Global Travel Insurance

What Global Travel Insurance does

Global Travel Insurance Services Ltd is an independent, family-run insurance intermediary founded in 1997 by Philip Bacon in Worthing, United Kingdom. The company specialises in travel insurance, with a primary focus on underserved segments — older travellers and those with pre-existing medical conditions — where mainstream insurers typically decline cover or apply heavy loadings. It curates a portfolio of products including Holiday Plus (BIBA-endorsed), Free Spirit (5-star Defaqto rated, no age limit for most destinations), Travel Plus, VentureSure, Longer Stay, Sports and Activities, Adventures, Euro Plus, Coach Plus, and Top Up My Cancellation Cover, plus a Business Travel annual policy and niche products (High Risk zones, FCDO advice, Already Travelled, High Value Cancellation). The firm operates with 1-10 employees and a telephone-first service model, redirecting customers to partner-operated quote and policy administration platforms for fulfilment.

Underlying the offering is a multi-underwriter distribution model rather than proprietary technology. Global Travel Insurance acts as an intermediary earning commission from third-party insurers and managing general agents including P J Hayman & Company, Jackson Lee Underwriting (BIBA's exclusive Holiday and Sports Travel scheme provider since 2021), Great Lakes Insurance UK, Lloyd's Syndicate 4444 (managed by Canopius), Endurance Worldwide Insurance (Sompo International), Inter Partner Assistance (AXA Group), AWP/Allianz, Collinson Insurance, and Call Assist. The company holds FCA authorisation (since 2005) and BIBA membership, and its products can cover persons up to age 85 (single trip) and 75 (multi-trip), with Free Spirit offering no age limit for most destinations.

The business model is commission-based: Global Travel Insurance places policies on behalf of customers and earns a share of premiums written. Distribution is primarily direct-to-consumer via the globaltravelinsurance.co.uk website and telephone sales (01903 235042, Mon-Fri 9am-5pm), supplemented by word-of-mouth referrals, a prominent testimonials page, and B2B relationships with travel trade clients (tour operators and travel firms) for brochure travel insurance schemes and related products. Geographic reach is restricted to UK, Channel Islands, and Isle of Man residents, with all trips required to start and end in those territories. The company has operated continuously for 25+ years without disclosed external investment, M&A activity, or funding rounds, and shows no proprietary technology development or AI/ML capability.

Name

Global Travel Insurance

Legal name

Global Travel Insurance Services Ltd

Website

https://globaltravelinsurance.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1997

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Global Travel Insurance Services Ltd is an independent UK insurance intermediary founded in 1997 that specialises in travel insurance for older travellers and those with pre-existing medical conditions, curating products from multiple underwriters including Lloyd's, Great Lakes, and Allianz.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Travel Insurance

NAICS

Agencies, Brokerages, and Other Insurance Related Activities (5242), Insurance Agencies and Brokerages (524210)

SIC

Insurance Agents, Brokers & Service (6411)

akta.pro primary industry

Medical Travel Insurance (Emergency Medical, Evacuation & Repatriation) (FSAJAJAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Travel Insurance & Corporate Risk Transfer (Trip, Medical, Kidnap & Ransom) (THACAEAH), Travel Insurance & Assistance (Corporate) (THACANAH)

Keywords

• Travel insurance brokerage
• Specialist travel insurance
• Senior travel insurance
• Pre-existing medical cover
• Adventure travel insurance

Headquarters

HQ city

Worthing

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Insurance intermediary commissions: Global Travel Insurance Services Ltd acts as an independent insurance intermediary authorised and regulated by the FCA. It earns commission from insurance providers for placing business. The company aggregates products from multiple insurers and brokers (including P J Hayman & Company, Jackson Lee Underwriting, and others), earning a share of premiums written. This is a recurring revenue model driven by both single-trip and annual multi-trip policy placements.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Global Travel Insurance is an independent family-run insurance broker that aggregates and distributes a curated range of travel insurance products from multiple underwriters (Jackson Lee Underwriting, P J Hayman, Great Lakes Insurance UK, Lloyd's Syndicate 4444, Endurance Worldwide, Inter Partner Assistance, AWP/Allianz, Call Assist) to UK consumers. The core offering spans two plan families — Global MEDIFLEX Plan (Holiday Plus, Travel Plus, Free Spirit, VentureSure) and Global FOCUSED Plan (Longer Stay, Sports and Activities, Adventures, Euro Plus, Coach Plus, Top Up My Cancellation Cover) — alongside Business Travel, Group Travel, High Value Travel Cancellation, High Risk Travel Cover, Already Travelled Cover, and Travel Against Government Advice. The company's primary specialism is serving older travellers and those with pre-existing medical conditions who are declined or heavily surcharged by mainstream insurers.

