Susan Postma

Regional Manager CAA Manitoba

  • Winnipeg MB

Susan oversees CAA Manitoba's retail and travel services with more than a decade of experience.

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CAA Club Group

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Spotlight

4 min

MEDIA RELEASE: CAA Manitoba Survey Reveals Troubling Lack of Travel Insurance Preparedness

A recent member survey conducted by CAA Manitoba has unveiled concerning statistics regarding the lack of travel insurance awareness and preparedness. Despite the financial risks associated with travelling unprotected, the survey found that 38 per cent of members in Manitoba who travel don’t always purchase emergency medical travel insurance, highlighting a potential vulnerability. "In a world of uncertainties, our survey highlights a critical gap in travel preparedness among Manitobans," says Susan Postma, regional manager, CAA Manitoba. "At CAA, we believe in empowering travellers with knowledge so they can explore confidently and securely." The survey also discovered that almost a quarter of respondents (24 per cent) ventured on their last trip outside the province without any form of travel insurance, exposing themselves to potential financial burdens in case of emergencies. CAA Manitoba is launching its inaugural CAA Travel Wise Week In response to these findings, CAA Manitoba is launching its inaugural CAA Travel Wise Week to emphasize the crucial importance of travel insurance education. The campaign aims to inform and educate Manitobans on the risks of inadequate coverage and provide valuable insights into securing appropriate protection for their travel adventures. According to claims data from Orion Travel Insurance, the average cost of a medical claim has increased by 14 per cent since 2019. “Costs associated with everything from an ear infection to the use of an air ambulance have risen over the last few years due to medical inflation, underscoring the continued importance of travel insurance for life’s unexpected complications,” says Postma. As part of the CAA Travel Wise Week, CAA Manitoba has curated a list of the top ten tips to help individuals stay protected against common travel concerns: Top 10 Tips for Travel Protection: Make sure all your documentation is in order before you book. It is recommended passport renewals be completed six months before your planned trip. Your passport should still be valid six months after your travel date, as this is required in several countries. Read up on Government of Canada travel advisories for your destination. Understand the risk level associated with travel to a particular destination by checking the Government of Canada Travel Advice and Advisories website. Individual travel advisories remain on a country-by-country basis. Speak with your physician to discuss your travel plans. Speak to your physician to ensure you are up to date with needed travel vaccines and have them prescribe enough medication for the length of your trip. Ensure all the medication you take is packed in your carry-on and in its original bottles with labels intact. Consider purchasing travel insurance at the time of booking your trip. To lock in the best protection, book your travel insurance at the same time you book your trip. Doing so will give you the peace of mind that both you and your investment are protected. Insurance must be in place before things go wrong for you to benefit from coverage. Know the cancellation policies for everything you booked. Make sure you understand any key dates related to cancellation and changes, this includes accommodation, flights, car rentals, tours, cruises. Get to the airport early. CAA recommends arriving at the airport at least two hours before domestic flight departures and at least three for international flights. Check limits or restrictions. Travel insurance is often touted as a perk for certain credit cards but can be drastically limited to both benefits and the sum insured. Check limits or age restrictions on credit cards, employee benefits, and pensions to determine if you need additional travel insurance coverage. Stay connected. It is important to have access to trusted, up-to-date information while travelling so you can monitor changing conditions and requirements and adapt accordingly. Bookmark the Global Affairs Canada website prior to departure and check it regularly while abroad. It is also a good idea to sign up for Registration of Canadians Abroad. Find these and more information at www.caamanitoba.com/travel Note emergency contact numbers. Provide your travel agent with contact details while travelling abroad and keep all important phone numbers handy; this includes how to call for help and your travel insurance assistance phone number. Protect your ID. Make sure you have a digital version and paper version of your travel insurance wallet card, tickets to various events and attractions and even your passport. You may also want to leave a copy of important paperwork with family members or friends. For more information, visit www.caamanitoba.com/travelwise The survey was an online quantitative survey done with the CAA Members Matter Panel in Manitoba between September 22 29, 2023. The margin of error for a sample of this size is plus or minus 4.0% at the 95% confidence level.

