Arising from the cerebral-vascular accident that the famous Argentinean musician suffered after a show in Venezuela, our Company was in charge of the coordination of his assistance in that country and especially of his Sanitary Repatriation to Argentina, which was very successfully performed on June 7th

The Sanitary Repatriation service is one of the most complex among all those included within travelers assistance, since it implies a thorough professional knowledge and an experience that may only be acquired through practice, since the medical attention is provided at 10,000 meters of altitude and in pressure conditions very different from those at ground level, which implies for instance a special handling of oxygen. We are very proud of our performance in this case, not only regarding the air transfer, which had no complications, but the really quick and efficient Sanitary Transfer made in record time from the Airport to the Fleni Medical Center, where the musician was hospitalized. Our know-how and experience in this kind of operations have been essential to this achievement.

ASSIST-CARD International is continuously working to update and renew the trademark image of the company. At the same time, we are interested in providing our people with a comfortable and agreeable working environment to perform their tasks.

For this reason our Corporation decided to move our Madrid offices. In this particular case, our goal was not only to have premises dynamic enough so as to go along with the work of our staff but also to provide a more efficient access to our customers.

Our team in Madrid coordinates assistances for our clients from the world over not only in the European Continent but also in part of Asia and Africa. They have been developing their job there with professionalism and efficiency for over 30 years.

The new offices are in an ultra-modern and functional building located in an area where the most important companies together with airlines and travel agencies have established lately. Our new address is:

Avenida del Partenón, 16-18 –3A
28042 – MADRID

The telephone number continues being the same: +34 91 788 3333, as well as the rest of the contact information.

Confirming once again its undisputable leadership in the Latin American travel market, ASSIST-CARD is very proud to inform that the Corporation has signed an agreement with Continental Airlines by which, starting June, all the tickets issued in and originating from Latin America will include, FREE OF CHARGE, an ASSIST-CARD for the first 24 hs. in destination.

Together with the agreement signed in the end of 2009 with the Miami HEAT to sponsor this NBA basketball team, this new marketing action shows the strength and conviction the company is facing its marketing actions in the region with. After 38 years of innovation and leadership, ASSIST-CARD continues proving its vocation to help travelers always enjoy their trips anywhere in the world with the peace of mind that only traveling protected by the largest travelers assistance network in the world may give them. No matter whether the trip is the most sophisticated to a faraway and exotic destination or the most trivial to a neighboring country, ASSIST-CARD is, together with the passport and the air ticket, the most essential document for any traveler.

After more than 15 years, ASSIST-CARD Argentina regained presence in the domestic airport of Buenos Aires,

A few months ago this Airport was authorized to operate regional flights to Brazil, Bolivia and Uruguay, and therefore it became necessary for our company to recuperate a selling space in the Aeroparque. Our new stand, made in record time, has a modern and functional design that supports the Corporate style guidelines for airport stands.

We are very proud of this new achievement and especially of the support the Branding Department is giving to all our operations around the world.

The VITRINA TURISTICA DE ANATO, the biggest travel trade fair in Colombia and that gathers the whole tourism trade in the country, was held in Bogota between Feb 24 and 26.

Ever since this fair began, ASSIST-CARD always built its booth in the International Pavilion, which is always the most visited of the exposition. This year, since the theme of the stand was the launching of our sales in the US and our sponsorship agreement with the Miami Heat, a space with a highest ceiling became necessary to install the basket ring. This is why we had to rent our space in a different pavilion. Our booth received so many visitors that this new pavilion became one of the most popular of the whole fair. It was visited by over 1300 travel agents, 480 of which took part in a contest for two trips to the US. A spectacular success!!

It may take very long. It may even look like we are not going to make it. But when we at ASSIST-CARD have a dream, it is a sure thing that we will make it come true.

After two full years of hard paperwork, ASSIST-CARD Peru made true its dream of having our sign installed at the 21st floor of the building where our offices are, in the very heart of Miraflores, Lima. The inauguration was celebrated last Friday August 28th with a cocktail attended by Nicolas Keglevich, General Director of ASSIST-CARD INTERNATIONAL.

