TuGo describes itself as one of the nation’s top travel insurance providers and says it is trusted by millions of Canadians, visitors to Canada, and international students. The firm is Canadian-owned and operated, specializing in travel insurance products and in-house services, including 24/7 emergency medical assistance, claims administration, and customer service, with support in 27 languages.
| Headquarters | 1200-6081 No. 3 Road, Richmond, British Columbia V6Y 2B2 |
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Year established |
1964 |
| Expertise | Travel insurance products and services, including emergency medical assistance and claims administration |
| Key people | Kathy Starko (CEO and president) |
It got its start in the home of its founders, Herb and Georgina Robinson, and was originally known as Travel Underwriters. In the 1960s, it became the first Canadian company to release missed flight insurance, before introducing annual excess emergency hospital and medical insurance in the 1970s. It was also one of the first companies to sell travel insurance online in the 2000s.
TuGo has been recognized as one of Canada’s Best Managed Companies and holds Platinum Club status, the highest rank in the Canada’s Best Managed program.
2015: it releases a new user-centric website and joins Travel Underwriters, OneWorld Assist, and parent company TU Group under its new name
2018: the firm launches an affiliate program for unlicensed individuals and organizations
2019: TuGo taps digital consultancy Engine to help craft a new customer engagement model
2020: the company is recognized again as one of Canada’s best managed companies
2023: TuGo appoints a vice-president for claims
Canada’s travel insurance sector has seen active consolidation and product innovation in recent years. In 2026, SIB Corp. acquired 21st Century Travel Insurance to expand its own travel offering. Insurance Business reported that the deal placed TuGo among the established brands that brokers rely on to differentiate coverage and claims service. Travelance and Destination Travel Group were named alongside it in an increasingly competitive space.
The company has also been named among a small group of insurers now offering parametric weather-based travel coverage. Manulife and Zurich are among the others in that group. It’s a niche but growing corner of the market, built around automated payouts rather than traditional claims processing.
Kathy Starko is the CEO and president of TuGo, a Canadian-owned and operated travel insurance company founded by her parents, Herb and Georgina Robinson, in 1964. For over 60 years, the firm has supported Canadians travelling abroad and visitors coming to Canada, growing into one of the country’s leading travel insurance providers. She says she continues to lead the company with a focus on practical protection, responsive service, and meeting the evolving needs of travellers and partners across Canada and beyond.
The company says it is committed to corporate social responsibility through employee volunteer initiatives and community support. It states that it has partnered with Easter Seals Canada, supporting camps and programs for children and youth with disabilities, and has also contributed to organizations such as Westcoast Families and the Richmond Food Bank.
TuGo describes its culture as Canadian-owned and family-run, built on long-term relationships, accountability, and a people-first approach to both employees and customers.