Susan Postma

2 min

MEDIA RELEASE: Five ways to cut costs on travel; plus, the one thing you should never skip

Manitobans love to travel, but with costs rising due to inflation, it has become more important than ever to find ways to save money, while still crossing off destinations on your bucket list. “This year, more and more people across the province are eager to embark on their next adventure, whether that means disconnecting in a tropical paradise or exploring the history of an ancient city,” says Susan Postma, regional manager, CAA Manitoba. “While we are seeing a renewed interest in travel, we know the costs associated with it will be factor for many people.” With the help of our travel professionals, CAA Manitoba (CAA MB) has compiled a few tips to help save you money. Plan ahead. Start planning your trip well in advance of your departure date. Determine what your budget will allow and book flights, hotels, and rental cars early to get the best deals and rates possible. With the higher demand for travel, last-minute planning will result in higher airfares, hotel rates and even disappointment from no availability. Redeem your loyalty points or member benefits. Use frequent flyer miles or credit card points to pay for flights or hotels. Take advantage of CAA member benefits and discounts at hotels and attractions, or tap into hotel loyalty programs. Now is your time to finally redeem all those accumulated rewards points from a member program or credit card. Also, don’t forget to check the expiration date on unused vouchers or credits. Look for hotels that include breakfast or allow self-catering. Food costs continue to rise and will quickly eat into your budget when you’re paying for three meals (+ snacks) each day. A free breakfast, offered by many hotels, or a hotel room with a kitchenette or fridge will help reduce food costs and give you more money to put towards excursions and other experiences while you’re away. Travel during off-peak times. There are both days of the week and times of the year that are cheaper to travel. Consider travelling during these off-peak times or leaving for your trip during the week versus on a weekend. Partner with a travel agent to get the best deal. A travel agent will know when there are active sales. Travel promotions happen several times throughout the year, and a trusted travel agent will know the best time to book your next getaway. While everyone likes a great deal, the one thing you should never skip is travel insurance says Postma. “You may be in good health before your departure, but unexpected medical emergencies can still happen while you are away from home. If you get sick or injured, travel insurance is important to ensure your medical treatment is covered, along with any related out-of-pocket expenses.” If you're uncertain what coverage you need, CAA encourages you to talk to your travel insurance expert who can help you find the most suitable coverage for your trip and your needs.

Susan Postma

2 min

MEDIA RELEASE: Five ways to cut costs on travel; plus, the one thing you should never skip

Ontarians love to travel, but with costs rising due to inflation, it has become more important than ever to find ways to save money, while still crossing off destinations on your bucket list. “This year, more and more people across the province are eager to embark on their next adventure, whether that means disconnecting in a tropical paradise or exploring the history of an ancient city,” says Susan Postma, regional manager, CAA Club Group. “While we are seeing a renewed interest in travel, we know the costs associated with it will be factor for many people.” With the help of our travel professionals, CAA South Central Ontario (CAA SCO) has compiled a few tips to help save you money. Plan ahead. Start planning your trip well in advance of your departure date. Determine what your budget will allow and book flights, hotels, and rental cars early to get the best deals and rates possible. With the higher demand for travel, last-minute planning will result in higher airfares, hotel rates and even disappointment from no availability. Redeem your loyalty points or member benefits. Use frequent flyer miles or credit card points to pay for flights or hotels. Take advantage of CAA member benefits and discounts at hotels and attractions, or tap into hotel loyalty programs. Now is your time to finally redeem all those accumulated rewards points from a member program or credit card. Also, don’t forget to check the expiration date on unused vouchers or credits. Look for hotels that include breakfast or allow self-catering. Food costs continue to rise and will quickly eat into your budget when you’re paying for three meals (+ snacks) each day. A free breakfast, offered by many hotels, or a hotel room with a kitchenette or fridge will help reduce food costs and give you more money to put towards excursions and other experiences while you’re away. Travel during off-peak times. There are both days of the week and times of the year that are cheaper to travel. Consider travelling during these off-peak times or leaving for your trip during the week versus on a weekend. Partner with a travel agent to get the best deal. A travel agent will know when there are active sales. Travel promotions happen several times throughout the year, and a trusted travel agent will know the best time to book your next getaway. While everyone likes a great deal, the one thing you should never skip is travel insurance says Postma. “You may be in good health before your departure, but unexpected medical emergencies can still happen while you are away from home. If you get sick or injured, travel insurance is important to ensure your medical treatment is covered, along with any related out-of-pocket expenses.” If you're uncertain what coverage you need, CAA encourages you to talk to your travel insurance expert who can help you find the most suitable coverage for your trip and your needs.

