Berkshire Hathaway Travel Protection to Relaunch Direct-to-Advisor Sales This Fall

Berkshire Hathaway Travel Protection (BHTP) is making its return to the travel advisor channel, announcing plans to make its suite of insurance products directly available to travel sellers starting this fall.

After more than a decade of operating largely through underwriting policies via third-party partnerships, the company is shifting its strategy back to the retail advisor community — a move President Dean Sivley says is both long overdue and driven by demand.

“We’re excited to be back,” Sivley told Travel Market Report during the ASTA Global Convention. “Advisors have told us they want to work with us directly—not through a third party. We’re listening.”

Sivley told TMR that BHTP is targeting Oct. 1 as the official return date and that advisors will soon be able to sign up for updates on the company’s partner portal and self-registration tools. He also said that BHTP is in the process of upgrading its point-of-sale systems to ensure that working with BHTP is as seamless as possible for advisors.

Because BHTP is still relatively young—it launched just 11 years ago—Sivley said the company has always taken a digital-first approach, which makes it easier to quickly adapt to advisor needs. “We’ve always used technology to enable the human touch,” he said. “And that’s exactly what we’re going to do here.”

Advisors can expect an easier onboarding process, access to real-time reporting tools, and a more streamlined claims experience for their clients. “We’re making it simple for advisors to register with us directly, get appointed, and sell our products without friction,” he said.

Sivley said this renewed focus on the advisor channel reflects BHTP’s belief in the value that travel sellers bring to the insurance experience. “We’ve always liked the travel advisor channel,” he said. “Not just because they provide a more balanced underwriting base, but because they create real value for travelers. When an advisor makes a recommendation, it’s grounded in trust.”

BHTP’s Selling Point

One of the company’s biggest differentiators—and something Sivley says advisors are particularly excited about—is its fixed benefits offering, also known as “inconvenience payments.” These benefits allow travelers to receive automatic compensation for disruptions like flight delays or baggage issues, without needing to submit receipts or go through the typical claims process.

“If you give us your flight details and your client’s flight is delayed by two hours, they’ll automatically get a payment,” he said. “That’s built into many of our core products, and it’s something advisors really appreciate—it’s easy for them to explain and easy for clients to see the value.”

BHTP also offers niche policies, like its AdrenalineCare product for travelers engaging in outdoor or high-risk activities, which also include fixed benefit features.

To help guide the relaunch and ensure it resonates with the advisor community, BHTP recently hired Bob Ford, the former VP of Sales for Travel Guard and a respected figure in the industry. “Bob has already provided great insight,” Sivley said. “He knows what advisors care about, and he’s been instrumental in shaping our return.”

The move to re-enter the advisor channel, Sivley noted, was always part of the company’s longer-term vision. “When we first launched in 2014, we had innovative products and a strong brand, but we needed the market to get to know us. Now they do, and they’ve told us they’re ready to work with us directly.”

“We’re serious about this channel,” Sivley said. “It’s the most important one for us, and we’re committed to making it easy, valuable, and trusted—for advisors and for their clients.”