europe as the heavyweight in the global travel insurance arena, with over a third a share of the market. Cork delivered a winning hand in the company’s eventual choice of European headquarters. 

“Cork is renowned for its dynamic blend of innovation, skilled talent pool and accessibility, so it really ticked all the boxes in terms of our ambitions,” says Jonathan Frankham. 

“The city benefits from a robust infrastructure and connectivity. Its strategic proximity to other European markets facilitates efficient engagement with partners and customers, amplifying the potential for growth.”

World Nomads has just launched a new annual multi-trip product in the UK and Ireland, following a strategic underwriting partnership with Collinson, one of the UK’s leading travel insurance providers. 

Offering cost-effective coverage for multiple trips within a one-year period under a single policy, it caters to World Nomads’ core demographic of independent travellers looking for adventure and high-energy activities, including coverage for more than 150 sports activities under the Standard and Explorer Plan. 

“We offer an enhanced travel insurance experience that addresses the unique needs of today's travellers, whether that be pursuing their love of action and adventure activities, celebrating nature or culture, favouring short city breaks or families looking to get away and create memories for a lifetime.” 

The company’s research found the majority of travellers (65%) in the UK and Ireland prioritise policies that cover year-round adventures. 

“With features like Air Doctor and SmartDelay, our travellers can tackle today's most common travel challenges with confidence, enjoying seamless access to medical care and luxurious airport lounges during delays.”

Having recently been certified as a Great Place To Work, the Cork office has doubled its numbers over the past year. “Following a challenging period due to the pandemic, we are delighted to have re-entered the European market with renewed vigour. 

Our Cork office played a pivotal role in strategising and executing our successful return, showcasing the resilience and strategic acumen of our team.

Travel behaviours of Irish and UK customers are evolving, he explains, driven by post-pandemic uncertainties and the cost-of-living crisis, with many now seeking comprehensive, year-round travel insurance solutions that give them the flexibility to enjoy a variety of experiences over the year, from lounging on the beach, fast-paced city breaks or trying something a little more adventurous when they get the chance. 

“Uncertainty is a feature of everyday life — we've seen it here in Ireland recently with [Aer Lingus pilots] strike action and the delays caused by the recent global IT outage. Things can and will happen. But even with such uncertainties, consumers are hungry for travel experiences.” 

He underlines the addition of policy services such as Smart Delay and Air Doctor enhancing the product’s attractiveness: “If a flight is delayed by 90 minutes or more, customers and up to four travelling companions receive free lounge access. It won't make that plane take off any faster, but it will make that wait more tolerable.” 

Similarly, he points to Air Doctor as “another game-changer in terms of raising both the customers' experience and expectation when taking out a travel insurance policy. It connects travellers with a global network of vetted healthcare professionals and ensures access to quality medical care in a customer's native language, all from the convenience of your mobile phone.”

Ireland has played an important role in the growth of World Nomads since the 2019 launch of its European head office in Cork. 

“We've gone from strength to strength in the last number of years and really investing in our people, and are delighted we were recently certified as a Great Place to Work in Ireland for the second year in a row. 

"Ireland is not only our second largest market in UK and Europe but it also serves as a strategic gateway to Europe, which holds 35% of the global travel insurance market and is forecast to grow at 23% through 2030, making it a pivotal part of our global operations.” 

While the pandemic brought much of the world to a halt, its aftermath saw a significant upsurge in travel. 

There was a unique phenomenon in the industry as travel restrictions eased — revenge travel. We certainly saw an increase with places like Indonesia, Costa Rica and Fiji seeing increased demand versus pre-covid. 

"More recently, we've seen a surge in what they term ‘last chance tourism’ — with climate change driving travellers to endangered destinations. 

Irish sales of travel insurance policies for regions like Antarctica have surged post-covid, with Antarctica sales rising by over 80%. 

”A rising interest in sustainable and ethical travel is underpinned by a traveller ethos that says it is no longer enough to just experience a culture, it is about leaving those communities in a better place than when you came. 

“We see that first-hand through our Footprints Programme, a charitable initiative now in its 20th year that allows customers to make a micro-donation when buying a policy, with 100% of the donation going to environmental and community projects that support the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. I think Digital Nomads will continue to grow as a key travel market demographic in a post-pandemic world.”

Mr Frankham adds the company is inundated with social media imagery of popular tourist destinations: “And we risk that danger of over-tourism. I can see a shift away from that as people seek out more unique and authentic travel experiences. It's also going to make travel a more sustainable prospect in the long term, which can only be a good thing.” 

Adventure means something different to everyone, he says — be it hiking to base camp or sitting on a beach with a toddler for two weeks. 

"Travel has never been easier. There's more opportunity to visit remote locations, it's less expensive to book a flight or accommodation and it's easier to get advice when planning a trip. We also see more of this generation's adventures these days with social media. 

"So, it might feel that they're more adventurous. But I think that wanderlust and a sense of adventure can be seen across the age spectrum. Travel remains a uniquely personal experience.” 

Asked for his single best piece of travel advice, he counsels purchasing travel insurance as soon as you book your travel. 

“It ensures you're covered from the moment of purchase, so you're covered if anything happens before you depart. As a traveller, I would say life is about opportunities — travel and experiencing new cultures is incredibly enriching so when the opportunity to live an adventure arises, take it.”