FinTech Magazine September 2023 | Page 21

anything you buy with Hopper . We also have something called a ‘ Flight Disruption Guarantee ’, where if your trip is disrupted during your day of travel , you can actually rebook yourself on any other airline to your destination for free .
“ These are all rules-based programmes . So instead of how things work in traditional travel insurance , where you have to file a claim – at an 80 % -90 % rejection rate – with Hopper ’ s fintech products , you can immediately cancel or rebook yourself in the Hopper app , no questions asked .”
Products designed for modern consumer convenience , Smith is positive about the popularity of these innovations with Gen-Z travellers .
“ We ’ ve found that consumers have a lot of trust in this product , especially younger consumers like Gen Z and millennials with our products . Because it ’ s all rules-based , we ’ re accepting over 90 % of claims ,” says Smith .
Hopper ’ s Smith : The travel pioneer Smith ’ s involvement in growing Hopper into the multifaceted travel business operation it runs today cannot be understated . Helping Hopper to extend its reach from one piece of proprietary technology , the business is now a stalwart in the North American travel market .
Throughout his time at Hopper , Smith has never lost his love for travel . He concludes : “ I ’ m so grateful for the benefits I got travelling all around the world . It gives you perspective . I think that ’ s what everyone likes about travelling . You meet different cultures , make friends , and spread your wings from the place you were born .
“ It gives you a greater perspective of the world and the different things humans face in different areas . You get a clear picture of what people have in common vs what sets them apart . Ultimately , that ’ s what I find so interesting about travel , and if Hopper can help travellers experience that bit more of the world , then that is a success for me and a success for Hopper .” fintechmagazine . com 21