Jamie Biesiada
When Berkshire Hathaway Travel Protection (BHTP) starts offering its products through the trade again this year, the company's goal is "to make things as easy as possible," said president Dean Sivley.
From signing up to sell BHTP's products in a soon-to-come online portal to the claims process, Sivley said he wants his company to be known for being a straightforward and smooth operator.
"Those are the things they can look forward to from us: always try and make it easy," he said. "That's definitely our mantra."
BHTP is no stranger to the trade. The company has worked with advisors in the past, entering the market in 2014, but backed off a few years after that to focus on developing its products and services through strategic partnerships.
Now, though, the company is ready to re-engage with travel advisors. It's building a new platform to do so, Sivley said, which he wants to open "in the very early part of the fourth quarter."
That platform is part of BHTP's efforts to make advisors' lives easier. Many things will be automated, like signing up and getting appointed to sell BHTP's products.
Another big part of the company's efforts to reach out to the trade anew was the hiring of Bob Ford as chief revenue officer. Ford joined BHTP from AIG Travel Guard last year.
Sivley and Ford recently attended the ASTA Travel Advisor Conference, held in May in Salt Lake City, where they networked with advisors and industry executives.
One ASTA initiative Sivley is eager to get on board with is its effort to get advisors paid in a timely manner. In a session with suppliers at the conference, he said ASTA CEO Zane Kerby talked about getting advisors paid faster and making the process simpler.
"We're committed to try and live up to that mantra that he's stressing," Sivley said. "I think that's important. That's how your partners feel that you're engaged, you're focused on their issues and their priorities, and we're definitely going to do that."
Sivley encouraged advisors to sign up for partner updates online to keep up with the latest news. BHTP will also be at several upcoming trade shows to spread the word.
"We are committed and really excited," he said. "I think we're going to continue to do what we've done, which is always try and make it simple, and to work well with our partners."