A Warwickshire travel firm was preparing an emergency ‘get you home’ strategy for business travellers afraid of being stranded abroad by war in Iraq. 

Exporters fighting the slump by winning business around the world were being sent on line updates via an around-the-world service operated by Travel Management Group, of Leamington.  The message tells hundreds of regular clients that wherever they are in the world from America to the Far East – help is just a phone call away.

Managing Director George Dick said: “We are constantly in touch with the Foreign & Commonwealth Office to monitor the situation and to update ourselves with regard to travel restrictions in countries around the world.  But with a possible war brewing in Iraq we thought the time was right to remind our clients that no matter what happens, they won’t be abandoned in some remote corner of the globe”.

The last time the service was used was in September 2001, when Al Queda terrorists destroyed the World Trade Centre in New York.  “At that time there were no flights out of America for several days, so we got our people home through Canada,” said Mr Dick, who said TMG issued nearly 100,000 tickets last year. 

“The system worked well then, and our clients were very pleased, and, with the international climate the way it is, we thought travellers would like to know that we will be providing a similar service if hostilities start while they are away”.

The firm offers an out of hours phone number, from which travellers can get advice.  “There’s nothing worse than feeling you have been stranded in a foreign country when things are going wrong”, Mr Dick added. “Our service provides them with a reassuring human voice, rather than an emotionless recorded message, no matter what time of day or night they ring”. “In an emergency, the industry’s only priority is to get everyone home safely – and as quickly as possible”, said Mr Dick.

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