IHG and the Medical Tourism Association Join to Facilitate Medical-Related Travel into Latin America  - June 4, 2008

IHG (InterContinental Hotels Group) (LSE:IHG) (NYSE:IHG) (ADRs), one of the world's largest hotel groups by number of rooms, and the Medical Tourism Association, an international, non-profit association made up of the top international hospitals, insurance companies, healthcare companies, medical tourism companies, and other affiliated companies, today announced that the organizations have joined to spearhead an initiative to facilitate medical-related travel into Latin America.

It is the Medical Tourism Association's first such initiative into Latin America with a major international hotel company. Medical-related travel into Latin America has increased exponentially over the past decade, with both patients and insurance companies looking for viable, innovative alternatives to manage healthcare costs.

The program will provide a network for patients to tap into that includes everything from the medical care itself, to the mechanics of traveling and staying in the region, such as airport pick-up, transportation to and from the medical facilities, pre- and post-procedure hotel rooms for both patients and families, and a variety of other amenities.

The program's benefits include:

-- Partnerships with some of the top medical insurance companies in the U.S.

-- Special rates and packages provided by IHG hotels, airlines, and doctors in Latin America

-- Teaming up with some of the best hospitals in Latin America for a vast array of medical procedures including plastic surgery, joint replacement, heart bypass surgery and dental procedures

-- Transportation to and from the airport and transportation to and from doctor's office pre and post operation for check ups will also be provided by IHG hotels

IHG's 'beta countries' for this program include Panama, Costa Rica, Brazil and the IHG hotels in the city of Monterrey, Mexico - all areas with recognized, topflight medical facilities, such as the renowned Clinica Biblica Hospital in Costa Rica, a JCI-accredited facility, and Panama's Hospital Punta Pacifica, which is affiliated with Johns Hopkins Medicine International.

IHG's various brands, including InterContinental Hotels & Resorts, Crowne Plaza Hotels & Resorts, Holiday Inn Hotels & Resorts, Holiday Inn Express and Staybridge Suites, afford patients a broad range of room and amenities options, so they can choose the appropriate services and amenities they will need during their recovery.

"We are truly excited about introducing this important medical travel initiative into Costa Rica and expanding it into other Latin American markets," said Jonathan Edelheit, President of the Medical Tourism Association. "In the past, patients have been uncertain about overseas medical attention, in no small part because of the complexities of having a medical procedure performed in a foreign country. Now we have the infrastructure in place to not only provide access to the best medical care possible, but to manage the process of traveling as well, and in an environment that is comfortable and that is truly more cost effective for everyone, most importantly the patients."

"We are thrilled to be spearheading this program together with the Medical Travel Association and to be the first international hotel company to offer this kind of program in Latin America," said Alvaro Diago, area president, Latin America, IHG. "We have more than 60 years in the region providing comfort, so it is a privilege being able to translate that level of care to an individual traveling for medical procedures. This is a truly innovative program that I am sure will be very successful, and a major step towards furthering the needs and requirements of the growing number of individuals traveling abroad for healthcare reasons."

"There is a huge medical tourism market in the travel industry, and no other international hotel company within Latin America has sought to tap into it with such a comprehensive program," added Tom Murray, COO, the Americas, IHG. "We are eager to provide a comfortable, safe environment in which patients can recuperate rapidly, while enjoying the benefits of convalescing in some of the region's most prolific cities."

The Medical Tourism Association is a non-profit organization made up of the top international hospitals, insurance companies, healthcare companies, medical tourism companies, and other affiliated companies and industries with a common goal of promoting the highest level of quality of care to patients on an international basis.

IHG has more than 170 hotels in Mexico, Central and South America, and the Caribbean, and has been serving Latin America for over 60 years. IHG has properties situated in nearly every key market throughout the Latin America territory.

For information regarding The Medical Tourism Association, call 1 (561) 627-1520, or visit www.MedicalTravelAuthority.Com, or their offices located at 10130 Northlake Blvd 214-315 in West Palm Beach, Florida.
 

Medical Tourism Association Launches a Preview of the

Medical Tourism Association Documentary "Angels Overseas" - January 17, 2008

The Medical Tourism Association launches a preview of the Medical Tourism Association Documentary "Angels Overseas." 

People can watch the preview of the documentary on the Medical Tourism Association's website.

The Medical Tourism Association is producing a documentary called Angels Overseas. This documentary will provide significant insight into the high quality of care that international hospitals provide to foreign patients. The Medical Tourism Association will make a series of documentaries showing foreign patients from the UK, Canada, US, Middle East, and Asia traveling to other countries for healthcare and life saving surgeries. The first series in the documentary, Angels Overseas, will follow American patients overseas for health care to Latin America and Asia. This documentary will show the honest truth of what a foreign patient can expect when traveling overseas to a foreign country for surgery and healthcare. The Association is working to have the documentary made available to the public through a TV Network station and also on DVD.