Congratulations to María Gracia Yrigoyen, the Country Manager of ASSIST-CARD Peru and all her team on this new achievement!

Several years ago parents in most Latin American countries started giving their daughters a trip to Disneyworld instead of a party as a present for their 15th anniversary.

As a consequence, many travel agencies in the region sell programs for teenage girls going to Orlando, which include air trip, hotels, tickets to and activities in the parks, cruise tours, etc, and of course travelers assistance. And every year, in the month of July, around 10,000 teenagers travel to USA with these packages.

A very impressive amount of young girls, full of illusions and willing to enjoy every moment, gather in the city. No unexpected situation may disappoint any of them.This is the reason why our services, even though they are especially difficult to provide due to the amount of travelers that require them generally at the same time of the day, cannot be deficient in any way. Our experience of over 35 years, in addition to having our Miami Alarm Center, allow us to really make the difference.

Every night, and for every group, at the time the girls come back from their daily visit to the Disney parks, an ASSIST-CARD physician visits each and every hotel, examines those girls who require assistance and provides them with the corresponding medication. In order to be able to efficiently carry out this operation we yearly send several staff members to Orlando with one of our vehicles, in order to back-up and make the logistics of the medical infrastructure, deliver medicines, transport patients to the hospitals, etc.

This year’s season was very atypical, due to the swine flu fear generalized in all Latin American countries. For this reason, our operation in Orlando was especially important: ASSIST-CARD sent two vehicles, a medical team of 6 physicians supervised by one of our most renowned medical managers, and a group of our most experienced assistance coordinators to supervise everything concerning this huge and transcendent operation. We also reinforced the quantity of medications allotted to this operation, by adding nebulizers, specific flu medications such as Tamiflu and disposable materials.

Besides, back-up teams exclusive for these teenagers’ groups were established in the Miami, Argentina and Orlando Alarm Centers, dedicated 24-hours a day to organize, assist and support not only the girls but also their families at their home countries.

7,500 girls traveled with ASSIST-CARD this season, 2,300 of which were assisted through these medical visits. Our people distributed over 6,500 medicines and 50 swine flu preventive treatments were supplied for suspicious cases. On top of this, around 320 normal medical assistance services were provided… It is very easy to imagine the huge workload this whole operation may have brought with it, and the hundreds or problems our staff had to face simultaneously.

And everything worked perfectly! Travel agencies from all over the region sent us their letters of gratitude. Many calls were also received at our offices.

We wish to congratulate very warmly the ASSIST-CARD team involved in this operation for their extraordinary work and their great performance.

In accordance with the style that has been our “trademark” for a the last 3 decades, ASSIST-CARD started a new stage of strengthening ties with travel agents all over the continent. travel agencies are our most important sales channel, and the one that lead us to be the undisputed leader in the region.

One of our first steps towards our goal is the signature of an agreement with Turismo Cocha, the biggest travel corporation in Chile, which xx a strategic alliance to provide all of the passengers of this renowned travel agency the best travelers assistance services.

Both our leisure and corporate products will be marketed within the 20 branches Turismo Cocha has all over the country as well as in those located within the Ripley department stores.

The agreement was signed by Mr. Mario Fuenzalida, President of Turismo Cocha and Mr. Sr. Nicolas Keglevich, General Director of ASSIST-CARD INTERNATIONAL, on August 13th

In connection with ASSIST-CARD's participation as Presenting Sponsors for the 2009/2010 season, Max Keglevich, our Branding Director, visited the Miami Heat offices to finish details regarding the different ways in which our trademark will be exposed along the season and also to design the branding and promotion activities we will carry out together.

together with Keith St. Clair, the President of ASSIST-CARD USA, Max Keglevich attended the “Draft Party”, that is the event where the team for the coming season starts to be defined. They also took part in a Golf tournament organized by the Miami Heat as a part of their community program and which super famous Alonzo Mourning, ex-Miami Heat player and current Vice President of Player Programs and Development.

The agreement with the Miami Heat is one of our first steps in this new ASSIST-CARD growth stage, when we are launching our sales in the U.S.

