Traveler confidence in safety systems is high, but clarity on how to use them is not.
Global risks are no longer abstract headlines for business travelers. Transportation disruptions, health concerns, extreme weather, and regional instability increasingly shape how and whether people travel for work. Awareness is going up. Clarity isn’t.
A new BCD survey highlights a disconnect: travelers trust the systems put in place to protect them, but they’re often unsure how to use those systems when it matters most.
Risk awareness is growing — but preparedness isn’t keeping up
When asked about their top concerns, business travelers pointed clearly to transportation incidents and health-related emergencies. Transportation accidents are the leading fear, cited by 37% of travelers, followed closely by health emergencies at 35%.
Those concerns aren’t theoretical. Over the past year, 8% of those surveyed experienced an incident that required company support, with weather-related events accounting for almost a quarter of those cases. As global volatility continues — from climate-driven events to shifting geopolitical conditions — these risks are unlikely to fade into the background.
And yet, many travelers still struggle to understand what support is available to them, when to use it, and where to turn in the moment.
Encouraging signals: managed travel works
Travelers trust managed travel — and that’s a good thing. Most (86%) report feeling safe when staying at hotels included within their corporate travel program. Ground transportation options — from ride-hailing services to traditional taxis — are widely viewed as safe by over 70% of respondents.
This trust matters. It validates the role of supplier vetting, preferred programs, and policy-driven choices that travel, procurement, and risk teams work hard to maintain. Managed travel is doing what it’s meant to do: reducing exposure and providing a safer baseline experience.
But confidence in the options doesn’t always translate into confidence in the process.
Where confusion still creeps in
Despite widespread access to booking tools, apps, and risk management platforms, traveler awareness remains uneven.
Nearly one-third of travelers say they don’t know where to find company safety information. More than a quarter turn to external or alternative sources during an incident — a signal that official channels may not feel visible or intuitive in the moment.
Other gaps are even more concerning:
- About 30% of travelers are unsure whom to contact in an emergency
- Nearly one in five hesitate to seek help because they’re uncertain whether their situation is “serious enough”
This hesitation can delay response, complicate support, and increase both traveler anxiety and organizational risk. It also underscores a critical point: having resources isn’t the same as making them usable.
Communication solves the gap
As risks grow more complex, the instinct is often to add more information, more tools, or more process. But the research suggests travelers want the opposite: clear, simple guidance delivered at the right time.
Pre-trip destination information tops the list of resources travelers (30%) say they want most. Other highly valued supports are flexible travel options, 24/7 emergency assistance, risk alerts, and company-issued mobile devices. But travelers must know how and when to use them. When they don’t, those investments lose impact.
Employer engagement makes a measurable difference
The good news? When companies engage proactively, travelers notice.
Most travelers (66%) rate employer support during risk incidents as high. Only 7% report minimal or no support. More than half believe their organization’s safety measures are evolving to address emerging risks.
Still, uncertainty remains. A sizable portion of travelers are unsure whether their company is adapting quickly enough — and many say they want better communication, even if they’re generally satisfied with existing policies.
That distinction matters. Satisfaction doesn’t mean understanding. And understanding is what builds confidence on the road.
What this means for decision‑makers
For HR, risk, IT, procurement, and travel leaders, the takeaway isn’t that programs are failing. It’s that programs need clearer storytelling and better timing.
Travelers don’t want to memorize policies or search for help in a crisis. They want reassurance that support is there, guidance that feels relevant, and direction that’s easy to act on. When safety information is integrated naturally into booking flows, pre-trip moments, and in‑trip communications, it becomes part of the journey rather than an afterthought.
As global risks continue to influence traveler behavior — including decisions to cancel or avoid trips altogether — clarity becomes a competitive advantage. Organizations that simplify safety communication not only reduce risk, they also reinforce trust with their people.
A simple truth: travelers want clarity, not complexity
When guidance is timely, consistent, and easy to understand, travelers feel more confident — and organizations are better positioned to support them when it matters most.
Programs must focus on making sure travelers know how to use the tools already in place. Because in today’s environment, confidence isn’t built by having more information — it’s built by having the right information, at the right time.
Want deeper insights into traveler awareness and preparedness? Explore BCD’s latest travel risk management research for a closer look at where gaps remain and how organizations can close them.