It all started in 2008 with an initiative by a trio of Brazilians who shared a room in London, United Kingdom. The following year, the Real Travel Insurance was officially born in Brazilian territory, in Rio Grande do Sul, the first travel insurance comparison site in Brazil. In 2024, the company reaches 15 years, expanding the services offered, improving the customer service area, and reaching the home of 1.4 million travelers served.
In practice, it is a platform through which the traveler obtains quotes for travel insurance options. The person indicates the origin and destination and the expected dates for boarding and disembarking. The tool offers packages from various insurance companies, with up to one year of advance payment. Through Real Travel Insurance itself, the traveler makes the choice and purchases their package. It is worth remembering that travel insurance is mandatory in many parts of the world, such as Europe, and recommended for travel in general.
"The process of quoting, presenting options, and the customer purchasing the package can be done in three minutes," emphasizes the company's operations director, Hugo Reichenbach – partner of Real Travel Insurance. "The person compares the plans offered by the various partner insurance companies, both in terms of prices and benefits included, and chooses the option that best suits them," adds the executive.
It is at this point – providing options that meet specific needs for each type of traveler – that one of the enhancements promoted by Real Travel Insurance in its portfolio lies. The company has included plans that provide specific coverage for the elderly and pregnant women; as well as for sports travelers, or for those who will be traveling by motorcycle, for example. Also, plans with coverage for COVID-19.
Another improvement is focusing on customer service. The operations director notes that, when it comes to insurance, many doubts hover among travelers, and it is also seen as an item subject to bureaucracy. "We created an app called 'Seu' that puts the traveler in direct contact with the insurance company. In short, we work so that the person feels confident in purchasing the most suitable plan and knows how to proceed if they need to resort to the insurance," emphasizes Reichenbach.
This means, according to the executive, a constant investment in technology development. And, despite being registered with a CNPJ in Porto Alegre, since 2015 the company has adopted the digital nomad concept. Thus, the team of professionals—comprising over 40 employees—is spread across more than ten cities throughout Brazil.
Returning to the origin of everything: the first steps began in London, in 2008. At the time, Rafael Antonello, Diego Dias, and Gabriel Engel, on exchange in the United Kingdom, were demanding travel insurance and had their first contact with online comparison tools. In 2009, that experiment turned into a company, formed by Rafael and Gabriel.
"We opened a CNPJ, received authorization to operate, rented a very small room, and launched in February 2009 the website of Brazil's first travel insurance comparison site," recalls the operations director. "We will never forget the first sale through the website, on a Saturday morning of that same month," he/she/they proudly say.
Since then, there have been important milestones. In 2012, Real launched an affiliate program to support travel bloggers. In 2015, the choice to be a digital nomad. In 2019, she was selected for the Scale Up Endeavor, a program that boosts innovative enterprises. The following year, a scare: the COVID-19 pandemic, when the company tightened its belt but guaranteed the refund rights of all customers who couldn't travel due to the pandemic.
In 2020, Hugo Reichenbach also joined the company, initially developing the rebranding and restructuring of various processes. And in 2024, growth continues, aligned with changes in the way people travel and tourism trends.