ASSIST-CARD Mexico was the main sponsor of the Merida G&H 100. This event, that this year was held from June 29th to July 2nd at Hotel Intercontinental Villa Mercedes, annually gathers the strongest buyers and providers within the Mexican tourism marketplace, among which the Managers of the main hotel chains or the world together with owners and directors of local boutique hotels and haciendas.

ASSIST-CARD provided free assistance to all the participants and also introduced to the Mexican travel trade their “Hotel Assist”, a product that includes assistance to all guests during their stay at the participating hotel.

Carlos Esnal, from ASSIST-CARD México, took part in the event, during which he carried on 3 intensive work days with seminars, group presentations to sales managers of hotels and also a huge amount of individual interviews were held at the stand that ASSIST-CARD built for the event.

This is one of the many actions that ASSIST-CARD is taking in Mexico to diversify its sales channels, in order to have ASSIST-CARD products sold not only in Travel Agencies but also in any other niche that the tourism market may offer us.

Last Thursday May 21st, ASSIST-CARD Peru inaugurated a new stand, placed at the check-in hall within the Lima Internacional Airport.

Now more than ever, we must be present at all the Latin American Airports, to be able to better serve our worldwide customers. Our Stand at the Jorge Chavez International Airport confirms once again our leadership in the Peruvian travel market. And besides being an important sales channel, our Stand also provides the assistance support that our customers have always valued. Our Stand is open 24 hours a day 365 days a year and provides quick and efficient service not only to those customers purchasing their cards at the Airport or those who need any kind of assistance service but also to all the Peruvian Travel Agents.

Within our agreement with the AmericanAirlines Arena and the Miami Heat, an ASSIST-CARD ad will be appearing several times a day in the Miami MediaMesh, the amazing digital façade that the AmericanAirlines Arena, where the Miami Heat plays local, launched on Wednesday May 27th with TV, local and national press coverage.

WHAT IS THE MIAMI MEDIAMESH?

It is a huge see-through screen, 3 stories high and measuring 3,400 sq feet, that, through a high-grade architectural woven stainless steel mesh embedded with tubes filled with LEDs” displays high-resolution digital images without affecting visibility from inside the building and being really energy-efficient.

The screen faces high-traffic Biscayne Blvd., which guarantees that our publicity there will be seen daily from 65,000 cars, by general foot traffic and also by the thousands or tourists from all over the world that visit the city. And obviously as well by the 1.3 million people visiting the Arena each year for different kinds of events.

The two stories where ACI will have its offices are already under construction! We will soon be able to publish pictures of what actually will be the ACI headquarters, which will be ready by the end of 2010.

This building has technical and constructive characteristics that make it unique. It is spectacularly located and will have 22 office floors and 2 underground parking lots. And what is really special for us is that this building will also have our logo on its upper part.

We believe in our dreams. We believe in our plans, Making a permanent be ton the future is part of the ASSIST-CARD style. And we are sure that our future is really bright!

Just as we have been doing for over 39 years, the ASSIST-CARD worldwide network is alert and ready to protect our customers in this unfortunate situation. Nowadays more than ever, the ASSIST-CARD cards are IRREPLACEABLE FOR ANY KIND OF TRIP and no traveler may leave their country without their ASSIST-CARD.

Swine flu symptoms are: high fever over 38°C (100.4 F), intense coughing, strong head and bone ache, lack of appetite, nasal congestion and general indisposition.

It is treated with antiviral medication under a strict medical supervision.

As a preventive measure, it is essential to use chin-straps or other respiratory masks. Avoid greeting with kisses or shaking hands, do not share food, cutlery or glasses. Also avoid meetings in closed places and take special care of the cleanliness of common-use articles, such as telephones, toys, etc.

When any of the above-mentioned symptoms appears, every minute counts. Through only a local phone call, and no matter whether it is day or nighttime, weekday or a holiday, our experienced assistance operators will be at the disposal of our customers to immediately provide them with the best treatment locally available.

As the undisputed travel trade leaders and making once again evident the style that has always separated us from our competitors, ASSIST-CARD has signed an agreement to be the “Presenting sponsor” of the NBA team for all the 2009-2010 season.

