Think safety first, not cost, in corporate travel, security expert urges Hong Kong firms
International SOS security director says corporations need to implement broader travel risk management programmes to ensure employee safety
Businesses that focus purely on keeping costs down for corporate travel could be putting their staff and clients at risk, according to the security director of the world’s largest medical and travel security services firm.
“We often see that the travel preparations of companies are linked to their choice of hotels and their expenses claims and that’s pretty much it,” says Lane Aldred of International SOS. “But they need to understand there is a much broader travel risk management programme and it needs to be integrated.”
In November a survey undertaken by Ipsos Mori found 63 per cent of decision makers at 667 corporations felt that the risks involved in corporate travel had increased in the past year.
Some 58 per cent of the firms had changed travel plans due to concerns over security, and 43 per cent had done so due to natural catastrophes.
Petty crimes such as pickpocketing and car accidents are also common travel threats.
“It’s important to understand there are many factors that go towards risk ratings for travel destinations, whether they be security or medical,” Aldred says. “A number of things are taken into account – crime rates, terrorism, political instability, demonstrations, civil unrest, as well as issues related to manufacturing and the ability of a country to maintain its GDP through growth.”