AXA adopts 'payer to partner' strategy as it prepares for post-COVID-19 rebound

AXA chief executive Thomas Buberl says that the company's ambition is to move to a "payer to partner" strategy by providing its customers with innovative solutions as it prepares for the post-COVID-19 recovery plan.

The French insurer has formed a strategic partnership with multinational hospitality company Accor that will see it provide healthcare expertise and solutions to Accor's hotel guests worldwide.

The partnership will take effect from July 2020. It will enable Accor guests to access medical solutions of AXA Partners, AXA’s international entity specialised in assistance services, travel insurance and credit protection. Guests will be able to have free access to medical teleconsultations.

Accor said that as it prepares for the post COVID-19 rebound, this unique medical service will complement its overall global recovery plan and is included in the enhanced health and prevention protocols that the company has put in place.

AXA stated that this partnership is an opportunity to strengthen its payer to partner strategy, which aims to provide innovative services to its customers, notably in health, one of its areas of growth in its Ambition 2020 plan.

Buberl said: "AXA’s ambition is to move from a payer to a partner with its customers, notably by providing them with innovative solutions in health. This is why AXA has become over the last year a world leader in telemedicine solutions. Partnering with Accor, a worldwide leader in hospitality, is a unique opportunity to enlarge people’s access to our healthcare expertise and solutions. As we are facing an unprecedented health crisis with Covid-19, this ambition has never been more relevant."

Sebastien Bazin, chairman and CEO of Accor, commented: "Welcoming, safeguarding and taking care of others is at the very heart of what we do and who we are as hoteliers. This distinctive partnership with AXA which we have been working on for several months makes even more sense in today’s context. In an increasingly complex environment, our 300.000 team members on the ground will be able to assist our guests and ensure their safety during their stays, turning our hotels into shelters. This initiative combined with our ALLSAFE enhanced hygiene protocols, will be key to rediscover the Love of Travel in the 5000 Accor properties around the world."