Our trademark exposure in the American Airlines Arena in Miami, where the Heat plays local, will be really diverse: we will appear in the tickets, in an insert within every match’s program, a rotational banner in one side of the court, other in a central illuminated cartel, one more rotating all over the stadium, other outside the Arena, a wall banner in one of the main entrance concourses and corporate banners in both the Miami Heat and the AA Arena websites.

ASSIST-CARD will also have a 16-seat “suite” that will be used for PPRR actions in each and every event held in the AA Arena. There will also be in-court special promotions during the matches.

Besides, and within our Help & Care program, ASSIST-CARD will make a donation for charities for every “assist” made by a Miami Heat placer. And this will be promoted within the arena with a banner saying: “Great Assist!” Sponsored by ASSIST-CARD.

Our trademark will be present on countless occasions in TV, radio and other media within the United Status, since the Miami Heat logo will incluye, throughout the whole season, the legend: “Presented by ASSIST-CARD”.

We are sure that this is the first step in a new growth stage for our Company.

No passado dia 12 de novembro, no jogo dos Miami Heat realizado no American Airlines Arena, o centro de eventos esportivos mais importante da cidade de Miami, e em frente a um estádio quase cheio, nossa marca foi exibida em 20 oportunidades por minuto cada vez.

Este sucesso nos enche de orgulho já que, além do cartaz no edifício ASSIST-CARD do Miami, é a primeira vez que a marca ASSIST-CARD é exposta de forma massiva nos Estados Unidos.

Sem dúvidas, a introdução ao público americano do conceito de assistência ao viajante num evento tão massivo como é um jogo da NBA vai ser um trampolim fundamental para o princípio das nossas vendas nos Estados Unidos, que acontecera nos próximos dias.

A Regata Circuito Atlântico Sul Rolex para barcos de 26 pés em diante aconteceu no dia 17 de janeiro entre Buenos Aires (Argentina) e Punta Del Este (Uruguai) continuando até o dia 22 janeiro com diferentes provas no litoral uruguaio. A ASSIST-CARD foi patrocinadora de um dos participantes mais famosos: o “Fortuna III”. Depois do “Fortuna I” na década do 60 e o “Fortuna II” nos anos 80, o “Fortuna III”, um iate de 60 pés desenhado pelo reconhecido Germán Frers, é o que continuou uma dinastia de barcos triunfadores.

Além disso, a publicidade da ASSIST- CARD na espicha, os 17 membros da tripulação, entre eles Carlos Espínola, o atleta argentino que ostenta 3 medalhas olímpicas, viajaram sob a proteção da ASSIST-CARD.

Apesar do difícil vento “pampeiro” o “Fortuna III” conseguiu quebrar seu próprio recorde nesta regata, cruzando a linha de chegada depois de 18 horas e 31 minutos de competição, melhorando em 18 minutos a marca que tinha estabelecido na edição de 2005.

On November 12th, the ASSIST-CARD trade-mark was exhibited in the almost full American Airlines Arena, the most important sports and events venue in Miami, during a Miami Heat match

This is a prideful occasion for the Corporation since, besides our sign on top of the ASSIST-CARD building in Miami, this is the first time that the ASSIST-CARD trademark reaches massive exposure in the US.

No doubt that having been able to introduce the travelers’ assistance concept to the American public during so large an event such as a NBA match will be a fundamental step towards the initiation of our sales in the US, which will start in the coming days.

The Regatta Circuito Atlántico Sur Rolex for boats 26-feet or longer, took place on January 17th between Buenos Aires (Argentina) and Punta del Este (Uruguay) and continued until January 22nd with different saling tests on Uruguayan sea. ASSIST-CARD sponsored one of its most famous participants: the “Fortuna III”. After the “Fortuna I” in the 60’s and the “Fortuna II” in the 80s, the “Fortuna III”, a 60-feet boat designed by the recognized Germán Frers, continues a dynasty of winning yachts.

