Thousands of holiday makers have been left stranded as clouds of volcanic ash have restricted flights to and from the UK. Already many holidaymakers are complaining of a lack of information from some airline and travel companies – leaving them stranded at airports and in resorts.

International Rescue, Trafficmaster’s international concierge and emergency travel service, is on hand to help travellers who have downloaded the service to their smart phone. Teams of travel experts available round the clock are able to help find accommodation and alternative transport for holidaymakers who have no-one else to turn to.

This morning’s news told of holidaymakers in Tenerife who were unable to return home to the UK, because of cancelled flights. They were running out of money, unable to book accommodation as all rooms were full or reserved and had been given no information from the airline company as to when they were able to fly home.

Terfel Roberts, Head of International Rescue at Trafficmaster comments:“When a situation arises like this, very often it is extremely difficult to get through to someone who can tell you what is going on, what they can do to help you or even tell you what your rights are. This lack of information can be frustrating and stressful.”

The International Rescue travel experts have authorised access to travel organisations, emergency services and British embassies in over 40 countries. Through these partnerships they are able to inform travellers of alternative travel plans and let them know what their rights are so that they wouldn’t be hit by avoidable additional costs.

International Rescue concierge and emergency travel service provides access to English speaking travel experts. Developed by Trafficmaster it is the only service in the world that has authorised partnerships with all emergency services such as fire, ambulance, coast guard and mountain rescue. It also has access to British consulates and embassies which are on hand to assist travellers in difficulty. Using GPS technology the travel teams are also able to pinpoint your location, helping rescue teams reach you quickly.The teams also have access to comprehensive travel databases that help them provide valuable concierge services such as finding you a hotel room or cash point.

The service costs £20 a month or £65 a year and is available for download from Blackberry's AppWorld and from the iTunes AppStore. All calls to the travel teams are then charged at local UK landline rates. For more information, please visit: www.trafficmaster.co.uk

For more information: Georgina Read, PR Manager, Trafficmaster plc T: 01234 759315 Mobile: 07766 317 172 georgina.read@trafficmaster.co.uk

About Trafficmaster Trafficmaster is an expert in intelligent driving. The Group comprises US-based Teletrac Inc. and Trafficmaster Plc in the UK. Both organisations focus on intelligent vehicle services which enhance the driving experience and improve business performance by saving companies and drivers time and money and reducing their environmental impact.

Teletrac Inc offers fleet tracking, management and navigation solutions under the Fleet Director brand across the US, serving 6,000 fleets and a total of 90,000 commercial vehicles, using wireless and GPS technology.

The group has also developed a suite of Trafficmaster services in the UK. Trafficmaster's key product is the award-winning Smartnav, an intelligent satellite navigation system, which uses live traffic information and real-time road speeds to calculate optimum routes and avoid traffic congestion on the way. Trafficmaster's comprehensive traffic data means Smartnav is continually updated with traffic information, road closures and speed camera locations, without the need for CDs or internet-sourced updates.

Trafficmaster also offers Trackstar stolen vehicle tracking, monitored 24 hours a day in the Trafficmaster Control Centre. Stolen vehicles can automatically inform Trafficmaster and are then monitored remotely and police informed of their whereabouts for fast and efficient recovery.

The company provides live traffic information direct via mobile phone services and Radio Data System -Traffic Message Channel (RDS TMC) to other aftermarket and factory-fit satellite navigation systems.

Trafficmaster also maintains its own unique traffic monitoring network of road-side sensors, covering 8,000 miles of UK motorways and trunk roads. In 2007 the company launched its fleet management solution, Fleet Director, in the UK. Combining all of Trafficmaster’s intelligent technology businesses can save time and money, whilst reducing the environmental impact of driving.

Trafficmaster was founded in 1988 and floated on the London Stock Exchange in 1994. Teletrac Inc is a wholly owned US subsidiary company.
www.teletrac.net
www.trafficmaster.co.uk