Corporate travel spending is projected to surpass $2 trillion globally by 2029. However, organizations are facing an increasingly complex threat landscape that presents risks to employee safety.

These threats include geopolitical instability, which can lead to sudden travel disruptions; cyber threats targeting sensitive corporate data; and natural disasters exacerbated by climate change.

For organizations with duty of care obligations, building a comprehensive travel risk management (TRM) program isn’t just good practice; it’s essential for protecting employees and business continuity.

A travel risk management program provides systematic processes to identify, assess, and mitigate risks that could impact traveling employees. Today’s organizations must adapt their TRM plans and travel policies to keep up with evolving threats.

This guide provides a clear roadmap for developing your organization’s TRM program, covering risk assessment, policy development, technology integration, and implementation of best practices.

Understanding today’s travel risks

The modern risk landscape is multifaceted and constantly changing. To build an effective program, you must know the primary threats your travelers may face:

• Political instability: Civil unrest, protests, and sudden changes in government can create hazardous conditions.
• Health emergencies: Pandemics, regional outbreaks, and inadequate medical infrastructure pose significant health risks.
• Natural disasters: Events like hurricanes, earthquakes, and wildfires can disrupt travel and endanger employees.
• Cybersecurity threats: Travelers are often targeted through unsecured Wi-Fi networks, leading to data breaches and intellectual property theft. AI is also used to drive a variety of increasingly complex cyberattacks.
• Transportation disruptions: Airline strikes, infrastructure failures, and severe weather can leave employees stranded.

Inadequate travel risk management carries severe financial and reputational consequences. A single incident can lead to costly evacuations, medical expenses, lost productivity, and lasting damage to a brand’s reputation as a responsible employer.

5 steps to building your travel risk management program

Effective TRM programs require structured frameworks that integrate across multiple organizational functions and align with global best practices, such as the ISO 31030:2021 standard for travel risk management. This standard provides a comprehensive framework for managing travel-related risks and ensuring employee safety.

Here are the steps to create a program:

1. Policies and procedures

Establish comprehensive policies guided by ISO 31030:2021 to define pre-travel approval processes, destination risk classifications, and mandatory security protocols. These policies should specify when travel requires additional approvals, the security measures needed for different risk levels, and how employees should respond to emerging threats.

2. Pre-travel briefings and training

Implement pre-travel briefings and mandatory training programs to ensure employees are aware of destination-specific risks and understand how to access support resources. Reinforce employee awareness of relevant travel policies, communication protocols, and resources available before, during, and after travel.

TRM program socialization and adoption is vital. ISO 31030 emphasizes the importance of effective communication and training to promote compliance.

3. Roles and responsibilities

Define clear roles and responsibilities across departments, including security, human resources, internal communications, travel management, and legal teams. Following ISO 31030 guidelines, each function should have clearly outlined duties for both routine operations, training, and emergency situations. Corporate travelers have a responsibility to be aware of their organization’s program, the available resources, and what is expected of them.

4. Duty of care obligations

Address duty of care obligations by establishing documentation procedures, incident reporting protocols, and legal compliance frameworks in line with ISO 31030:2021 standards. For example, the standard supports integrating due diligence into risk management systems and maintaining public reporting on traveler welfare, for example, compliance with regulations like the EU’s corporate sustainability reporting directive (CSRD).

5. Evaluate your program

Successful TRM programs require ongoing evaluation and refinement based on incident data, employee feedback, and changing risk environments.

Track key performance indicators including incident response times, traveler compliance rates, policy utilization metrics, and cost per incident. Use these metrics as the baseline for measuring your program’s effectiveness and ROI.

Ask key questions to evaluate your program, such as: Can you locate all traveling employees within 15 minutes? Do you have pre-established evacuation procedures for each destination? Are employees trained on communication protocols during emergencies? Have you tested your incident response procedures and technologies through tabletop exercises?

By leveraging the ISO 31030:2021 framework, organizations can create robust, globally recognized TRM programs that prioritize traveler safety while meeting duty of care requirements.

Enhancing business traveler safety with technology 

Manual processes are no longer sufficient for managing the complexities of modern business travel. Comprehensive TRM platforms automate and centralize critical safety functions, providing a significant return on investment.

Everbridge Travel Protector™ is a comprehensive travel risk management solution designed to ensure the safety and well-being of traveling and remote employees. Key features and benefits include:

1. 360° Threat awareness: Provides real-time risk intelligence, pre-trip advisories, and alerts for travelers, including those in high-risk areas or with critical travel plans.
2. Location awareness & alerts: Tracks travelers via mobile app check-ins, travel reservations, and advanced search capabilities, enabling quick identification of those at risk.
3. Traveler safety App: Offers a mobile app with travel risk intelligence, emergency contact options, and educational resources to minimize risks.
4. 24/7 Medical & security assistance: Access to multilingual support for medical and security emergencies, ensuring rapid response during crises.
5. Integration with Critical Event Management (CEM): Part of Everbridge’s CEM platform, it unifies travel data, automated alerts, and dynamic location tracking for seamless risk management.
6. Compliance with ISO 31030: Helps organizations meet international travel risk management standards, enhancing duty-of-care obligations.

Everbridge Travel Protector is ideal for organizations prioritizing employee safety and operational resilience in a hybrid workforce.

See how Burns & McDonnell uses Everbridge to improve global employee safety by managing weather emergencies, safeguarding travelers, and protecting operations.

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Strengthening organizational resilience through strategic investment

Building an effective travel risk management program requires systematic attention to risk assessment, policy development, technology integration, and continuous improvement. Organizations that invest in comprehensive TRM capabilities protect their employees while maintaining competitive advantages in global markets.

The rapidly evolving threat landscape, particularly the increase in cyber-attacks and new regulatory requirements, makes robust TRM programs essential for organizational resilience.

Companies that implement effective programs reduce incident frequency, minimize disruption costs, and demonstrate their commitment to employee safety and regulatory compliance.

Ready to see how Everbridge can transform your TRM program? Take a personalized tour of our comprehensive solution and discover how leading organizations protect their travelers while maintaining operational excellence.