Besides ASSIST-CARD publicity in the gaff, all the 17 members of its crew, including Carlos Espínola, the Argentine athlete winner of 3 Olympic medals, traveled protected by ASSIST-CARD.

In spite of the strong “pampero” wind, the “Fortuna III” broke its own record for this regatta, crossing the finish line after 18 hours and 31 minutes of race and taking18 minutes less than its previous record, established in 2005.

Congratulations to the winners!!

After more than 25 years of operating as a GSA, our office in Chile has moved to be a direct Branch of ASSIST-CARD INTERNATIONAL.

This new stage started with new offices that not only are located in the most prestigious and modern area of the city of Santiago, but that are also in accordance with the image our offices have all around the world.

ASSIST-CARD is making a bet on the future of our Chilean operation and therefore these new offices are integrated into the group of countries in the region that have state-of-the-art telephone centrals with Avaya technology, which implies far better quality service for our customers.

The new Country Manager, Jorge Saud, is confident in leading his team to the level of excellence they are expected, transmitting to his whole staff his energy and his commitment with the goal of this change that brings fresh air to our people in Chile. The company recognizes and values their capacity and dedication and in committed to support them in their growth not only professional but also personal.

We count on the strength and passion of our people in Chile and wish them a huge success!

ASSIST-CARD GUATEMALA has closed a joint venture with COPA VACACIONES (Emassa Travel). As from now on this company, one of the biggest travel wholesalers in the country, will work 100% with ASSIST-CARD including our products in all of its packages and charters around the world. Besides, we are taking part as a sponsor in the biggest event for Wedding and Fifteenth Anniversary celebrations in Guatemala: “EXPO BODAS” and “EXPO QUINCEAÑERAS”, during which a special conference for ASSIST-CARD will be held. This sponsorship will allow us to appear in the four most important television channels in the country.

Congratulations on the excellent job!

On Thursday February 26th ASSIST-CARD has issued the first cards in the United States. The Corporation is already licensed for Wholesale sales in all 50 states and for Retail sales in 25.

We wish the whole US TEAM lots of success and strength for the American Conquest.

On February 26th and 27th the ANATO Colombia Trade Fair took place in Bogotá. The ASSIST-CARD stand, as usual, was one of the most visited and the one that most attention attracted due to its theme: “Peace of Mind at the Beach”, with a 6m wide background of a sunny afternoon at the beach, a glass runway that simulated seawater and the floor wholly covered of white sand. The visitors enjoyed two days of real tranquility.

Congratulations to the ASSIST-CARD Colombia team!

For ASSIST-CARD, “24 hours a day 365 days a year” is not a slogan: it is a solemn pledge, a commitment we have honored for more than three decades.

Like only a few companies in the world, our corporate culture is to take care of our customers and to help them. We are a customer-oriented organization and we believe that the key to our success in our relationship with them is quality in everything we do.

We are very proud to announce that, after having obtained the first certification 3 years ago, our Argentina, Brazil and Colombia offices have achieved last November a new Recertification of its Quality Management System under the ISO 9001-2000.

The ABAV, the most important fair for the Brazilian travel-trade, and that gathers travel professionals coming from all over the country, was held from October 22nd to October 24th in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

This year the occasion was really special since ASSIST-CARD celebrated its 30th Anniversary in the country, where the Corporation was the travelers’ assistance pioneer. ASSIST-CARD presented an institutional stand that combined the quality that the Corporation so proudly cares for wherever its image is engaged with the so much appreciated Brazilian ”joie de vivre”, that was clearly portrayed the moment the 30th Anniversary was celebrated with a gigantic cake that was shared with many Brazilian travel agents.

The International Travel Trade Fair (FIT) of Argentina was held from November 1st to 4th in Buenos Aires. As the Company traditionally does, ASSIST-CARD Argentina was present with a really eye-catching and funny stand.

The theme for this year was the Far West, and the stand looked like an western building, including a corral and a mechanic bull which the brave-ones that dared to ride had to stay on for over 10 seconds in order to get their prize. With the slogan “Do not let your customers’ trip turn to be untamable”, the Argentina ASSIST-CARD staff, always cheerful and willing to take part, turned to be one of the Fair’s attractions, as they did so many times before.