Medical Tourism Association to Launch TV News Feeds - January 12, 2008

In January 2008, the Medical Tourism Association will launch a media/TV news feed on its website. These news feeds will bring you video interviews of the leaders in medical travel worldwide and will also feature information on trends within the medical tourism industry and health tourism industry. These news feeds will be constantly updated on the MTA's website at www.medicaltravelauthority.com.

The Medical Tourism Association has launched this program to raise awareness of the medical travel industry and to provide a website for insightful commentary about global healthcare or the globalization of healthcare.

This internet video content is brought to you by the Medical Tourism Magazine, the official publication of the Medical Tourism Association, Inc. The Medical Tourism Magazine is available at no charge online from the MTA website or by request in print form. For more information, please contact info@medicaltravelauthority.com.

Medical Tourism Association to Launch Patient Financing in Spring 2008 - January 11, 2008

Medical Tourism Association to Launch Patient Financing up to $20,000 for international surgeries in Spring 2008.

The Medical Tourism Association (MTA) is finalizing negotiations with a large financial institution that will provide patient financing of up to $20,000 per patient for Americans going overseas to international hospitals for surgery and medical care.

"This will open up the doors for millions of Americans who wish to go overseas for surgery through medical tourism, but do not have the financial means to do so," said Jonathan Edelheit, president of the Medical Tourism Association. “Once this is implemented, it should significantly grow the medical tourism industry.”

The financing will be available through hospitals, medical tourism companies and the MTA website.

“There is one catch,” advises Edelheit. “Patients will be able to use the financing through only those international hospitals or medical tourism companies that are members of the Medical Tourism Association.”

The financing will not be available through any non-member hospital or medical tourism company.

"It is important that we protect the integrity and reputation of the medical tourism industry and make sure that patients are considering only the top international hospitals when utilizing the Medical Tourism Association's financing mechanism," he says.

Edelheit says this is also very exciting for MTA members and should give them a significant advantage over non-members in growing their international business and being given preference when patients choose a hospital or medical tourism company. The financing can also be used in the event that complications during a surgery result in higher than expected costs for the procedure.

Medical Tourism Magazine - January 09,2008

The first edition of the Medical Tourism Magazine published by the Medical Tourism Association launched in December 2007.

The world's first issue of Medical Tourism Magazine has been published. The magazine is available for free in both print and electronic versions at the Medical Tourism Association's website.

The magazine will cover all the issues in Medical Tourism and Global Healthcare.

Magazine will address issues such as:

1. Quality of Health Care Overseas

2. Legal Issues Surrounding Medical Tourism

3. The American Health Care Crisis

4. What Americans look for in overseas health care

5. Specific Country Focus each issue

The magazines distribution is International Hospitals and providers involved in Medical Tourism & Global Healthcare, US Employers, Insurance & Healthcare Companies, Insurance Agents, Travel Industry, and more.

Medical Tourism Association Launches its Worldwide "Medical Tourism Magazine" - November 16,2007

The Medical Tourism Association, the first non-profit trade association representing Global Healthcare Providers in the Medical Tourism Industry has launched the first worldwide Medical Tourism Magazine.

Medical Tourism, the growing industry of patients traveling overseas for medical treatment, continues to substantially increase as millions of people each year cross borders in search of better medical care at more affordable prices.

Medical Tourism Association (MTA), a not-for-profit organization is comprised of top international hospitals, healthcare providers, facilitators and leaders in the industry. MTA’s mission is to promote positive and stable growth of medical tourism internationally, with a strong focus on promoting the highest quality of care provided to patients.

Please visit www.medicaltravelauthority.com or email: info@medicaltravelauthority.com

Medical Tourism Magazine

The Medical Tourism Magazine is the industry’s first trade magazine written by professionals in the industry. The focus is on all the issues surrounding medical tourism, from quality of care, legal issues, pre and post care, to choosing the right international hospital. The magazine also advises insurance companies and healthcare companies interested in getting involved in medical tourism. The magazine is free for subscribers online in print.

The magazine will be the ultimate information source for the industry and will allow people to be kept up to date on happenings in the industry. Each issue will discuss worldwide global healthcare issues and also contains a focus on a specific country. The magazine’s first issue will focus on Costa Rica, the second on India, and upcoming issues on Philippines, Taiwan, Singapore, Malaysia.

Renée-Marie Stephano, Editor of the Medical Tourism Magazine and Spokesperson for the Association, stated, “This magazine will really open up the prospects for global communication about leading world class medical care provided by international providers.” “The magazine will be an asset in our efforts to create a transparency in the industry as well a terrific source of information for anyone wanting to learn more about healthcare travel.”

