*GUEST BLOG* Top Travel Risks in 2020

The two most important causes of travel risks in the year ahead? The impact of climate change and potential final year of the Trump administration. That’s according to leading travel risk intelligence company Riskline. Suzanne Sangiovese, Operations Manager - Americas at Riskline, explains further:

As we progress into the new decade, two risks in particular will underpin the most dangerous security threats this year: the ongoing effects of climate change and the potential final year of the Trump administration.

In the case of the former, it will be the mostly unseen, long-term effects that are the greater danger, as droughts, floods or fires (such as the catastrophic Australia wildfires) destroy land and livelihoods and become the catalysts for new violent conflicts and forced migration.

Meanwhile the prospect that 2020 could be the final year of the Trump presidency bodes ill for international peace. Both allies and antagonists of the United States may feel that the level of impunity they have enjoyed in foreign affairs since 2016 may be coming to an end.

Climate Change and its impact on travel

Sustainability is already proving to be the watchword for 2020 – the impact of climate change on the world is now clear to see. Climate change has led to abnormal patterns of torrential rainfall, devastating floods, severe storms, prolonged heat waves and increased temperatures – all leading to growing water scarcity, droughts and dangerous wildfires. Australia is currently fighting an unprecedented bushfire season, which has been caused by record temperatures and widespread drought.

With the increased frequency of natural disasters – such as Hurricane Dorian which caused massive destruction across the Bahamas in September 2019 – fatalities, business and travel disruptions and power and communication outages are becoming recurrent. Efforts to reverse the damage caused by climate change are insufficient as the United States, the second-largest carbon emitter, plans to withdraw from the landmark Paris Agreement in 2020 if Trump wins another term in office.

A collapsing world order: US 2020, Brexit

This brings me on to the political situation in the US and the UK. The results of the 2015 Brexit referendum in the UK and the 2016 United States (US) presidential election continue to upend long-standing domestic political norms in both countries.

The long-term outcome of both events is unclear at present, but a return to the status quo is unlikely in either country - the pro-Brexit and pro-Trump coalitions that won in 2015 and 2016 have mobilised social forces that will remain on the scene for years to come.

Far-right politicians and media organisations will gain further prominence in the Western world in 2020, particularly as United States (US) President Donald Trump intensifies his campaigning for the presidential election in November. Attacks similar to the deadly March 2019 shootings at a mosque and an Islamic centre in Christchurch, New Zealand, and the August 2019 mass shooting in El Paso, Texas, remain possible particularly in the US, as right-wing groups gain more appeal and expand their presence in mainstream American politics.

When the UK leaves the EU, scheduled for the end of this month (January), this will lead to major economic changes in the trading bloc. At the same time, EU members will face further economic disruptions from the US-China trade war fallout as, so far, none of President Trump's Democratic rivals have promised to remove the tariffs imposed by his administration. 

Although predicting what will happen in 2020 is a fool's errand in an increasingly irrational world, a careful examination of ongoing and emerging trends provides risk professionals with crucial information for businesses planning the year ahead. 

Riskline is a leading travel risk intelligence company providing country and city risk assessments and real-time alert messaging to fulfil duty of care requirements before and during travel.

Suzanne Sangiovese, Operations Manager - Americas at Riskline, is speaking at The Business Travel Show as part of the panel session Forecasting Forum 2020 - The travel price and risk outlook for the next 12 months. Riskline is exhibiting at Stand: B708. The Business Travel Show takes place 26 – 27 February at Olympia, London. Register for your FREE visitor pass at www.businesstravelshow.com.

*GUEST BLOG* Corporate travel: what’s not to worry about?

From terrorism to traffic accidents and infectious diseases to natural disasters, there’s no shortage of potential worries on the corporate travel trail.

A recent study in the Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine reveals that, “The individuals who are travelling the most have the worst depression symptoms, the worst anxiety symptoms.”

Despite this, the rise of business trips abroad shows no sign of abating. Reports from the Global Business Travel Association (GBTA) predict that business travel spend is set to increase to $1.7 trillion by 2022. Travelport and the World Travel and Tourism Council claim that emerging markets like Azerbaijan, Qatar and Mozambique are helping to drive this spend. And India is expected to reach the global top 5 destinations by 2022 (GBTA).  

No quick fix

Don’t expect instant solutions. Travel intelligence platform Skift says, “There’s no single cure or quick fix for solving the anxiety that travellers feel, but without a serious effort from stakeholders and travellers themselves, it will only become more deeply entrenched.”

