From High Seas Heroics to Airport Assistance and More, Travel Guard® North America Wants Your Random Acts of Kindness

STEVENS POINT, Wis., Aug. 4, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- With only weeks left to enter the World's Unluckiest Traveler 2: The Rescue contest, Travel Guard North America (www.travelguard.com), a leader in travel insurance and assistance services, is urging the public to recognize the unsung heroes of travel by sharing tales of random acts of kindness. Whether a concierge went above and beyond, an airline employee provided special assistance or a fellow traveler helped save a trip, Travel Guard wants to hear about it. With a $10,000 Hero's Vacation and airfare for two at stake, stories of random acts of kindness witnessed while traveling have been streaming in throughout the summer.

Submissions to date include "Baboon Rescue in Kenya," the story of an American visitor who saved the lives, and lunches, of his tour group thanks to some quick thinking. The group was exploring African wildlife areas when they stopped for a lunch break and unwittingly encountered a troop of baboons. Spotting some cookies the group had packed for lunch, the baboons raced toward them, pouncing on the cookies and nearly landing on a small child. The brave member of the group took charge, distracting the baboons, causing them to retreat while his fellow tour members escaped to safety.  

"Attack of the Gallbladder" is the story of a couple who met their driver, Martin, in Germany after disembarking from a European river cruise. The trio made a pit stop in a small town on their way to Prague, when the wife began suffering a gallbladder attack. Martin drove the couple to the local hospital, served as a translator and waited for hours while the doctors ran a series of tests. Afterward, he helped them pick up prescriptions and took them to their hotel in Prague, only to make another trip to a different hospital at 7 a.m. the next morning. The wife was admitted and treated until she could return home for surgery with Martin there every step of the way!

The entry "Trip to Visit Mom" tells of a mother traveling alone with her two young children to visit their grandmother in Florida. Her hands were full with the kids and their belongings during a layover at a busy airport, when a pilot saved the day by offering his help and carrying the one-year-old to the gate.  

"From unlikely rescues to medical emergencies, I am encouraged by the random acts of kindness that shine through the hectic nature of travel," said Carol Mueller, vice president, Travel Guard North America. "Whether it's one traveler helping another or a travel industry employee who saved the day, we believe the travel tales of kindness we continue to receive will inspire individuals to take a minute and help someone in need."

Entries will be accepted on www.travelguard.com through Labor Day, September 5. On September 27, World Tourism Day, Travel Guard will announce the 10 best stories, as chosen by a panel of travel experts including:

• Spud Hilton – Travel Editor, San Francisco Chronicle
• Rick Seaney – Co-Founder, FareCompare.com
• George Hobica – Founder, Airfare Watchdog
• Harvey Chipkin – Freelance Travel Writer
• Christian DeBenedetti – Freelance Correspondent, Outside
• Eileen Ogintz – Syndicated columnist, Creator of TakingTheKids.com
• Everett Potter – Founder, Everett Potter's Travel Report
• Kim Orlando – Founder, TravelingMom.com

Throughout the month of October, the public will vote for the ultimate act of kindness from 10 finalists. The winning hero, as voted by North America, will be awarded a $10,000 Hero's Vacation. The person who nominated the winning story will win airfare for two anywhere in the U.S.

Travel Guard's "World's Unluckiest Traveler" app, available for Android and iPhone, makes it easy to stay up-to-date with the contest while on the run. The public is also encouraged to spread the love by sharing their favorite stories of travel good deeds via Facebook, Twitter and other social networks. For more information on the contest and a full set of rules and regulations, visit www.travelguard.com.

About Travel Guard

Travel Guard, a Chartis company and worldwide leader in travel insurance and assistance, provides products and services to millions of travelers around the globe, including a wide range of emergency services through its wholly-owned assistance centers located in Asia, Europe and the Americas. Travel Guard helps leisure and business travelers alike solve problems and manage risks. Travel Guard's global reach, unparalleled service quality and proven operational capabilities allow clients to receive best-in-class care. Travel Guard's suite of technology platforms enables seamless integration with all major travel distribution systems and supplier channels. The travel insurance products marketed by Travel Guard are underwritten by insurance company subsidiaries and affiliates of Chartis Inc. For additional information, please visit our websites at www.travelguard.com and www.travelguardworldwide.com.

Follow us on Twitter and "like" us on Facebook.

NO PURCHASE OR PAYMENT OF ANY KIND OR SALES PRESENTATION IS NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN THIS CONTEST AND SWEEPSTAKES. A PURCHASE WILL NOT INCREASE YOUR CHANCES OF WINNING. The Travel Guard "Random Act of Kindness" Promotion starts May 30, 2011 at 9:00:00 AM EST and ends October 31, 2011 at 11:59:59 PM EST. Open to legal residents of the United States (excluding U.S. Territories), age 21 and over, and residents of Canada (excluding Quebec) over the age of majority in their province/territory, at the time of entry. The Promotion consists of a Video/Photo Contest ("Contest") component and a Voter Sweepstakes ("Sweepstakes") Component. To Enter the Contest: Beginning May 30, 2011 at 9:00:00 AM EST and ending September 5, 2011 at 11:59:59 PM EST go to www.TravelGuard.com and submit either a video or a photo along with an accompanying story describing your submission (between 10 and 200 words), about a random act of kindness by someone who has helped you or someone else when away from home, along with your full name, email address, phone number, country and state/province/territory of residence and a username and password, and the full name, email address, phone number, country and state/province/territory of residence of the Nominee. Contest Entries must be submitted by September 5, 2011 at 11:59:59 PM EST. Limit one Unique Contest Entry per person/household per day. To Enter the Sweepstakes: Beginning October 1, 2011 at 9:00 AM EST and ending October 31, 2011 at 11:59:59 PM EST, go to www.TravelGuard.com, and vote for one of the eligible Contest Entries, enter your full name, email address, phone number, country and state/province/territory of residence and a username and password. You will receive one (1) entry into the Sweepstakes ("Entry") for your Vote if you voted for the eventual Contest Grand Prize Winner. Limit one (1) Vote/Entry per person/email address per day. Odds of winning the Sweepstakes Prize depends on the number of Votes received for the Contest Grand Prize Winner during the Voting Period. Sponsor: Travel Guard Group, Inc., 3300 Business Park Drive, Stevens Point, Wisconsin 54482.  Void in Puerto Rico and all other U.S. territories, Quebec and where prohibited by law. Subject to full official rules, available at www.TravelGuard.com/Unlucky.

Travel Guard's sponsorship of the World's Unluckiest Traveler Contest is not intended to represent in any respect that Travel Guard's insurance plans cover any of the events depicted in any single entry. For full and complete insurance coverage details, please contact Travel Guard directly.

SOURCE Travel Guard North America