Survey Sees Need to Better Manage Risk of Global Biz Travelers

“Business travelers do not get enough travel health and security training, especially those venturing into high-risk areas,” was the key message of a report delivered to delegates at the annual Asia-Pacific Education Conference of the Association of Corporate Travel Executives (ACTE) this week in Singapore.

The report, “Managing the Risks of a Global Workforce,” was jointly developed by ACTE and International SOS, a leading international healthcare, medical assistance, and security services company. It was compiled to ascertain perception and levels of risk for outbound business travelers from the Asia-Pacific region, while serving as a benchmark for duty-of-care practices.

“Promoting, preserving, and advancing traveler health and security is a key part of our primary objective,” noted ACTE President Chris Crowley. “It has always been foremost in our recommendations to various government authorities, and emphasized at each of our educational events.”

The report was complemented by an educational session, “Tools to Enhance Traveler Safety and Health Management,” which urged companies to take advantage of technologies to reduce their exposure to risks in the context of adopting a culture of health, safety and risk-management. The session was presented by Tony Ridley, director – security services for Asia Pacific, International SOS; and included speaker Tony Solomon, regional security manager, Asia for Philip Morris.

Among the key points:

*Cost-management considerations help make the business case for a comprehensive travel risk-management plan.

*Communications plays a key role in exercising duty-of-care.

*Checklists should be used to evaluate security and create contingency plans.

*Recognize that contingency budgets are rarely enough.

*Security risks exist everywhere, not just in high risk destinations.

*Few companies have adequate programs or plans in place.

For instance, in the aftermath of the Eyjafjallajokull volcanic eruptions, an estimated 60% of corporations affected by this disaster allegedly spent their entire contingency budgets for the year by the beginning of the second quarter of the year.

In a 12-question survey of 161 ACTE members in Asia and throughout the Pacific Rim, more than two-thirds of respondents reported that their companies had contingency plans and security programs in effect, consistent with previous association research. Yet the remaining one-third stated that their companies either did not have a strong security policy or any program at all. And, according to the report, only 9% of companies surveyed claimed to offer personal health and security training to their travelers.

A similar gap may exist in another area — travel insurance; some 17% of respondents said travelers may not be fully insured, according to the report.

The report concluded that companies need to assess their approach to travel health and security in a more pro-active manner.