One answer may come from psychologist Michel Dugas, who wrote in the New York Times recently, “What might make human beings less anxious, is having a firmer sense of what in the world is happening and what’s likely to happen next.”

Transfer this thinking to the corporate travel sector and the obvious answer is to combine reactive emergency responses with proactive support; before, during and after assignments overseas.

This means anticipating a wide range of worries; not just carrying out pre-travel risk assessments, but also educating travelling staff about everything from preventing infectious diseases and road traffic accidents, to avoiding cultural gaffes and reacting to terrorist attacks. Not just ensuring staff know how to access local medical care, but also that their individual medical needs (and their families’) are known and met. And if the right care isn’t easily accessible - as it may not be in a remote destination - that realistic expectations are set, and contingency plans made.

Getting the communication right 

Communication is the glue when it comes to uniting these components and allaying traveller worries.

This doesn’t mean exposing employees to a 24/7 barrage of (potentially anxiety-inducing) information. Rather, it calls for selective fact-sharing via a combination of online alerts, accessible training platforms, human interaction, emergency SOS functions and more.

Within this mix, mobile connectivity can ensure that employees abroad are able to access medical and security advice and responses, wherever they are - and that they feel employers are really looking out for them.

Above all, expect anxiety at every turn: according to the GBTA, around half of corporate travellers now think that any destination could be high-risk. And be ready to mitigate the worries.

Written by Chris Knight, head of corporate services for Charles Taylor Assistance; the travel risk management and medical assistance provider. Charles Taylor Assistance and security specialists Solace Global will be exhibiting Intrinsic Assistance, the integrated medical and security risk management and assistance solution at the Business Travel Show, Stand B340. Register now for your FREE visitor pass www.businesstravelshow.com

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*GUEST BLOG* Turn your travel manager into a Superstar

Few companies today would question the importance of managing the health and safety of their travelling employees. While the primary responsibility must always sit at the top of an organisation, it is often less clear whose job it is to deliver the actual services needed. In many organisations it is either explicitly or implicitly assumed to be the travel department. For many travel managers this is an unwelcome chore – but it doesn’t have to be.

With a complete travel risk management solution in place, it can instead be an opportunity to enhance a travel programme and add some serious extra value in the process.

Here are four ways travel risk management can be used to improve the business travel experience and turn a travel manager into a superstar.

The Obvious
And when a large-scale incident occurs somewhere in the world, corporate management immediately needs to know if any employees are in or travelling to the affected area.  In my experience it is often travel managers who have – or are expected to have this information.

The better the tools, the better travel managers can support their organisation in a time of potential crisis.

But even outside of dramatic events, the safety and security information a good travel risk management solution can provide is often appreciated. This is particularly true when employees are being asked to travel to an unknown destination, or to a place that has recently been in the news because of negative events.

Visibility
The basis for sound travel risk management is knowing your exposure: where are our people located now, and where are they going? While many Travel Management Companies offer a basic form of travel tracking based on itineraries, only a professional and dedicated travel risk management solution will capture all travellers, regardless of how they booked their tickets. A professional travel risk management tool not only has the capability to capture all bookings, but also to extract data.

Does booking out of policy mainly occur in specific countries, on specific routes, or maybe within specific departments in the company? Complete and accurate data enables travel managers to analyse travel programme compliance and track whether it is improving over time.

Communication
Being able to communicate with travellers is key in managing travel risk. Employees need the right information at the right time, and not be overwhelmed with information causing them to eventually ignore it. Therefore, alerts and messages need to be targeted.

A modern travel risk management solution should allow messaging based on a combination of geographical location, function, department, etc. Done right, you now have a trusted and appreciated channel, which travel managers can use to also provide travellers with useful information that makes it easier for them to travel – and easier for them to do so within policy.

Smooth travel is safe travel
Sometimes the ambition to save money can lead to travel arrangements that are not only uncomfortable for travellers, but even unsafe. Flights arriving late at night or early in the morning, hotels in less desirable areas or with less than adequate safety and security arrangements.

Travel managers should sit down with security and/or health and safety counterparts – or with outside consultants specialising in travel safety and security – and make sure that the company’s travel policy aligns with safety and security policies. More often than not, the result will benefit business travellers – and they will love their travel manager for it.

This blog was posted by Jens Näsström, Business Development Director at Safeture www.safeture.com. Register for your free visitor pass at www.businesstravelshow.com and come and talk to us at stand B224. 

