Advisors and DMCs mobilize to get travelers out of Israel
Chai Travel founders Rebecca Liben Levy, Michael Liben and Daniella Liben Pally have family in Israel, so it's not unusual for a member of their extended clan to be visiting the country.
This month, it was their mother, Sindy Liben, who arrived in Tel Aviv on June 8, just five days before Israel attacked Iran.
When Israeli airspace closed, the family decided they had to get Sindy, who was traveling alone, back home. The siblings approached a supplier partner, the destination management company Pomegranate Travel.
The DMC picked Sindy up from her hotel, escorted her to the Jordanian border, assisted with border services and had a representative waiting to meet her on the other side. They ferried her to the Ritz-Carlton in Amman, where she stayed for a night before flying to London and on to New York JFK.
All told, it took about 44 hours door-to-door, said Rebecca Liben Levy, the company's COO. While they were very confident they'd get their mom home safe, the siblings were still anxious until she was back.
"When you have someone you really love, and you are lucky enough and blessed enough to be an expert in the field -- and surrounded by people that are experts in the field -- you do feel a sense of competency," she said. "But of course, we were nervous. There's no way not to be nervous."
She praised Pomegranate Travel as well as everyone at Chai Travel, calling it a "team effort."
Chai Travel is an affiliate of New York-based First in Service Travel (No. 44 on Travel Weekly's Power List), which has been assisting 10 client groups to exit Israel with the help of local DMCs, CEO Fernando Gonzalez said.
Nashville-based First in Service advisor Michelle Gross is another advisor who jumped in to help. She got a call from a client in Los Angeles whose daughter was in Israel with a group of friends when the war broke out. The group of seven 20- and 30-something young professionals had been traveling together in Europe and ended up in Israel. None were direct clients of Gross, but she was happy to assist.
Working with DMC Conexion Travel, she transported that group to Jordan, where they were able to join an expedited line at the border and on to the airport in Amman.
"It was a bit of a nerve-wracking situation, but everyone was safe," she said.
It also meant a lot of lost sleep for Gross because of the time difference between the U.S. and Israel.
"That's what we do," Gross said. "It's just the way our business is. There are no set hours, especially in a crisis."
Gonzalez said that is a common thread among the advisors he's spoken to recently: "The sense of responsibility that they had." In Gross' case specifically, he said, she was acting purely out of a desire to help.
"That came across so loudly with all of the different advisors that we helped," he said. "It was all about, 'How do we help these people that are in a desperate situation?'"
First in Service ready in a crisis
First in Service has an internal crisis committee made up of team members. Gonzalez said the group was born in the pandemic and remains on call to monitor and react to any emergencies around the world.
First, the crisis committee identifies whether any First in Service clients have been affected by an event.
In the case of Israel, the committee began working as soon as Israeli airspace was closed, he said. They identified affected clients, then got in touch with their respective advisors. In addition to helping the advisors, First in Service also connects its advisors to facilitate networking amongst themselves.
It's all part of one of the host's foundational pillars, stylized "fanat1cal service," referring to its goal to offer consistent and exceptional service.
Gonzalez said First in Service intends to deepen its crisis committee's work by partnering with preferred DMCs throughout the world to enhance reaction time whenever an emergency occurs.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Israel-Iran crisis: How vital is the Strait of Hormuz for oil market?
