‘Clients do not come first. Employees come first. If you take care of your employees, they will take care of your clients.’ -Richard Branson.
In 2024, global business travel spending reached $1.48 trillion. With this surge comes a growing responsibility for organizations to safeguard their employees. Employees travel throughout the year for various work purposes. However, one issue of utmost concern is their safety and risk management.
From geopolitical tensions and natural disasters to health crises and cyber threats, the risks faced by business travelers are more complex than ever. Global Business Travel Association (GBTA) found that traveler safety (40% )is the number one priority for companies. Many business travelers feel their company should do more to mitigate travel risks. Yet, many organizations lack the comprehensive travel risk management (TRM) solutions necessary to protect their workforce.
Business travel is no longer just about booking flights and hotels. It’s about ensuring employee safety, security, and well-being at every journey stage. Whether it’s an executive stuck in an airport or an employee caught in a natural disaster, companies must be proactive in addressing potential threats.
So, how can organizations ensure they are proactively addressing these concerns? In this blog, we will help you understand risk management and its importance, some real-life examples, its key components, and more.
The Growing Need for Travel Risk Management (TRM)
Business travel is a vast industry. With its evolution over decades, business travel spending also has increased. This means there is a huge responsibility on companies’ shoulders to ensure their employees’ safety.
In a survey by Global Rescue, 90% of business travelers have some level of travel safety concern. According to Businesswire, 65% of senior risk professionals perceive that risks have increased over the past year. 69% think geopolitical tensions will have a significant impact on their business or people in 2025.
| Did you know? Only 24% of companies have a solid risk management plan.60% of CFOs cite traveler safety as a top business risk.Travel disruptions have impacted both businesses and employees, leading to missed meetings, rebooking fees, and more. |
Travel can be unpredictable. Travelers must navigate weather changes, geo-political impacts, or technical faults at any moment. Thus leaving them feeling helpless, confused, and frustrated. Hence, providing a duty of care with advanced risk management solutions is not just necessary but a process to be followed for years to come.
You may also like 13 Travel Risk Management Questions for Travel Managers
Key Components of Advanced Travel Risk Management Solutions
Implementing an effective TRM strategy requires a blend of technology, policy, and rapid response mechanisms. Here’s how industry leaders are enhancing their duty of care:
1. AI-Powered Risk Intelligence & Predictive Analytics
With the help of AI and predictive analytics, travel risk management reanalyzes real-time data from a wide array of sources. These include news reports, social media, weather updates, government alerts, and proprietary databases. These tools provide forecasts for evolving risks before they escalate. Thereby enabling companies to proactively reroute a traveler or delay the trip entirely.
Key features
- AI-driven threat detection that analyzes geopolitical, health, and environmental risks.
- Real-time risk scoring of destinations to determine traveler safety levels.
- Automated alerts for emerging threats, such as civil unrest or natural disasters.
| Case study: ABB, a leading technology firm, recognized the need for a comprehensive TRM program to ensure employee safety during travel. By integrating advanced risk intelligence tools, ABB developed a process that delivers consistent and reliable information to employees and managers. This system combines existing processes with new technology, creating an integrated approach to travel risk management. |
2. Real-Time Location Tracking & Communication Tools
To safeguard employee travel, it is necessary to locate them in real time and communicate quickly. Advanced TRM systems provide GPS-enabled tracking, allowing the organization to know its employees’ locations and provide help when necessary.
Key features
- Live GPS tracking ensures employee visibility when they are in high-risk areas.
- Geofencing alerts on reaching or leaving a high-risk area at the command center.
- Automated check-ins and two-way messaging for employee safety
- Panic/SOS buttons, connected directly to emergency responders.
3. Integrated Health & Safety Measures
During any business travel, health risks, be it a pandemic or food poisoning, are one of the major concerns for corporate travelers. Travel risk management solutions now come with features that include health risk assessments, telemedicine, vaccination tracking etc. This helps in safeguarding employees.
Key features
- Health advisories that are AI-driven based on travelers’ destination
- Telemedicine support for any kind of medical emergencies
- Vaccination tracking during any pandemic
| Case study: In 2023, a major pharmaceutical company adopted an AI-based algorithm for monitoring health during business travel. Employees underwent specific pre-travel health briefings, recommendations for vaccinations, and virtual medical consultations. The program led to a decrease of 40% in medical emergencies among business travelers and boosted confidence in corporate travel safety. |
4. Cybersecurity & Data Protection on the Move
Cyber crimes are one of the most rising concerns in the world. This mainly occurs in airports, hotels, and public wifi zones. This can expose your sensitive information and lead to phishing and fraud.
According to the 2024 Cybersecurity Risk Index, below are the top 5 crimes experienced by businesses:
- 36% have a security breach
- 27% were victims of extortion/ransomware
- 26% had a system glitch
- 25% of employees were tricked into transferring amounts to fraudulent accounts
But the good news is that TRM programs can now include:
- VPN protection for business networks
- End-to-end encryption for sensitive data
- Mobile device management for all devices
Suggested Read: Safeguarding Traveler Data: ITILITE’s Commitment to Data Security and Privacy
Steps to Implement a Successful Travel Risk Management Program
A proper Travel Risk Management (TRM) program must ensure safety, reduce liabilities, and thus continue business operations. Below is a step-by-step guide to help you set up a well-structured TRM program for your organization.