The Wellness Retreat is a new feature for 2020, that will help you tackle the physical and mental well-being challenges that you face in your role as a travel professional or travel manager through a series of workshops, seminars and product demonstrations. Find out more www.businesstravelshow.com/wellness-retreat

GUEST BLOG: Risks to Business Traveller Safety in 2020

According to the recent Business Resilience Trends Watch, 51% of respondents believe that health and security risks to business travel have increased in the past year. With concerns running high, it’s not surprising that many travel managers have expressed the need to change itineraries in 2020. 

Late last year, International SOS, the world’s leading medical and travel security services company, released their Travel Risk Outlook for 2020. Below, I unpack each risk and offer recommendations for travel managers to mitigate against them.

1.     Risks borne from geopolitical shifts 

The US Presidential election in 2020 will undoubtably influence the geopolitical trade industry with many nations. In Europe, political and social unrest runs a high risk as the Brexit outcome solidifies. Businesses must plan to ensure travellers are educated on changes to their free movement between nations, and gain access to the relevant travel documents ahead of time.

2.     Mental health issues 

Traveller wellbeing will be prioritised in 2020, with mental health listed as a higher risk to traveller safety than physical health for the first time since the release of this report. Helpful advice on reducing the stress of business travel can be found on CTM’s website to help improve mental health while on the road.

3.     Physical health

While mental health is gaining importance, physical health is still a key consideration when ensuring traveller wellbeing. Travel managers can help support physical health through hotel selection, focusing on brands and properties that offer fitness centres or healthy menus. Read more about Incorporating wellbeing into your travel policy.

4.     Cybercrime 

The cost of cyber-crime globally is expected to exceed $2 trillion this year, while data breaches can cost the average company around $US3.8 million¹. In 2020, it is increasingly important for business travellers to take precautionary measures to ensure no personal or company data is vulnerable to hackers. You can find tips for ensuring data security when travelling for business here.

5.     Climate change

The impact of Climate Change is an increasingly important concern for travel managers when ensuring duty of care. This is where travel technology such as tracking functionality can help, by identifying travellers in areas of risk and communicating with them instantly.

6.     Infectious disease outbreaks 

Another impact of climate change, along with increasing urbanisation, diminishing vaccination coverage and security instability, is risk of infectious diseases. While predominantly an issue for those travelling to developing nations, businesses should be aware of vaccination requirements and hygiene standards across their supplier list.

7.     'Bleisure' travel

Listed as a ‘grey zone’ of travel risk, blesiure travel and its implications for duty of care is highly relevant for European-bound travellers. Travel managers will need to ensure clear outlines on insurance parameters are included in employee contracts and advise when additional coverage may be required at the employees’ expense.

8.     Millennials and Generation Z 

Bringing a new set of values and expectations to the industry, Millennial and Gen Z travellers will push businesses to evolve their risk strategies. New policies will have to account for changing travel behaviours, including experiential components and a focus on longer stays at smaller costs.

9.     High profile Duty of Care legal cases

Expected to increase in 2020, businesses must ensure their travel policies are updated regularly to ensure duty of care obligations are met. This includes investing in travel technology that can help mitigate risk, educating employees about risks and communicating with employees during a crisis to name a few.

10. Start-ups and SMEs 

Often under-resourced and inexperienced SME businesses can struggle to meet duty of care obligations without proper guidance from a TMC. Virtual Account Management solutions can help small businesses access all the benefits of a customised travel programme, delivered and supported via phone and online support.

This post was written by Richard Ware, Senior Business Development Manager, CTM Europe. He will be attending the Business Travel Show, which takes place on 26-27 February 2020 at Olympia London.

You can register for a free visitor pass at www.businesstravelshow.com and book a meeting with Richard and CTM at https://info.travelctm.co.uk/business-travel-show-2020-book-a-meeting-with-ctm

*GUEST BLOG* Here’s why we need to use travel risk technology intelligently

Just how addicted are we to our mobile technology? Today, around 4 billion of us are estimated to have mobile devices; over half of which are smartphones. 67% of the global population is expected to have a mobile phone by 2020. And global mobile data traffic is expected to increase nearly sevenfold by 2022, from a 2017 starting point.

