When it comes to facing up to
elements of danger, most of us live our lives thinking (hoping) that bad things
only happen to other people. Thinking and hoping, however, is not going to
limit the possibility of threat or help in times of crisis. And this is
particularly true when it comes to business travel.
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| MH17 crash site |
A quick revisit of the news over the last few months and you can see some of
the potential risks associated with travelling on business
overseas. Incidents are rare, thankfully, but the
consequences can range from minor inconveniences, to expensive disruptions,
unlawful imprisonment and very, very rarely, death.
Consider the renewed threat of
the Icelandic ash cloud, the attack on Malaysia Airlines flight MH17, the
kidnapping and subsequent beheadings of two US journalists and one British aid worker. These are just some
of the incidences that show that now, more than ever, it’s critical for business
travel managers to adopt a responsible travel management programme.
Travel managers need to be aware
of the risks and responsibilities associated with doing business globally and
not just for their travellers, but also for the environment. Travel programmes
should take into account how to ensure the safety of travellers, the security
of data, their legal obligations, how to manage in a crisis, duty of care,
sustainability and even when it makes more sense to not travel and use travel
alternatives instead.
All of these issues and more are
addressed in next month’s Responsible Travel Management Conference in London,
when expert speakers will share their knowledge and expertise with travel
managers. They will explain how to create and implement a responsible travel
management programme and also highlight how it can even be achieved profitably.
The conference is free for
business travel managers and buyers to attend. There are just a handful of
places left so be sure to book yours ASAP. http://www.businesstravel-iq.com/register I’m looking forward to seeing you there.
This blog post was written by
David Chapple, event director of the Responsible Travel Management Conference
and the Business Travel Show. You can contact David at david@businesstravelshow.com.
