Why A&G’s Built-In Winter Sports & Lapland Cover Means Peace of Mind for Agents

As the temperature drops and winter holiday bookings start rolling in, travel agents across Ireland know that snow sports and Lapland trips bring unique challenges. From ski slopes to snowmobile tracks, clients want adventure—and as their agent, you want to know they are fully protected.

At Accident & General (A&G), they handle travel insurance differently.

Their hands-on commitment goes far beyond the desk. Every year, Craig Donnelly (Director & Co-Owner) travels to ski resorts in Italy to work face-to-face with local resort managers, ensuring they are fully briefed on claims procedures and emergency protocols. He also delivers regular training webinars and face-to-face sessions for group leaders—from school teachers to sports club organisers—so that everyone on the trip knows exactly how they are protected and what to do should an emergency arise.

"When an emergency happens on the slopes, clients are naturally stressed, anxious, and out of their comfort zone. That’s why training and preparation is key. When resort managers and group leaders know the exact emergency protocols to follow, chaos turns into immediate, structured care. Giving leaders that clear roadmap gives clients real peace of mind, knowing they are in safe hands the moment something goes wrong," Craig Donnelly

Craig, who had more than 15 years of travel claims experience before moving into a marketing role some time ago, is still very passionate about protecting holidaymakers.

One of the biggest risks facing holidaymakers during the winter season, or clients undertaking more extreme activities, is assuming their existing online coverage is enough.

"We see it all the time—clients assume their standard annual multi-trip policy or bank-provided cover has them sorted for the year. But when it comes to ski trips or adrenaline activities, those policies frequently exclude winter sports altogether or push more ‘active’ activities into different categories which are rarely ever purchased. This is where quality travel agents prove their true value: making sure they can give clients a policy built for the actual trip they are taking." Craig Donnelly

Winter Sports and ‘Hazardous Activities’ Built In—Not Sold as an Afterthought (Or when it’s too late)

While many insurers strip back standard policies to force agents to buy pricey add-ons, A&G take an inclusive style approach. On all A&G Platinum policies, Winter Sports and a whole range of activities are built right in.

"The whole point of an activity holiday is trying things you wouldn't do at home. But agents don't have time to cross-check endless add-ons at the counter. Besides, the client may not even know what they intend to do on holiday. We build our Platinum policies to be as inherently inclusive as possible from day one so your clients can hit the slopes, or the surf with complete confidence." — Craig Donnelly

Crucial Protection for Lapland & Family Winter Trips

If your clients are heading off to visit Santa in Lapland this season, policy details matter.

Many standard market policies only cover clients on snowmobiles if they are riding as a passenger. With A&G Platinum cover, snowmobile driving (as driver or passenger) and reindeer rides are covered as standard. Whether it’s a family taking a husky safari or parents driving through the snowy trails, your clients have the protection they actually need.

Trade-Only, Irish-Owned & Zero Competition

As an Irish-owned, Dublin-based broker, A&G are 100% trade-only. They don’t sell directly to the public, which means they don’t compete against your agency or undercut you by offering cheaper policies online.

When you pick up the phone to A&G, you aren't talking to a call centre—you’re speaking directly to a small but experienced team who have been with the company for years.  As Craig said, “Myself, Noel, and Adrienne each bring over 27 years of industry experience to the table – most of which has been with A&G. We know travel insurance inside out, and we make sure you get quick, definitive answers so you can get straight back to your clients with the answer”

Fast Claims, High Settlement Rates & Effortless Booking

When a client needs to claim, fast turnaround times are vital to maintaining their trust in your agency:

• 3 to 5 Working Days: A&G’s average claim processing turnaround time.

• Industry-Leading Settlement Rates: Fast, fair, and straightforward processing managed locally in Ireland.

• In-House Expertise: Local sales support in Dublin, with hassle-free claims handling, and dedicated medical screening under one roof in Shannon.

• Effortless Platform: A quick, intuitive booking system that saves your team time on every quote. They also have easy-to-use API functionality.

  
  

Their ‘trade-first’ approach has earned A&G industry recognition, including ITTN Supplier of the Year, Travel Insurer of the Year, and ITAA Travel Insurance Provider of the Year ‘2025’.

PLUS – Don’t forget – A&G also runs regular Pizza Parties for its signed agencies, delivering hot pizzas directly to your shop, office, or kiosk to keep your counter team energised during busy booking periods!  Not only that, they also have an ongoing agent competition where a lucky agent will win a holiday for 2 at a Spring Hotel in Tenerife! The draw will take place at the end of October – all you need is an A&G Login.  So, give Craig a shout if you don’t already have one.

 Connect with Accident & General today at sales@accidentgeneral.ie or reach out to Craig directly at cdonnelly@accidentgeneral.ie