UK-based broker Hood Group and Allianz Partners have formed a strategic partnership that pairs the Southend-based affinity specialist's four-decade distribution pedigree with the UK's largest travel insurance underwriter, broadening the cover available to consumers and household-brand affinity clients.
Under the arrangement, Allianz Partners will supply underwriting capacity for selected travel insurance products distributed by Hood Group, combining the broker's affinity relationships with the insurer's in-house underwriting, global medical assistance and claims infrastructure.
The deal lands in a fast-expanding segment. Research from Mordor Intelligence values the UK travel insurance market at US$2.22 billion in 2025, projected to reach US$4.21 billion by 2030, a compound annual growth rate of 13.6%.
Mintel's UK Travel Insurance Market Report notes that 84% of UK consumers took a holiday in 2025, the highest share since before the pandemic, with overseas holiday spending rising around 12% to £59.8 billion.
Affinity insurance, as defined by broker WTW, is cover offered by organisations whose core business is not insurance – banks, retailers, telecoms providers, motoring clubs – to their customers or members, often at the point of purchasing a related product.
The global affinity insurance market generated revenues of roughly US$140 billion in 2024, growing at an average 9.9% a year.
Hood Group, established in 1983 and led by chief executive Simon Hood, has specialised in personal lines distribution across home, travel and pet. The firm formally entered the travel affinity market in 2014 and has since built programmes for Legal & General, the RAC, esure and Sheilas' Wheels, Asda, John Lewis & Partners and Sainsbury's Bank, among others.
Allianz Partners operates in more than 75 countries with some 19,800 employees and handles over 64 million cases a year, according to company disclosures.
The insurer cemented its position as the UK's largest travel insurance provider after appointments by NatWest Group for its packaged bank account customers and TUI UK across brands including Marella Cruises and Crystal Ski Holidays.
Previously reported, Hood Group's household book of roughly 13,500 policies began transitioning from RSA to Bspoke Group from December 1, 2024, signalling a broader refresh of the broker's capacity arrangements.
Bruce Reid (pictured above), commercial director at Hood Group, said the firm was pleased to be working with "a globally respected insurer with deep expertise in travel insurance," adding that the deal strengthens the broker's proposition and supports its growth strategy.
Marcus Latchford, sales director at Allianz Partners, said Hood Group had built a track record in effective UK distribution partnerships.
"We are pleased to be working together to bring customers and affinity partners the combined value of Hood Group's reach and our expertise in underwriting and in-house global medical and claims assistance," Latchford said.
