Grand Prize Winner to receive $10,000 cash prize: entries open on September 15

HOUSTON, Sept. 15, 2026 /CNW/ -- Did you plan to run with the bulls but ended up running to the hospital instead? Did your hotel accommodations come with surprise roommates? Did your luggage decide it needed a better vacation and flew to another continent? As one of the leading travel insurance providers in the world, Travel Guard, part of Zurich Cover-More, has heard almost every conceivable travel mishap — from ocean–view rooms that actually face a dumpster to romantic gondola rides that end with a full–body canal dip. This fall, they're bringing back their annual contest to recognize the traveler with the absolute worst luck.

The World's Unluckiest Traveler promotion is open for contest entries from September 15 to October 5.  Residents of the U.S. and Canada¹ can submit either a video or photo, along with the accompanying story describing their epic travel nightmare. Next, judges from Travel Guard will select eight (8) finalists, which will be announced on the contest website on October 26, 2026. Those final entries will then go up for a public vote until November 9, 2026. Finalists can share their submissions across social media to encourage votes.

Four (4) winners from the eight (8) selected finalists will be determined based on vote volume, with the grand prize of $10,000 going to the submission with the highest number of votes. The finalists that receive the second, third and fourth highest number of votes will also be awarded prizes. There's even something in it for the voters, as a randomly selected voter will be chosen to receive a sweepstakes prize of a GoPro® action camera and kit².

"Travel Guard knows that even the best-planned vacations can quickly unravel," said Rhonda Sloan, CMO, North America at Zurich Cover-More. "We created the World's Unluckiest Traveler contest to recognize those who have endured the worst in pursuit of their love of travel and to highlight the sort of misfortunes that show just how valuable a travel insurance plan can be."

For contest rules, visit www.worldsunluckiesttraveler.com. Promotion entries can be submitted on the same site starting September 15, 2026, at 9 a.m. Central Daylight Time.

For more information about Travel Guard, its products and services, visit www.travelguard.com or follow Travel Guard on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube and LinkedIn.

¹The Promotion is open to legal residents of the 50 United States and the District of Columbia who are 21 years of age or older at the time of entry, and residents of Canada (excluding Quebec) who are 19 years of age or older at the time of entry. The promotion is not available where prohibited by applicable law.
²GoPro, HERO and their respective logos are trademarks or registered trademarks of GoPro, Inc. GoPro is not a participant in or sponsor of this promotion.

About Travel Guard
Travel Guard, part of Zurich Cover-More, meets the diverse needs of travelers worldwide through its comprehensive portfolio of travel insurance plans and assistance services as well as a network of experienced providers. With global service centers placed strategically around the globe, our 24/7 multilingual team is always just a phone call away and ready to assist when our customers experience travel issues – from lost luggage or minor travel inconveniences to medical emergencies or life-threatening events. We help customers recover from travel disruptions and enjoy their journeys knowing Travel Guard has their back every step of the way. Learn more at www.travelguard.com and follow us on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, YouTube and TikTok.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/travel-guard-puts-out-call-for-worlds-unluckiest-traveler-302878673.html

SOURCE Amanda Hansen Group