BTA and TRIP Group urge businesses to prioritise travel risk management

The Business Travel Association (BTA) and the Travel Risk and Incident Prevention (TRIP) Group have released a new report calling on UK businesses to prioritise employee safety and Travel Risk Management (TRM) at the highest levels of corporate decision-making.

In today’s global travel environment, employees are exposed to a wide range of external threats, from extreme weather events and cybercrime to rising geopolitical tensions. According to the report, a failure to address these risks can expose companies to legal, financial and reputational fallout.

The paper stresses that organisations must move away from reactive approaches and instead adopt a proactive, integrated TRM framework. By doing so, companies can not only strengthen their duty of care and compliance but also turn traveller safety into a competitive advantage, ensuring long-term business resilience.

The report highlights the core elements of a comprehensive TRM strategy, offering practical guidance on risk assessment, crisis response and the role of travel management companies (TMCs) in providing real-time support. It is designed to serve as a practical toolkit for anticipating and mitigating risks before they disrupt operations.

Key recommendations include:

• Embedding TRM protocols within corporate travel policies to create a consistent risk management structure
• Conducting risk assessments before, during and after travel to inform decision-making
• Providing pre-trip training and awareness sessions to equip employees with crisis response skills
• Establishing clear crisis communication frameworks and ensuring access to emergency support services
• Harnessing technology such as artificial intelligence (AI) driven intelligence, GPS tracking and safety apps, balanced with human insight to guard against misinformation

Partnering with TMCs that prioritise traveller safety and can deliver real-time intelligence and emergency assistance.

Clive Wratten, CEO of the BTA, commented: “Organisations have a clear legal and moral obligation to protect employees travelling on their behalf. This white paper gives them the tools to fulfil that duty. Aligning with ISO 31030 isn’t just best practice, it’s smart business. Safer travellers mean stronger, more resilient organisations.”

Lloyd Figgins, CEO of the TRIP Group, added: “Protecting your people is the cornerstone of good business. This white paper moves the conversation beyond theory, providing leaders with the blueprint to deliver robust, compliant and effective travel risk management strategies. With the right processes, travel risk isn’t just manageable, it’s a competitive advantage.”

Suzanne Sangiovese, CEO of Riskline, recently spoke to ITIJ about the biggest issues in risk management currently affecting travellers.