A Guide to Corporate Travel Risk Assessment

A proactive travel risk management program begins with a thorough risk assessment. Before an employee travels, the company has an obligation to understand the potential risks at the destination and provide the traveler with the information they need to stay safe.

Key Components of a Travel Risk Assessment:

1. Security Risk Analysis: This involves evaluating the destination's security environment.

   • Crime Rates: Understand the prevalence of petty crime (like pickpocketing) and more serious crime.
   • Political Stability: Assess the risk of civil unrest, protests, or government instability.
   • Terrorism Threat Level: Use information from government advisories and professional risk intelligence providers.

2. Health Risk Analysis:

   • Required Vaccinations: Does the destination require specific vaccinations for entry?
   • Endemic Diseases: Is there a risk of diseases like malaria, dengue fever, or Zika?
   • Quality of Medical Care: Evaluate the standard of local hospitals and clinics. Ensure your travel insurance provides adequate coverage, including medical evacuation.

3. Logistical and Environmental Risk:

   • Transportation Safety: Assess the safety of local taxis, public transit, and road conditions.
   • Natural Disasters: Is the destination prone to earthquakes, hurricanes, or other natural disasters?
   • Infrastructure: Consider the reliability of local power and communication networks.

The Role of Technology and Pre-Trip Advisories

Manually researching this for every trip is impossible. A modern travel risk management program automates this process. By integrating with a risk intelligence provider, a travel management platform can automatically generate and send a detailed, destination-specific pre-trip advisory to the traveler. This ensures every traveler is equipped with the knowledge they need before they depart, fulfilling a key component of your company's Duty of Care.