By Christine Connolley, Crisis Program Manager, Global Crisis Management
After reviewing several corporate travel risk management programs across various industries and regions, using Advito’s Traveler Security Program Assessment, some patterns have become unmistakably clear.
Our assessments go beyond benchmarking against ISO 31030 travel risk guidance and industry standards; they bring forward insights that help teams see their program in a new light. They are designed not just to evaluate key focus areas of effective travel risk programs, but also to reveal strategic opportunities for improvement. What we consistently uncover is opportunity—not just to close gaps and align stakeholders, but to turn a travel risk management program into a truly competitive advantage. These assessments have given us a front-row seat to what’s really happening inside business travel safety programs today. If you’re seeing some of these issues in your organization, you’re not alone.
Ownership and accountability
One of the most common foundational gaps we see is around ownership and accountability. In most organizations, the travel risk program typically falls under Travel or Procurement and occasionally Security. Responsibility often falls to the travel manager, who is already wearing too many hats to become the de facto leader. But corporate travel risk management isn’t a one-person job. Without active support from multiple departments and clearly defined roles, responsibilities, and accountability—well… even the most experienced travel manager can only do so much.
Risk assessment and mitigation planning
Another area where gaps often surface is risk assessment and mitigation planning. Very few organizations have a structure in place to assess travel risks. A true travel risk assessment doesn’t just look at a destination’s risk rating; it considers other elements as well: where the traveler is going, what they’ll be doing, their individual risk profile, and what support they might need if something goes wrong. Risk assessments allow an organization to get ahead of potential issues before they disrupt a trip or endanger a traveler, and determine what measures need to be applied to reduce that risk. That could mean altering travel plans, setting additional approval requirements, or putting extra resources in place. Some organizations have a handful of prevention measures, like restricting travel to high-risk countries, which is a great start. If your organization has a dedicated risk management department, they can be an excellent resource in helping to identify a methodology and ensure travel risk policy is aligned with your broader enterprise risk strategy.
Traveler awareness
Traveler awareness is another consistent gap that surfaces. Organizations focus heavily, and understandably, on their duty of care, ensuring they have systems in place to protect employees. Duty of care refers to an organization’s legal and moral responsibility to protect employees from foreseeable risks while traveling for work. This includes having the right policies, procedures, and resources in place to support traveler safety before, during, and after a trip. But what is often overlooked is the employee’s responsibility—known as the duty of loyalty. Travelers have a role to play: following guidance, using available resources, and making reasonable decisions about their safety. If travelers aren’t aware of their responsibilities or don’t take them seriously, even the best travel risk program can falter. Even organizations with excellent resources in place can leave employees uninformed and disempowered if poorly communicated.
Recognizing these common gaps is the first step but knowing how to address them strategically is where real progress begins. That’s where the Traveler Security Program Assessment makes all the difference. You walk away from an assessment with a clear understanding of what’s working, what’s missing, and how to close the gaps. We meet with all relevant stakeholders across your organization to understand how your program really functions—not just on paper but in practice. We deliver a comprehensive analysis of our findings and evaluations, highlighting strengths and identifying areas of opportunity. We provide targeted recommendations; from steps you can take to see improvements right away to mid- and long-term actions that build lasting resilience.
If any of this looks familiar—whether it’s ownership and responsibility, risk assessment and prevention, or traveler awareness—or you simply want to validate and strengthen your current program, the assessment delivers clear, actionable results tailored to your organization. It empowers you to lead with greater confidence, align your stakeholders, and ensure your travel risk management strategy is prepared for what’s ahead.