Product overview

Global Travel Insurance operates as an independent family-run insurance broker specializing in travel insurance since 1997. The company offers two main plan structures: Global MEDIFLEX Plan (featuring Holiday Plus, Travel Plus, Free Spirit, and VentureSure products that allow customers to elect whether to cover pre-existing health conditions) and Global FOCUSED Plan (featuring specialized products including Longer Stay for gap years, Sports and Activities/Adventures for adventure sports, Euro Plus for European motoring, Coach Plus for coach holidays, and Top Up My Cancellation Cover for supplementing existing policies). Additional products include Business Travel insurance, Group Travel Insurance, High Value Travel Cancellation Insurance, High Risk Travel Cover, Already Travelled Cover, and Travel Against Government Advice. The portfolio is distributed through partner underwriters including Jackson Lee, PJ Hayman & Company, Great Lakes Insurance UK Limited, Lloyd's Syndicate 4444, Endurance Worldwide Insurance Limited, and Inter Partner Assistance S.A. The company primarily serves older travelers and those with pre-existing medical conditions.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Holiday Plus: A BIBA-endorsed specialist travel insurance product offering cover for persons up to age 85 (single trip) and 75 (annual multi-trip), with optional coverage for pre-existing health conditions.
• Free Spirit
• Travel Plus
• VentureSure
• Top Up My Cancellation Cover
• Euro Plus
• Coach Plus
• Adventures
• Sports and Activities
• Longer Stay

Products and services

• Holiday Plus BIBA-endorsed travel insurance offering Single Trip and Annual Multi-Trip policies with flexible options to include or exclude pre-existing health conditions, covering persons up to age 85 (single trip) and 75 (multi-trip) with cruise cover as standard. Underwritten by Great Lakes Insurance UK and arranged by Jackson Lee Underwriting.
• Free Spirit (Global Free Spirit) Specialist travel insurance covering pre-existing medical conditions including terminal cases, with no age limit for most destinations, three levels of cover, cruise options, online medical screening, and instant quotes. Holds a 5-star Defaqto rating and is underwritten by Lloyd's Syndicate 4444.
• Travel Plus Premier travel insurance offering extensive coverage levels up to age 75, with automatic cover for accepted medical conditions without screening, GP on Demand service, and comprehensive cruise cover. Underwritten by Lloyd's Syndicate 4444.
• VentureSure Travel insurance offering three levels of cover (Silver, Gold, Platinum) for single and multi-trip policies, covering minor pre-existing conditions with no age limit on single trips and up to age 65 for multi-trips. Underwritten by Inter Partner Assistance S.A. (AXA Group).
• Longer Stay Single-trip travel insurance for long-stay trips including gap years and ski seasons, covering trips up to 540 days with worldwide cover and including working and study abroad options for travellers up to age 65. Underwritten by Great Lakes Insurance UK.
• Sports and Activities (Sports Plus) Specialist travel insurance covering over 350 adventure sports and activities, including cover for training, competition and course fees as standard for travellers up to age 65.
• Adventures Adventure travel insurance covering an extensive range of sports and activities for adventurous trips including climbing and hill walking, for persons up to age 75. Includes activity equipment cover and search and rescue costs. Underwritten by Endurance Worldwide Insurance Limited (Sompo International).
• Euro Plus Specialist travel insurance for European continental motoring trips, covering vehicle breakdown, accident recovery, roadside assistance, and transport alternatives for vehicles up to 15 years old. Roadside assistance provided by Call Assist Limited.
• Coach Plus Specialist travel insurance for UK and European coach trips, available to travellers of any age with no medical screening required for UK trips, including 24/7 emergency medical assistance. Underwritten by AWP P&C SA (Allianz Partners).
• Top Up My Cancellation Cover Top-up insurance that supplements existing travel insurance cancellation cover, adding up to £50,000 per person (subject to age limits) on top of existing policies, with no medical screening required. Underwritten by Endurance Worldwide Insurance Limited.
• Business Travel Annual travel insurance for UK registered companies covering employees, directors, partners, corporate guests, and sub-contractors on business trips, including automatic holiday and winter sports extension for directors and families, with no pre-existing medical condition exclusions. Trip duration limited to 31 days maximum.
• Group Travel Insurance Travel insurance designed for groups of all types including sports teams and pilgrimages, covering everyone in the group without requiring health conditions disclosure, with no policy excess.
• High Value Travel Cancellation Insurance Protection for high-value holiday bookings suitable for UK-domiciled individuals, families and groups under 70 in good health, with top-up cover for trips up to £500,000.
• High Risk Travel Cover Travel insurance for individuals and groups travelling to high-risk territorial zones and areas where FCDO has advised against travel, including war zones, crisis zones, and disaster relief areas.
• Already Travelled Cover International travel insurance for individuals already travelling outside their home country, available to UK and EEA residents with a wide range of cover and flexible options.
• Travel Against Government Advice Package policy providing cover for destinations regardless of FCDO advice, with a wide range of options and cover levels for travelling against government guidance.