The flare-up of tensions between Israel and Iran has reignited concerns over the security of the Strait of Hormuz, a vital artery for the global energy market. This narrow stretch of water, just 29 nautical miles wide at its tightest point, funnels nearly a third of the world's seaborne oil and a fifth of global LNG. The U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) calls it the "world's most important oil chokepoint," underlining the strategic importance of the passage that links the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea. Investors and analysts are weighing the implications of a potential disruption in this narrow but critical waterway. What happens if the Strait of Hormuz is suddenly sealed off? Following Israeli attacks on Iran, Iranian officials have raised the spectre of closing the Strait—triggering a sharp surge in crude prices. According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), around 20 million barrels per day (mb/d) of crude oil and refined products passed through the Strait of Hormuz in 2023, representing nearly 30% of total global oil trade. Most of this volume—around 70%—was bound for Asia, with China, India and Japan among the largest recipients. While alternative pipeline infrastructure exists, it is limited. The IEA estimates that only 4.2 mb/d of crude oil can be rerouted via overland routes, such as Saudi Arabia's East-West pipeline to the Red Sea and the UAE's Abu Dhabi Crude Oil Pipeline to Fujairah. This capacity represents barely one quarter of the typical daily volume transiting the Strait. 'Any prolonged crisis in the Strait of Hormuz would not only disrupt shipments from key Gulf producers—Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Kuwait, Iraq and Qatar—but also make inaccessible the majority of the world's spare production capacity, which is concentrated in the Persian Gulf,' the IEA warned in a report. Related Israel kills IRGC intelligence chief and deputy, Iranian state media says Netanyahu says Israel has not ruled out killing Iran's Ayatollah Ali Khamenei Iran seeks international mediation amid conflict with Israel, Trump promises peace Era of nuclear disarmament 'coming to an end', SIPRI warns LNG markets are even more exposed to potential disruptions. All LNG exports from Qatar—the world's second-largest LNG exporter—and the UAE must pass through the Strait. The IEA reports that 90 billion cubic metres (bcm) of LNG transited the Strait in the first ten months of 2023, equal to 20% of global LNG trade. With no viable alternative routes for LNG exports from Qatar or the UAE, any maritime closure would severely tighten global supply. Around 80% of these LNG volumes are destined for Asia, while Europe receives roughly 20%, meaning disruptions would exacerbate competition between regions, especially in a tight market. 'The sheer volume of oil passing through the Strait and the scarcity of alternative routes means even brief disruptions would have significant consequences for the global market,' the IEA stated. While a full closure remains a low-probability scenario, analysts agree that the threat alone is enough to inject volatility into energy markets. Crude oil prices surged by 13% last week amid escalating tensions between Israel and Iran. Although prices have since eased slightly after reports confirmed that Iranian energy infrastructure remained untouched by Israeli strikes, the risk of further escalation—and potential disruption to global energy flows—remains elevated. In response, Wall Street analysts have been quick to assess the possible fallout from any interruption of oil and gas shipments through the Persian Gulf, particularly the Strait of Hormuz. Goldman Sachs warned that an extreme risk scenario involving a prolonged closure of the Strait could push prices well above $100 per barrel. The investment bank estimates that Iran currently produces around 3.6 million barrels per day (mb/d) of crude oil and 0.8 mb/d of condensates, with total seaborne exports averaging 2.1 mb/d so far this year—most of it heading to China. T ING's head of commodities strategy, Warren Patterson, indicates that the market has begun pricing in a substantially higher geopolitical risk premium in light of recent developments. Patterson stated that any disruption to Iranian oil flows would be enough to eliminate the expected oil surplus for the fourth quarter of 2025, likely pushing Brent crude prices toward $80 per barrel. Yet, the analyst warns that a more severe scenario—such as a disruption of shipping through the Strait of Hormuz—could be far more consequential. 'Almost a third of global seaborne oil passes through this chokepoint,' he noted. 'A significant disruption to these flows could drive prices up to $120 per barrel, particularly because most of OPEC's spare capacity is located in the Persian Gulf and would be inaccessible under such conditions.' "This escalation also has ramifications for the European gas market," he added. The Strait of Hormuz is more than just a shipping lane—it's a lifeline for global energy. With no easy detours for oil or LNG flows, its vulnerability puts markets on edge every time tensions flare in this region. A full closure of the Strait may still seem a remote event, but the mere threat is enough to rattle markets and keep oil prices elevated. As Iranian and Israeli forces continue to exchange strikes, the risk of miscalculation looms large. In a region where diplomacy is fragile and stakes are high, one wrong move could turn a regional conflict into a global energy crisis. Sign in to access your portfolio
