TuGo : Everything you need to know

TuGo: Everything you need to know

About TuGo

TuGo is a Canadian travel insurance provider that’s been around for over 50 years. The company got its start in the home of its founders, Herb and Georgina Robinson, and was originally known as Travel Underwriters. In the 1960s, TuGo was the first Canadian company to release missed flight insurance, before introducing annual excess emergency hospital/medical insurance in the 1970s. It was also one of the first companies to sell travel insurance on the ‘net’ in the 2000s.

Today, TuGo has a national presence and offers bilingual services. It has been recognized as one of Canada’s Best Managed Companies, and has maintained this title for seven years in a row, while also being granted Platinum Club status – the highest rank among organizations recognized by Canada’s Best Managed program.

“Winning the honour of Platinum Club member status with the Canada’s Best Managed program as we celebrate our 55th year of business is fortuitous and gratifying,” said TuGo CEO Patrick Robinson. “We’ve come a long way since 1964. This recognition is a true reflection that we’re following our mission to create value for our customers and our people, and adhering to our commitment to innovation and continuous growth.”

TuGo in the news

2015: TuGo releases new user-centric website and joins Travel Underwriters, OneWorld Assist and parent company, TU Group, under its new name

July 2018: TuGo launches affiliate program intended for unlicensed individuals and organizations

March 2019: TuGo taps digital consultancy Engine to help craft a new customer engagement model

2020: TuGo recognized again as one of Canada's best managed companies

2023: TuGo appoints vice-president for claims

Key people
Patrick Robinson – TuGo CEO
Robinson has been the CEO of TuGo for 20 years now, starting in the role back in 1999. It was his parents who founded the company, and Robinson has continued their vision for delivering travel and medical insurance to Canadians as the company has grown over 55 years, while also adapting to new challenges brought on by the rapid pace of change in the industry today.

Culture
TuGo is committed to supporting a variety of important causes, such as employee volunteering, via its corporate social responsibility initiatives. The employee volunteer program has meant that its staff has been involved with organizations like Water.org, Right to Play, Salvation Army Canada, MS Society of Canada, and many others.

The company has, in the meantime, contributed more than $1,000,000 to Make-A-Wish Canada as a result of its fundraising efforts, as well as in-kind travel insurance donations.

TuGo also contributes to and participates in a variety of other fundraising initiatives, spanning from Air Canada Birdies for Babies and the United Way, to Movember and the Heart and Stroke Foundation’s Big Bike event.

Finally, TuGo is making, or rather ‘unmaking’, its mark on the environment. Its travel policies are made from 100% post-consumer recycled paper, and the company both increases employee awareness and reduces waste through internal eco-tips and recycling programs.