Quantifiable outcome

• Free Spirit product holds a 5-star Defaqto rating — an independent quality rating indicating high customer value and product comprehensiveness
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core, supporting and minor.

• P J Hayman & Company LimitedcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorP J Hayman & Company Limited is a specialist travel insurance broker and the primary product partner for Global Travel Insurance. It arranges and administers multiple products offered through Global Travel Insurance including Free Spirit, VentureSure, Travel Plus, Adventures, Euro Plus, Coach Plus, and Top Up My Cancellation Cover. P J Hayman is authorised and regulated by the FCA (FS Register: 497103) and has its registered office at Stansted House, Rowlands Castle, Hampshire PO9 6DX. Founded in 1979, it is a long-established specialist in the field.
• Jackson Lee UnderwritingcoreTechnology or IntegrationJackson Lee Underwriting is a team of underwriting specialists providing travel insurance products for customers and brokers, with good customer outcomes at the heart of every decision. It has been BIBA's exclusive scheme provider for Holiday and Sports Travel Insurance since 2021. Jackson Lee Underwriting operates the quote and policy management platforms used by Global Travel Insurance customers (jlutravel.co.uk). The company is authorised and regulated by the FCA (FS Register: 307038) and underwrites products including Holiday Plus and Sports+.
• Great Lakes Insurance UK LimitedcoreOthersGreat Lakes Insurance UK Limited is the primary insurer underwriting several Global Travel Insurance products including Holiday Plus and the Global MEDIFLEX Plan offerings. It is an 'A' rated UK insurer providing the financial security and backing for policy claims. Products it insures include Holiday Plus (arranged by Jackson Lee with Great Lakes) and Longer Stay / Sports and Activities.
• Lloyd's Syndicate 4444 (managed by Canopius Managing Agents Limited)coreOthersLloyd's Syndicate 4444, managed by Canopius Managing Agents Limited, underwrites the Free Spirit product (including terminal cases considered) and Travel Plus. Lloyd's is a specialist insurance market providing capacity for complex and specialist risks. Canopius Managing Agents Limited is authorised and regulated by the FCA. The Lloyd's backing provides financial strength and legitimacy for these specialist products covering high-risk medical conditions.
• Inter Partner Assistance S.A.supportingOthersInter Partner Assistance S.A. is the underwriter for the VentureSure product, which offers three levels of cover for minor pre-existing conditions. It is part of the AXA Group, authorised by the National Bank of Belgium and subject to regulation by the PRA and FCA in the UK. Its UK branch is at 106-118 Station Road, Redhill, RH1 1PR.
• Call Assist LimitedsupportingOthersCall Assist Limited provides the service and roadside assistance operation for the Euro Plus travel insurance product, which covers European self-drive and caravan trips. It is authorised and regulated by the FCA (FRN: 304838) and registered in England (No. 3668383) with offices at Axis Court, North Station Road, Colchester, Essex CO1 1UX.
• AWP P&C SA / Allianz PartnerssupportingOthersAWP P&C SA (acting through Allianz Partners in the UK) underwrites the Coach Plus product, which is specially designed for UK and European coach trips. Allianz Partners is a major international assistance and insurance provider. The UK branch is registered at 102 George Street, Croydon CR9 6HD.
• Endurance Worldwide Insurance Limited (Sompo International)supportingOthersEndurance Worldwide Insurance Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of Sompo International Holdings Ltd., underwrites the Adventures product and Top Up My Cancellation Cover. It is authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the FCA and PRA (FRN: 219654). Registered in England (No. 04413524) at 2 Minster Court, Mincing Lane, London EC3R 7BB.