Forbes
an hour ago
- Forbes
Yonder Credit Card Review
Especially for city-dwellers who travel frequently and habitually clear their monthly credit card balance, Yonder could be a good fit for day-to-day spending. The provider also offers a choice between a free and pay-monthly option depending on the level benefits you want to access. rewards tend to centre around major cities £15 monthly fee to access top rewards high interest rate on card balances Yonder is a Mastercard travel and rewards credit card that offers benefits including yonderpoints, which are redeemable against restaurant bills and lifestyle experiences. There are no foreign exchange (FX) fees when using the card abroad. There are also no cash withdrawal fees both abroad and in the UK. However, limits apply*. There are two versions of the card: one with free membership, and another that charges a monthly fee but offers additional perks such as boosted points earning, cashback on spending and worldwide travel insurance . The full membership credit card also offers Yonder Flights, which allows customers to redeem points to pay towards the cost of tickets with any airline. Who is Yonder? Yonder is a fintech start-up company that launched its first app-based rewards credit card in 2022. The card was primarily targeted at Millennial and Gen Z professionals living in and around London, but it has since broadened its reach to other cities including Birmingham, Bristol, Manchester and Bath. In April 2025, NatWest became a minority investor in Yonder. Here are the key points of both the Free and Full Membership Yonder credit cards: no monthly or annual fee reward points scheme with selected partners no FX when you spend overseas. £15 per month fee (or £160 if paid annually) 0.5% cashback on spending enhanced rewards scheme and welcome bonus free worldwide travel insurance redeem points against any flight with any airline no FX fees when you spend overseas. Cardholders earn yonderpoints on spending on their Yonder credit card at a rate of one point per £1 spent with the free membership account, and five points per £1 spent with the full membership card. Points can then be redeemed against a range of dining and lifestyle benefits with Yonder partners. These include theatre tickets, restaurants and bars, meal prep companies, fitness brands, car rental and – for full membership card holders – flights. Yonder's team of specialists select between 15 and 20 tailored offers and experiences at which cardholders can opt to redeem their yonderpoints. Partner brands include the likes of Bao and Fallow restaurants, Frive meal kits, Sucre, Grind, Padella, Hoppers and Soma cocktail bars. Full membership cardholders will have access to the full range of yonderpoint rewards partners. Yonderpoints have no expiry date. How to use yonderpoints You can redeem yonderpoints by simply selecting 'use points' in the Yonder app. When using your Yonder card, if you have enough points, they will be used automatically to pay – up to Yonder's fair use limit. You can check the fair use limits for each offer or experience in the Yonder app. Yonder also offers a top-up feature, which means customers can pay money onto their card to effectively increase their credit limit. This can make monthly card bill payments more manageable, while the extra can be used for purchases to earn points without using credit. Rewards and benefits With the Free Membership, cardholders earn one yonderpoint for every £1 spent on the card, plus up to five points on spending at selected partners. On the Full Membership plan, points are earned at a rate of five per £1 spent or up to 25 per £1 with selected partners. In addition, you'll get 10,000 yonderpoints as a welcome bonus when you sign up. The yonderpoints you earn are rounded down to the nearest pound on card spend. So if you're a free member and you spend £1.99 on the card, for example, you would earn one yonderpoint. Referring a friend can earn you up to 10,000 yonderpoints if they take a Full Membership card or 2,000 for the Free Membership card. Points have different values depending on where you choose to redeem them. As a benchmark however, one yonderpoint under the Free Membership plan is worth around 0.5 pence and one point under the Full Membership plan is worth up to 2.5p at redemption. Full members can also earn cashback in addition to their yonderpoints, where one point earned will be worth 0.5p in cashback. Other benefits of both types of Yonder card include fee-free overseas use. The Full Membership account offers additional perks, including worldwide travel insurance and cashback on purchases. Interest rates and fees The purchase rates on the Yonder credit card are relatively high at 32.26% APR variable for the free card, and 29.32% APR variable