Whether you’re traveling for leisure or as part of work, travel insurance is a must for ensuring coverage in a worst-case-scenario. According to a 2023 winter travel insurance Personal Finance Insider report surveying 971 US Adults, 35% of insured travelers purchased insurance out of fear over flight delays or cancellations, while 29% were concerned about a health emergency. While some travel insurance companies offer travelers basic coverage, others fall short in providing more essential travel protection to consumers that’s comprehensive and easy to understand.
If there’s one travel insurance company that offers American travelers peace-of-mind, it’s Faye–the first-ever digital, consumer-centric travel insurance with a product redefining travel coverage, taking it from a forgettable add-on to a must-have advantage that enhances the entire trip experience. From takeoff to checkout, travel insurance disruptor Faye, delivers person-first, proactive and holistic coverage and care that protects travelers’ entire trips. In the dynamic intersection of travel tech and fintech, Faye’s whole-trip protection, coupled with its proprietary technology, enables 24/7 immediate assistance, speedy in-app claims processing and reimbursements anywhere in the world–setting a new standard and over-delivering in an industry synonymous with doing the opposite.
Passionate about the mix of travel and tech and how the synergies of the two transform experiences, the company’s Vice President of Communications and Brand Strategy, Lauren Gumport, is on a quest to amplify the company’s mission. With over ten years of experience in launching high-growth startups to global audiences and a data-driven approach to storytelling, Lauren has reached international markets and driven startup growth exponentially. Leading and overseeing Faye’s communications, content and PR efforts, Lauren is an industry-powerhouse — creating a buzz through effective thought-leadership and brand positioning.
Lauren, what sets Faye apart from other similar companies in the industry?
“Faye is tech-first and person-first. You can protect your trips, speak to our support team 24/7 (real humans, not bots) and receive real-time itinerary alerts, all through our app. Not to mention, you can file claims in minutes and be reimbursed to your phone’s wallet via the Faye app – all while you’re still in-trip. Sound like your run-of-the-mill travel insurance? I didn’t think so.”
With all the travel insurance companies out there, what would you say is an industry shortcoming?
“In my opinion, finding holistic, quick solutions to address the pain points that most customers experience is a major industry shortcoming. The pain points being jargon-filled, confusing policies and slow, bureaucratic processes that require excessive paperwork. We created Faye as a solution to these pain points. Our product is clear and holistic – you know what coverage you’re purchasing and how you’re protected pre-trip and in-trip.
Faye is digital and quick – from getting covered to receiving assistance to filing claims. And above all, we’re human and approachable. Our team of customer experience specialists is available around the clock (holidays and weekends included) – working when travelers shouldn’t be to provide proactive trip assistance when it matters most. This, coupled with our technology which proactively monitors trip itineraries, means we assist our users when they’re away from home, making Faye the ultimate travel companion.”
How does a typical day on the job look like for you? Can you describe your daily routine?
“In any communications, content, or PR role, you have a lot of writing and editing. So, a typical day could be: Juggling a few calls, editing content for our business development and product teams, sorting through data to create the latest consumer trends that I then share with the media, and also tracking relevant events for us to speak at, or awards for us to submit to – then drafting those applications. On any given day I’m also likely reviewing new brand designs, or working with my team to come up with new ways we can make a splash on social and with our app.”
What is the most challenging aspect of your work and how do you overcome it?
“Building a brand from scratch is no easy feat. It takes time to build trust with consumers and to build a brand footprint. So the hardest job is…patience!”
How do you maintain a work-life balance with everything you do and manage?
“I always make time for exercise and I try to read one new book a week which also helps limit after-hours screen time. Also – travel.”
Do you have any productivity hacks to recommend?
“This is more a work/life balance hack: no Slack notifications on my phone. It’s too unhealthy.”
Prior to Faye, Lauren worked as Director of Global Communications at top Y combinator-backed Guesty where she took the brand’s travel tech solution global, earning a bigger presence in key markets in order to boost the company’s bottom line and shape the vacation-rental space’s narrative as we know it today. An award-winning media relations executive who advises startups on PR in her free time, Lauren can oftentimes be found working as a digital nomad defining and shaping the next trends in travel. Lauren’s commentary has been published in outlets including BuzzFeed, USA Today, The Wall Street Journal and Forbes.
Lauren, how did you land your role at Faye?
“I started my career in PR in New York City with clients like MasterCard and Nestle. When I moved to Tel Aviv, I transitioned into hi-tech, soon understanding that Israeli entrepreneurs are building the biggest brands in the world for Americans and rely on those who know the American market to bring their narratives to the U.S.
Eight and a half years later, after moving to Israel, I’ve spent time in-house at three startups, focusing on travel tech in the last five years specifically. Faye found me by seeing the content I posted on LinkedIn related to the travel tech ecosystem, and the rest is history! If I had never put time into my own brand on LinkedIn, I don’t think I would have landed the role. I highly suggest investing in the platform – even if 30 minutes a day. You get out of it what you put into it.”
What keeps you motivated and inspires you the most?
“Positive pressure motivates me – I have big personal and professional goals. I’m inspired by those who have perspective and understand that when you’re old and grey, you won’t look back and remember how late you stayed in the office each day. Be efficient and great at what you do, but also have a personal life!”
Can you share an inspiring experience you went through that still impacts you today?
“I am super passionate about the travel industry – especially where travel successfully meets tech. And I had a recent experience that reminded me just why I love this space so much. When the war broke out in Israel on October 7th, I realized soon after that it was best for me to leave for a bit to be able to work productively in a more calm environment. I decided on Porto, Portugal for many factors – I knew a few people there, my dog was welcome, the time zone works, etc. And I decided to book an Airbnb for a month plus, explaining to my hosts why I was coming and from where.
Let’s be honest – this is a moment in time in which it’s hard to see the light and more easy to feel angry, helpless and deeply sad. So, when my Airbnb hosts offered to get me from the airport, carried my things up the stairs for me, stored my dogs crate and some of my luggage in their home, brought me bowls for my pup and invited me to dinner countless times, I was reminded that most people in the world are good and kind. This reminder of humanity was facilitated by Airbnb. Without the platform I would have never met Joanna and Joao, my hosts. Experiences like this keep me going and make me happy that my day job enables me to innovate in this ecosystem.”
What is your biggest dream and what would you love to create in the world?
“I’d love to devote more time to being a travel writer – it’s coming along! I was recently given a column in The Jerusalem Post.”
Real-Time Monitoring and Instant Claim Resolution
In a travel landscape where insurance is often an afterthought, Faye emerges as a game-changer, redefining travel coverage with its groundbreaking whole-trip protection. Built by avid travelers and insurance experts who believe that travel insurance can be more than a forgettable add-on, but a must-have advantage–Faye sets a new standard for how coverage is defined by being consumers’ number one companion—helping them stay safe, informed and inspired to go near, go far and go with Faye.
With a data-driven, customer-obsessed approach, Faye provides real-time trip monitoring, industry-leading coverage as well as instant claim resolution and reimbursement, redefining how consumers are looked after when they are on the road, ultimately overdelivering in a space oftentimes known for doing the opposite.
Transforming the ordinary notion of insurance into a vital asset, this travel insurance industry disruptor offers personalized, proactive, and globally accessible protection—setting a new standard for traveler-centric care. Set your travel worries aside and dive into the future of travel confidently with Faye!
Want to learn more about Faye’s comprehensive platform? Connect with Lauren Gumport on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/lauren-gumport/ or visit the company’s website.
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