Travelers Sponsors Three NMMA Boat Shows in 2008

By: Lifestyle News

While much of the Midwest is bracing for winter, boaters in the region are already looking ahead to summer by gearing up for the 2008 boat show season, which traditionally begins January 1. To kick off the season, Travelers (NYSE:TRV) Boat and Yacht Division today announced its sponsorship of three National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA) boat shows in 2008. In January, Travelers will have a significant presence at boat shows in Chicago, Minneapolis and Louisville.

“Being a part of the 2008 Chicago, Minneapolis and Louisville NMMA boat shows enables Travelers to become more widely known as a leader in boat insurance,” said Chantal Cyr, vice president of Travelers Boat and Yacht Division. “These sponsorships create an opportunity to grow our business throughout the country.”

Travelers will once again be the presenting sponsor of a boat makeover contest called Bling My Boat, which will take place at both the Chicago Boat, RV & Outdoors Show and Minneapolis Boat Show. Hundreds of boaters submitted entries hoping their boat would be selected for restoration. The newly improved boats are unveiled on the first day of each show. In 2007, Bling My Boat presented by Travelers was held for the first time ever at the Minneapolis Boat Show where it was a popular attraction and gained significant attention throughout the region’s boating industry.

“We’re pleased to have Travelers, a major player in boat and yacht insurance, on board for three of our shows in 2008,” said Ben Wold, executive vice president of NMMA. “The Bling My Boat program has received a tremendous response in its second year and we’re looking forward to the boat makeovers in Chicago and Minneapolis this year.”

“Bling My Boat is an exciting contest we’re pleased to be a part of,” said Cyr. “I’m glad we had the opportunity to expand it this year and demonstrate our commitment to exposing more and more people to the great experiences that families can have with their boats.”

Chicago’s Bling My Boat winner is the McGovern family of Kankakee, Ill., who will receive a complimentary boat makeover from Bottom’s Up Boat Repair. Kevin McGovern, a Kankakee police officer, nominated his family’s 1995 Grumman 22SD as a gesture of admiration for his wife, Chris. His entry highlighted his wife’s generous nature in working as a fifth grade teacher for children with learning and behavioral disabilities and expressed how boating has greatly affected both their lives. The restored 1995 Grumman, known as “KIL R MAC,” will be unveiled January 16, the opening day of the Chicago Boat, RV and Outdoors Show.

The Minneapolis winner is the Uran family of Excelsior, Minn. Kevin Westfall, a close family friend, nominated the 1974 Donzi Hornet in memory of John Uran, who passed away in 2003. While the family had to sell all of John’s well digging business equipment, they couldn’t part with his prized boat. Shipwreck Boat Works is currently working to customize the Donzi Hornet and will unveil the made over boat on January 23 at the Minneapolis Boat Show.

In addition, Travelers will be sponsoring the Kids Trout Fishing Pond at the Louisville Boat, RV & Sportshow. This feature, a popular tradition at the Louisville show, invites families to teach their children fundamentals of fishing and kids can cast off into an indoor pond stocked with 250 pounds of trout. In the past, families had to pay a small fee to fish, but thanks to Travelers sponsorship in 2008, fishing will be free for everyone.

Travelers will be on site at each of the shows with the ability to provide free insurance quotes and answer boaters’ insurance questions. The Chicago Boat, RV and Outdoors Show is taking place January 16 – 20, at McCormick Place, and Travelers will be located at booth number 6523. The Minneapolis Boat Show will be held January 23 – 27 and Travelers will be located at booth number 1313 in the Minneapolis Convention Center. Finally, the Louisville Boat RV and Sport Show will be held January 26 – February 3 and Travelers representatives can be found at booth S5470 in the Kentucky Exhibition Center.

About Travelers

Travelers understands that life and business are inherently dynamic and that the best way to serve agents, brokers and policyholders is to deliver insurance that evolves to stay in-synch with life and business as they change. For more information on being in-synch, visit www.travelers.com.

The Travelers Companies, Inc. (NYSE:TRV) is a leading property casualty insurer selling primarily through independent agents and brokers. The company’s diverse business lines offer its global customers a wide range of coverage in both the personal and commercial settings, including automobile, homeowners, construction, small business, oil and gas, ocean marine, surety and management liability, global technology and public sector services. Travelers is a Fortune 100 company, with 2006 revenues of $25.09 billion and total assets of $113.76 billion. The company has approximately 33,000 employees