A report by the Business Travel Association (BTA) and the Travel Risk and Incident Prevention (TRIP) Group urges UK businesses to put employee safety and Travel Risk Management (TRM) at the top of the boardroom agenda.
In an increasingly interconnected and volatile world, it says today’s travellers face risks from external factors including extreme weather, cyber attacks and geopolitical tensions.
Failure to manage travel risks can result in significant legal, financial and reputational damage for companies.
To protect their people and operations, organisations must shift from reactive responses to a proactive, integrated TRM approach.
By investing in robust travel risk strategies now, businesses can turn traveller safety into a strategic business advantage, improve compliance, fulfil their duty of care and maintain resilience in a complex travel landscape.
The report outlines the key pillars of an effective TRM strategy, how to assess and manage risks before, during and after trips and the role of TMCs in supporting real-time risk response.
It aims to give organisations a powerful toolkit to anticipate, assess and mitigate any risks before they impact people or businesses.
Key takeaways of the report include:
- Integrating TRM into corporate travel policies: Embedding risk management protocols within corporate travel frameworks ensures a systematic and consistent approach to mitigating risks.
- Conducting comprehensive risk assessments: Evaluating potential threats before, during and after trips allows organisations to make informed decisions about employee travel.
- Providing pre-trip training and awareness programmes: Educating employees on potential risks, cultural sensitivities and emergency procedures enhances their ability to respond effectively in crises.
- Establishing crisis response frameworks: Having clear communication channels, predefined emergency protocols and access to security and medical support can mitigate the impact of crises.
- Leveraging tech for risk intelligence and traveller tracking: Using AI-driven risk intelligence, GPS-enabled tracking systems and mobile safety apps enhances situational awareness and response times. Tech must be balanced with human intelligence and include measures to counter mis- and dis-information.
- Partnering with TMCs: Work with a TMC that prioritises risk management, provides access to expertise, real-time intelligence and emergency support capabilities.
Clive Wratten, CEO of the BTA, said: “Organisations have a clear legal and moral obligation to protect employees travelling on their behalf. This white paper gives them the tools to fulfil that duty. Aligning with ISO 31030 isn’t just best practice, it’s smart business. Safer travellers mean stronger, more resilient organisations.”
Lloyd Figgins, CEO of the TRIP Group, said: “Protecting your people is the cornerstone of good business. This white paper moves the conversation beyond theory, providing leaders with the blueprint to deliver robust, compliant and effective travel risk management strategies. With the right processes, travel risk isn’t just manageable, it’s a competitive advantage.”