Susan Postma
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Biography

Susan has an extensive Retail and Store Operations background, previously holding various management positions for two national retailers prior to joining CCG in 2011.

Susan leads the Manitoba retail team at CAA Club Group, which includes all Travel, Travel Insurance and Members Services Associates, as well as the Travel Insurance Services Team, and the Merchandise, Warehouse and Distribution team. She also serves as a media spokesperson.

Her priority focus is on customer service and experience, team building, product knowledge and sales.

Susan is an avid traveler, with a variety of travel experience across all of Canada to as far as the Middle East and Peru. She is knowledgeable about travel and tourism trends, having lead the Travel Retail team since 2011.

Industry Expertise

Retail
Travel and Tourism

Areas of Expertise

Coaching
Customer Service
Team Building

Education

University of Manitoba

B.A.

Psychology

1990

Media Appearances

Tips to save some money for those looking to travel

CTV News Winnipeg  online

2023-02-01

For those who are wanting to escape the winter but also save some money on travel, CAA Manitoba has some tips.

Susan Postma, the regional manager for CAA Manitoba, said the earlier you plan, the better.

"It's great to be able to book in advance, get you some availability. If you see a seat sale now, we are recommending that you book that seat sale now," said Postma.

She said the last-minute seat sales aren't as "plentiful" as they were before the pandemic.

"The closer you get to when you want to go, you may see some higher price. You might also struggle to sometimes find that availability, say for a car rental or a hotel."

Another tip from Postma to save money is to keep track of any reward programs you might be a part of.

"People lose track of how much they have, so we really do encourage you to take a look at what points you may have with a credit card program or those Air Miles. Take a look at the details, see if there are any expiry dates. You may have a car rental already paid for that you're not even aware of."

Postma said when booking trips, people should also look at what their food costs might be – especially with the price of food increasing. She recommends choosing all-inclusive destinations or hotels that offer complimentary meals to help reduce the price.

When a trip is booked may also be a factor in how much someone pays.

"If you can avoid some of those peak times, travelling on the weekend or looking at spring break, those peak times will typically be higher. So if you have flexibility when you want to travel, midweek or even mid-month, it can make a difference."

She notes even certain attractions could be cheaper, depending on the time of year.

For those who still want to get out in the next month or two, Postma says a travel agent might be the key to finding some savings, as they are aware of promotions and other options for travellers.

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'Sustained interest' to travel abroad: CAA

Sarnia News Today  online

2023-01-25

Postma said this time of year is typically a busy time to travel and that they're really seeing a sustained interest.

"Sometimes there can be peaks and valleys in the booking season, but right now we're seeing people are expressing a real want to travel. Some are traveling in the short-term. They probably booked their spring break, and if they haven't, some are still looking for spring break, but we are seeing people making plans for summer, we're seeing people booking into even next year."

Postma said if it's not part of active travelling right now, people are certainly making those plans. She's also encouraging would-be travelers to look into travel insurance.

"They can cover things like cancelled flights or lost luggage or medical expenses. So, very important to ask those questions about what travel insurance coverage you need and how it best supports your trip planning."

Postma said in general, they are seeing some higher pricing due to demand, availability and some inflation.

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CAA talks the importance of travel insurance after recent international travel events

Global News Winnipeg  tv

2023-01-10

Susan Postma is a regional manager with CAA Manitoba; she joins Global News Manitoba to give an update on recent events disrupting travel in Mexico and tells viewers about the importance of travel insurance when plans go awry.

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