The Medical Tourism Association

“We are establishing a comprehensive, credible resource for American citizens and citizens from around the world to access information on medical tourism, identify hospitals and providers, their level of quality of care, and learn about their outcomes,” explains Edelheit. “As a preeminent voice for the industry, the MTA is also positioned to address inquiries from government agencies, legislators, employers and insurers.”

The MTA is working on providing transparency for provider outcomes and quality of care on a global level. Many leading international hospitals have agreed to work with the MTA on transparency. The MTA is also working directly with large US insurance companies who are trying to learn how to implement medical tourism into their healthcare plans. As a trade association, the MTA seeks to protect the reputation of the industry and to provide valuable benefits to international providers.

“We encourage all stakeholders in medical tourism, affiliated industries and related technologies to join the MTA in its mission to ultimate serve the public,” adds Edelheit. “Together, we can generate awareness of the quality and economic value of going abroad for quality healthcare and build credibility for foreign hospitals. As a unified, combined voice, we expect this industry to flourish and meet the needs of citizens who want to take advantage of services outside of their country borders.”

Medical Tourism Association Hold World's First Medical Tourism Membership Meeting & Forum - November 16,2007

The Medical Tourism Association will hold its first membership meeting which will be open to the general public December 3rd at 8:30 am in Washington DC. Medical Tourism otherwise known as Health Tourism or Medical Travel is where Americans travel overseas to foreign countries to receive world class medical treatment at almost 90% less than in the United States. Over 500,000 Americans traveled overseas in 2006, and it is expected in 2008 that several million Americans will travel overseas.

Join the Medical Tourism Association at its first Membership Meeting in Washington DC.

This will be the world’s first general meeting of a non profit Medical Tourism Association.

The meeting is open to the members and non-members.

Topics to be discussed at the conference will be
• Direction of the Medical Tourism Association
• What the association should or should not do
• Where the Medical Tourism Industry is headed
• Creating Transparency in the Industry
• Discussion on Quality of Care & Standards
• Helping Shape where the industry is going
• Open Forum/Discussion by Members and Non-Members
• Networking Opportunities

If you are involved in the industry you can’t afford to miss this opportunity. Come to the Medical Tourism Association meeting and help direct the future of this growing industry.

To contact the Association email them at info@medicaltravelauthority.com

Medical Tourism Association Scheduled to Visit Hospitals in Philippines & Taiwan - November 18^th through the 26^th

The Medical Tourism Association, the industry's first non-profit trade association for international healthcare providers, departs this week for a two week visit of hospitals in the Philippines and Taiwan.

The Medical Tourism Association will leave the United States on November 15th to fly to Manila, Philippines. The association will be speaking at the International Medical Travel Conference in Manila from November 22-24th. Topics include:

1) How to Attract Americans to your overseas hospital
2) Medical Tourism and the Law

The association will be visiting the major hospitals in the Philippines and meet with government officials within the government.

During its trip, the Medical Tourism Association will visit Taiwan. The Association was invited by the Taiwan Hospital Association to speak to it's member hospitals about Medical Tourism and the growth of the industry. The medical tourism association will then visit some of the hospitals in Taiwan.

Both visits to the hospitals in Taiwan and the Philippines will be covered in the third issue of the Medical Tourism Magazine, the trade magazine for the medical tourism industry. The first Magazine issue will focus on Costa Rica, and the second issue on India.

The Association is working with hospitals around the world to focus on Quality of Care and hospitals from around the world working together to promote the highest level of quality of care.

For more information contact the Medical Tourism Association.
 

Medical Tourism Association Visits Indian Hospitals - November 3,2007

The Medical Tourism Association, the industry's first non-profit trade association for international healthcare providers, has recently returned from the medical tourism conference held in Goa, India and a subsequent two week tour of the top India hospitals.

The Medical Tourism Association spoke at the Medical Tourism Conference in Goa, India October 22-24, 2007. The topics included How to Attract Americans to Overseas Hospitals and Medical Tourism and the Law. Medical Tourism and the Law was a one hour session by General Counsel of the Association, Renee-Marie Stephano, Esquire. The topic received tremendous feedback as Ms. Stephano advised international hospitals and Medical Tourism companies of the potential grounds for liability when dealing with overseas patients.

After the conference, both Jonathan Edelheit, the President of the Medical Tourism Association and Ms. Stephano visited 10 of the top hospitals in India.

One special purpose for the visit was to gather information for the second issue of the Medical Tourism Magazine, the first issue being released next week with a focus on Costa Rica.

The Medical Tourism Association is the leading international association for Americans traveling overseas for health care and surgery. The Association focuses on creating a transparency in the international healthcare industry and improving communication amongst overseas providers, ultimately to the benefit of patients. Americans as well as other international patients can save up to 90% off of major surgeries by traveling overseas and in some cases, a better quality of care.