On November 12th, the ASSIST-CARD trade-mark was exhibited in the almost full American Airlines Arena, the most important sports and events venue in Miami, during a Miami Heat match

This is a prideful occasion for the Corporation since, besides our sign on top of the ASSIST-CARD building in Miami, this is the first time that the ASSIST-CARD trademark reaches massive exposure in the US.

No doubt that having been able to introduce the travelers’ assistance concept to the American public during so large an event such as a NBA match will be a fundamental step towards the initiation of our sales in the US, which will start in the coming days.

The leading travel assistance provider ASSIST-CARD has been acknowledged by the Argentine Ministry of Tourism as an “Outstanding Organization and Quality-Certified Tour Company.”

This award has its origin in the need to publicly acknowledge those firms which have chosen to assure their management quality. The Argentine Tour Quality System (SACT, by its acronym in Spanish) is a strategy applied at the operating level, for the purpose of promoting a culture of quality and continuous improvement.

The system was established last year and is the first acknowledgement to companies which have the quality of their services certified under ISO International Standards. The purpose of the system is to set out on a path of industry modernization and professionalization which helps strengthen integrated management under a sustainable development model based on economic, social responsibility and environmental considerations.

As regards the acknowledgement, Mauricio Valacco, ASSIST-CARD Quality Control Manager, said: “This award makes us very proud and is the result of the commitment to quality we have at ASSIST-CARD, and it further commits us to keeping on working to achieve excellence.”

From September 8 through 12, the leading travel assistance provider ASSIST-CARD held its 54th Annual Convention.
The event, which took place at the Conrad Casino & Resort in Punta del Este, was meant to be a meeting and integration point for representatives of the various countries where ASSIST-CARD operates, as well as an opportunity to define the working guidelines for next year.

The Convention gathered over 120 representatives from different countries such as El Salvador, Dominican Republic, USA, Colombia, Peru, Guatemala, Venezuela, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Bolivia, Spain, Vietnam, Uruguay, Argentina, Chile, Paraguay, Brazil, Mexico and Ecuador.

In addition, the Convention had remarkable guests and speakers, including Patricio Sepúlveda, IATA Regional Vice President, who talked about the air travel industry situation, and Jean Claude Bessudo, Aviatur Group President, who discussed his Strategic Improvisation Theory.

The meeting comprised various activities involving different areas: assistance, administration and management, as well as an integration day on the Gorriti Island.

Travel assistance leader ASSIST-CARD launches Euro Premium, a new product for passengers traveling to Europe.

This is an excellent product with broad financial support so that our passengers may travel with absolute assurance. One of its main characteristics is that it has territorial validity, that is, it not only meets Schengen requirements, but is also valid everywhere in the world.

EURO PREMIUM provides very high upper limits and is available at ASSIST-CARD direct sales points, airports and travel agencies. It includes a Family Plan, in which the main holder pays 100% of the fee, and the rest of the family obtains a 20% discount.

“This new product has been designed to meet the demand for flights to Europe, and to suit the needs of different kinds of passengers today seeking assurance and total support for their trips,” said Maximiliano Huss, ASSIST-CARD Argentina Country Manager.

On Saturday, October 4, the leading travel assistance provider ASSIST-CARD PERU held its 4th Annual Convention. It took place at the DoubleTree El Pardo Hotel, for the purpose of discussing new corporate trends, introducing new products and establishing the working strategy for year 2009.

Attended by more than 50 ASSIST-CARD PERU collaborators, the Convention was marked by a great deal of enthusiasm and participation by the ASSIST-CARD Peru team.

During the event there was also a pleasant buffet lunch on the hotel top floor —the swimming pool area—, where all company participants had the chance to socialize and enjoy some leisure.

“This activity not only showed the feelings and profile of those of us working at ASSIST-CARD, but also the corporate trend at the global level. Our products, our image, our leadership, as well as our people’s motivation are the same across all the countries where we are present,” said María Gracia Yrigoyen, ASSIST-CARD PERU Country Manager.