I am compelled to drop you a line about the Concordia. There is nothing like being an observer and not a participant in this most recent tragic event. It gives me an opportunity to use my experience and give some insight from a consumer standpoint.
I look back at all of the events I had to deal with while owning America's leading travel insurance company [Travel Guard International], 9/11 being the most devastating. In the face of the demise of our company, we opened all of our lines to anyone in the world and helped anyone who asked. We paid claims for people who were just afraid to travel. We put their minds at ease. We learned a huge lesson. Our business doubled and tripled.
This is the time for all travel providers to show their leadership and embrace the integrity needed in the travel industry. It is an opportunity for those of us involved in travel to use our skills, our resources and our financial strength to show the world that the travel industry stands behind their customers and will protect, guide and support them when difficulties occur.
When one looks at business segments of our economy, each of those can be graded in overall integrity. We are not evaluated based on this tragic accident but rather on how we react and handle the innocent people onboard hoping to celebrate their birthdays, anniversaries, family reunions, marriages. This group of 4,000 was embarking on a trip of a lifetime with great expectations and was faced with their dreams being dashed in a few dark moments.
Now is the time for all of us to do something, to help put the public at ease that we will take care of these people. It is the time when the whole world will see clearly those companies that follow true north in making their decisions and put integrity before financial gain or loss.
John Noel, CEO
Noel Group/MyAssist
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