Travel Guard Names World’s Unluckiest Traveler Contest Winner for 2024
In the realm of travel, stories of mishaps and misadventures often abound, but only a few are recognized for their sheer unluckiness. Travel Guard’s highly anticipated contest, the World’s Unluckiest Traveler® promotion, has crowned its new champion for 2024, drawing hundreds of entries from across North America.
Meet the Unluckiest Traveler: Julie S.
The title of World’s Unluckiest Traveler comes with a $10,000 cash prize which went to Julie S. Her gripping story, “From Bodybag to Skydiving,” captured the hearts of many voters. It narrates a sequence of events beginning with a planned trip to Phoenix for skydiving with her friend, Sam. However, things took a grim turn when Sam’s evening activity led to a hospital emergency. Due to constraints of Sam’s room, her transport to the hospital necessitated the use of a body bag. Luckily, Sam fully recovered overnight and insisted on proceeding with their skydiving adventure.
The Runner-Up: Jennifer G. and “MexiNO!”
Our runner-up entry involves the harrowing tale of Jennifer G., who, before beginning kidney dialysis, sought a warm escape from the Wisconsin winter at a resort in Mexico. Her story, whimsically titled “MexiNO!” earned her a $5,000 prize. Upon arrival, Jennifer discovered the resort’s ailments: no beach access, a closed pool, and a mold, bedbug-ridden room with no running water. Her attempted escape involved a night spent in the bathtub covered with towels to avoid bed-sharing with unsavory creatures — only the beginning of her ordeal.
Third and Fourth Place Winners
- Third Place: Another adventure that turned sideways, “Don’t Look Up While Walking” warns travelers visiting Maho Beach, Saint Martin. While tourists flock to witness low-flying planes, the dangers also loom low. The winner took home a $3,000 prize.
- Fourth Place: “A Trip That Took Many Years Off My Life” shares a cautionary tale of a family trip to southern Italy that led to an unexpected hospital stay for the author’s son. Numerous hospital visits ensued due to a bacterial infection, winning the entrant a set of Victorinox luggage.
Highlights and Insights from Jeff Rutledge
Jeff Rutledge, CEO of AIG Travel, remarked on the uniqueness of these stories. Though atypical, they underscore the unpredictable nature of travel mishaps. Rutledge emphasized the wisdom in preparing and protecting one’s trips with suitable travel insurance plans.
Lucky Participants and Prizes
The promotion also included bonus rewards through a sweepstakes, with Melanie A. winning a GoPro® action camera and kit among nearly 33,000 votes. Moreover, U.S. and Canadian travel advisors had a chance to win an iPad Air by sharing promotional content; Sheri B. emerged victorious in this category.
About Travel Guard
Travel Guard serves the diverse needs of leisure and corporate travelers through its varied portfolio of travel insurance plans and support services. Boasting a globally dispersed network of service centers, their multilingual team is available 24/7 for assistance. From minor inconveniences like lost luggage to severe emergencies, Travel Guard ensures travelers can focus on the experiences without the worry of potential disruptions.
To explore the full collection of stories from the World’s Unluckiest Traveler contest or learn more about Travel Guard’s offerings, you can visit the official website here or follow Travel Guard on social media across Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.
Note: The promotion was open to legal residents of the 50 United States and the District of Columbia aged 21 or older. Canadian residents (excluding Quebec) aged 19 or older were also eligible. GoPro, HERO, and their logos are registered trademarks of GoPro, Inc., which was not involved in this promotion.
Source: https://finance.yahoo.com/news/travel-guard-names-worlds-unluckiest-141500416.html