• Collinson Insurance (Astrenska Insurance Limited)supportingOthersCollinson Insurance (a trading name of Astrenska Insurance Limited) underwrites certain cover elements within the Global Travel Insurance product range, including gadget cover within Free Spirit and the Euro Plus policy. It is authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the FCA and PRA (FRN: 202846).
• The Money and Pensions Service (MaPS)minorOthersGlobal Travel Insurance refers customers with serious medical conditions who cannot obtain cover to the MaPS travel insurance directory — a publicly available directory listing firms that provide travel insurance for more serious medical conditions. The Money Advice Service's Customer Contact Centre is available Monday to Friday 8am to 6pm at 0800 138 7777.
• British Insurance Brokers Association (BIBA)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerGlobal Travel Insurance is a member of BIBA (British Insurance Brokers Association). BIBA endorsement of the Holiday Plus product is a significant quality mark. Jackson Lee Underwriting (a key product partner) has been BIBA's exclusive scheme provider for Holiday and Sports Travel Insurance since 2021. BIBA membership provides Global Travel Insurance with industry recognition, access to BIBA's broker resources, and the right to display the BIBA endorsement on endorsed products.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Avanti Travel Insurance: UK specialist travel insurance broker catering to older travellers and medical conditions; multi-carrier broker model directly paralleling GTI.
• AllClear Travel Insurance: UK specialist travel insurance broker focused on customers with pre-existing medical conditions; directly overlaps GTI's core Free Spirit proposition and similar online medical screening model.
• Insurancewith: UK travel insurance broker specialising in cover for travellers with medical conditions and cancer; mirrors GTI's specialty niche with a more digital-led experience.
• Just Travel Cover: UK travel insurance broker comparing multiple underwriters and specialising in cover for older travellers and pre-existing medical conditions; close functional analogue.
• Saga Travel Insurance: Long-established UK specialist for the over-50s market offering travel insurance as part of a broader insurance product set; competes in GTI's core older-traveller niche.
• P J Hayman & Company: Specialist UK travel insurance broker and GTI's primary product partner; arranges and administers Free Spirit, VentureSure, Travel Plus, Adventures, Euro Plus and Coach Plus, making it the closest functional twin.
• Staysure: UK travel insurance specialist targeting the over-50s market with annual and single-trip cover; sells direct with a comparison engine, mirrors GTI's older-traveller specialisation.

Broad incumbents

• Compare the Market (travel insurance): UK price-comparison aggregator whose medical-condition travel insurance panel competes with GTI's broker role in price discovery for standard-traveller segments.

Emerging players

• World Nomads: Specialist travel insurance provider for adventure and independent travellers; overlaps GTI's Sports/Adventures products but with a younger, digitally-native customer profile.

Others

• Jackson Lee Underwriting: Underwriting agency and BIBA's exclusive Holiday and Sports Travel Insurance scheme provider; arranges Holiday Plus that GTI distributes. Industry adjacent rather than head-to-head competitor.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/global-travel-insurance-ltd

Compliance10 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Global Travel Insurance