for Full Membership. The monthly fee applied on the full membership card means that the overall representative APR – which includes the interest rate and fees – is high at 66.0% (variable). There are no late fees if you don't pay your credit card bill but you'll accrue interest on any unpaid bills and interest charges. Are my purchases protected with the Yonder card? Yonder is a credit card, which means cardholders can benefit from payment protection under section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act . This means purchases of more than £100 and up to £30,000 – even if just the deposit is put on the card – are protected. You'll need to be aged between 18 and 65 and a UK resident to be eligible for a Yonder card. You're also likely to need a regular income and a relatively strong credit score. There's an eligibility checker tool on Yonder's website so you can find out your chances of being accepted first using a soft credit check that won't show up on your credit report. This can be a prudent step before making a formal application, because you could harm your credit score if you're rejected. Yonder customer service The Yonder card must be both applied for and managed in the app. Yonder has a support hub on its website with a broad range of FAQs – such as about redeeming points or setting up automatic payments to clear your card balance. You can email with questions too – but customers are encouraged to use the live chat facility offered in the app. While this is marketed as 24/7, it may use AI chatbots at certain times and you may have to wait for the on-call human assistant. Yonder has a 4.5 Trustpilot rating (out of 5) from more than 1,200 customer reviews. Among the comments, users talk about Yonder being 'a card I can use abroad without it costing me a fortune in fees' and 'great rewards, and customer service has consistently been fantastic'. What are the alternatives to the Yonder card? If you're looking for a rewards credit card , there's a wide range to consider. These deals tend to come with perks, such as cashback or airmiles on spending, and various other lifestyle and travel rewards. Again, however, the standard purchase interest rates can be high, so you'll get the best value if you can pay off your balance every month to avoid interest charges. There is also a range of travel credit cards on the market that can save considerable money in charges. *Up to £150 per day (spread across three transactions) and up to five withdrawals every seven days to a total maximum of £600 per week. Note also that cash withdrawals are reported to credit reference agencies. Frequent or large withdrawals may affect your credit score, so Yonder advises to use cash withdrawals responsibly.
Gizmodo
an hour ago
- Gizmodo
Best Buy Offers Acer 11.6″ Chromebook for Less Than AirPods Pro to Compete With Early Prime Day Deals
In search of a new laptop? If you're primary need for a computer is basic web browsing, email drafting, word processing, and YouTube video-watching, then you really don't need to shell out for anything crazy expensive. A Chromebook is kind of the perfect tool for these use cases plus they're super great for travel. Acer has its Chromebook on sale over at Best Buy. Right now, it's been shaved down by nearly 45%. That brings the price from its usual $229 to just $129. You can save a cool $100 for a limited time. See at Best Buy This Acer Chromebook 311 has a compact screen, measuring in at 11.6 inches—ideal for travel—with a resolution of 1366 by 768. It weights in at only 2.65 lbs. so you can easily schlep it between classes if you're a student or bring it along with your to a coffee shop to get some work done without it weighing you down. The Chromebook utilizes an Intel Celeron processor with an Intel UHD graphics card. We're looking at 4GB on memory to help smoothly run multiple programs and browser tabs at once. It's got 64GB of eMMC storage, capable of fast load times. Sign in with your Google accounts to access even more storage in the cloud. In fact, you'll even gain three free months of Google AI Pro which comes with a full 2TB of cloud storage. Connect to all your peripherals seamlessly and easily. The Acer Chromebook has ports for USB 3.1 Type-C along with USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A. It's quick to start up, only taking 10 second from being turned off to seeing the home screen. The HD webcam along with the dual speakers make this Acer Chromebook ideal for video conferencing whether it is wit ha colleague to discuss quarterly earnings or just to have a quick chat with Mom. The built-in microphone will have your sounding crystal clear on the other end of the call. Before you go off spending thousands of dollars on a new laptop, consider what you're really using it for. If you just need a solid device that you can check your email, browse the web, and do some basic tasks like building out spreadsheets or other documents, a Chromebook might be the better choice for you. Get your Asus 11.6-inch Chromebook 311 for $100 off at Best Buy before the price goes back up. It's normally priced at $229 so after the discount, you'll only be paying $129. See at Best Buy