Mobile tools and travel risk management go hand-in-hand
No surprise then that these devices have become essential travel risk management facilitators. Mobile tools are helping prepare, inform and protect employees abroad: not least via pre-travel training, and real-time medical and security intelligence and alerts. They are giving travelling employees speedy access to integrated medical and security assistance and remote advice. And their monitoring, check-in and tracking capabilities are providing employers with a birds’ eye view of global staff and assets in the context of real-time threats.

When used correctly - and tailored to specific destinations and needs - mobile technology can translate to reduced traveller worries and emergencies. And we know from GBTA surveys that almost three-quarters of business travellers expect their employers to contact them proactively within two hours of an incident abroad. Almost half also expect their employers to use tools like GPS to locate them in an adverse situation.

What about the human touch?
But reducing traveller anxiety will always necessitate the human touch too. So, heed the words of James Waters, global director of customer service at Booking.com, who talks of “maintaining the right balance between genuine human interaction and efficient automation” for travellers.

Heed too advice from Jason Clampet of online travel platform Skift, who says, “The always-on, always-connected nature of many people's modern lives means that we are often under a constant barrage of news headlines about bad things.”

Rather than allaying concerns about our travel environment, this over-supply of information, says Clampet, “heightens our anxiety about the world around us, making it seem as if everything is just one tweet away from completely unravelling.”

Just as any effective travel risk management programme should combine reactive emergency responses with proactive training and support, so too should it offer a variety of delivery channels. At times this may be a hand-held device, at times a human voice. There’s no one-size-fits-all.

The skilled travel risk manager will understand not just the different roles of these delivery channels, but also the importance of providing bespoke, tailored information that reassures, rather than worries, globally mobile employees.

Written by Chris Knight, head of corporate services for Charles Taylor Assistance; the travel risk management and medical assistance providers. Charles Taylor Assistance and security specialists Solace Global will be exhibiting Intrinsic Assistance, the integrated medical and security risk management and assistance solution at the Business Travel Show. Register now for free at www.businesstravelshow.com

IS BREXIT REALLY MORE IMPORTANT THAN THE SAFETY OF OUR TRAVELLERS?

Our annual Business Travel Show survey revealed that Brexit is not only the biggest challenge facing buyers next year, it will continue to cause them problems as far ahead as 2022.

For the first time in four years, cost-cutting was knocked off the top spot of the list of forthcoming challenges to be replaced by Brexit, which shot up from fourth place – its home for the last two years. Airbus UK travel manager and one of our advisory board members, Geoff Allwright, even admitted that Brexit is the one thing that ‘keeps him awake at night’.

With the news agenda saturated by Brexit, none of this comes as much of a surprise. But there were two interesting results from our survey. The first is that our poll (of 134 European buyers) showed that 65 per cent of travel managers don’t have a post-Brexit plan in place. Whether that’s a cause of concern or simply a side effect of the fact it’s impossible to plan for something so uncertain, is hard to know, but it’s interesting nonetheless.

And the second thing? While Brexit rocked up the chart and pricing, the value of sterling, globalisation and technology also make the 2019 top ten, duty of care and traveller risk have dropped out of the chart completely after taking the second slot for the last two years. Completely dropped out. In a world where terrorism and natural disasters are not getting any less frequent; at a time when travel managers claim that duty of care, traveller risk, traveller tracking – all of these things – are the ultimate priority to them.

In line with the Business Travel Show’s Travel 2022 theme for 2019, buyers were also asked what they expect to be the biggest challenges facing them in three years’ time. Similarly, to the 12-month forecast, Brexit and cost-cutting topped the table. Visas also made an appearance at number seven, mirroring the general concern about the impact that Brexit will have on the free and easy movement of people across borders.

1	Brexit	6	Consolidation
2	Rising costs	7	Visas
3	NDC	8	Climate change
4	Traveller safety	9	Personalising travel
5	Travel alternatives	10	Sharing economy

Whether for or against the UK leaving the Europe Union, the last few months have been particularly frustrating and baffling for both sides leaving everyone possibly even more uncertain about any potential outcomes than they were a year or two ago. Because of that, I think our poll captures the Zeitgeist perfectly and it doesn’t surprise me that – right now – buyers are more concerned about Brexit than cost cutting.

This post was written by Business Travel Show marketing manager Kye Blackett. 

The Business Travel Show is the leading event in Europe for corporate travel professionals, taking place 20-21 February 2019 at Olympia London. Buyers can register for a free visitor pass at www.businesstravelshow.com/register. Buyers with a minimum annual spend of £1 million can also apply to attend as a hosted buyer at http://www.businesstravelshow.com/hosted-buyers.