1. Conduct a Comprehensive Risk Assessment
Before setting up a TRM program, organizations must work on identifying potential risks related to travel for employees.
You must look into comprehensive risk aspects such as:
- Geopolitical risk (civil unrest, terrorism, war zones)
- Health risks (pandemics, infections)
- Natural disasters (earthquakes, hurricanes, floods)
- Cybersecurity threats of all kinds (data breach, identity theft)
- Logistical risks (airline strikes, transport breakdown)
As mentioned, check to see if the locations the employees are traveling to are high-risk areas. This will help you determine your options and plan business travel accordingly.
2. Develop a Clear Travel Risk Management Policy
The travel risk management policy should present the procedures and protocols for addressing travel risks. Some of the vital portions are:
- Pre-travel approvals: Employees should submit travel requests and get managerial approval.
- Training on travel safety: Mandatory training regarding awareness of risks for employees should be conducted.
- Emergency response procedures: Define steps employees should take during medical emergencies, political crises, or natural disasters.
- Traveler tracking requirements: Specify whether employees must check in via a mobile app or geolocation services.
Download the free travel risk assessment checklist here:Â
3. Implement Technology-Driven Risk Management Solutions
Modern TRM programs utilize AI, predictive analytics, and real-time tracking to ensure the safety of travelers.
Major technologies to deploy:
- Risk Intelligence Platforms: AI, like International SOS and WorldAware, provide real-time threat analysis.
- Traveler tracking apps: GPS-based apps allow employers to monitor employees in real-time.
- Automated alerts and notifications: AI alerts can be set up to keep travelers informed of protests, weather events, or cyber threats.
4. Establish a 24/7 Emergency Response System
It is extremely important to provide timely support to employees during emergencies. Hence, organizations must have a dedicated support team to assist employees.
- Global security partners: Collaborate with travel firms that provide round-the-clock travel support.
- Emergency hotlines: Provide employees with 24/7 support contacts.
- Evacuation procedures: Predefine evacuation strategies for high-risk destinations.
5. Provide Pre-Trip and On-Trip Risk Training
Even with the best policies in place, employees have to be trained to identify and respond to travel-induced risks. You can provide training via webinars, send out emails, or even over virtual calls.
Some of the topics to be covered include:
- How to avoid cyber threats in public spaces (ex, VPN use, phishing detection)
- Procedures to follow during medical emergencies
- Identifying and escaping high-crime areas
- Best practices for using ride-sharing and local transport.
6. Ensure Compliance with Duty of Care & Legal Regulations
It is a legal requirement under ISO 31030 (Travel Risk Management Standard) and local labor laws to protect employees.
- Perform an audit of the TRM policies regularly.
- Provide insurance coverage for travel-related incidents.
- Obtain employee consent for any tracking technology utilized.
7. Monitor and Continuously Improve the TRM Program
Travel risks are constantly evolving. Organizations should periodically update these policies as per new threats and inputs from traveling employees.
You can improve TRM over time by following these:
- Annual risk assessments
- Incident reports and responsiveness analysis
- Feedback from employees regarding security measures while traveling.
Role of a Travel Management Company
A Travel Management Company (TMC) plays a vital role in role in travel risk management. Not only that, but they also ensure the safety, security, and compliance of business travelers. TMC enables real-time risk assessment and leverages mitigation measures for any possible disruption. These include natural disasters, political unrest, health crises, and flight cancellations.
With duty of care as a priority, TMCs offer traveler tracking, emergency alerts, and crisis response using modern technology. They work with security providers to ensure that employees have immediate assistance in high-risk situations. TMCs also support organizations with detailed travel policies that align with local laws and corporate governance.
By aggregating data related to travel, a TMC provides proactive insight into risk that allows businesses to make informed decisions regarding changes to travel plans. Their expertise in insurance, contingency planning, and 24/7 support enhances corporate travel safety. Hence making them an indispensable partner in travel risk management.
Conclusion: Why Business Leaders Must Take Action
In an unpredictable travel environment, protecting employees is no longer a matter of choice but a fundamental responsibility. This calls on organizations to rethink travel risk management (TRM) holistically. Companies must include AI-powered risk intelligence, real-time tracking, cybersecurity, and proactive emergency response systems.
A structured TRM program will help organizations minimize risks, ensure business continuity, and fulfill their duty of care. Employees’ enhanced sense of safety when traveling translates into more productivity, confidence, and engagement—all of which result in better corporate results.
Additionally, working with a reliable Travel Management Company (TMC) can enhance risk mitigation by providing real-time support, risk assessments, and global safety compliance. Investing in advanced travel risk management solutions is not about employee protection; it is about building a resilient, responsible, and forward-thinking organization.
