Christine: Consider this: Travel risks change over time – and so must the programs put in place to protect an organization and its people. A risk management strategy developed five years ago may not be robust enough for today’s risk environment. The pandemic taught us that. Illness is always a looming danger. But so are extreme weather, civil war, kidnapping and terrorism. Think about cybersecurity threats and travel to high-risk destinations. Are your plan and people prepped for that?
Lise: And speaking of people – wellbeing needs to be a top priority, because people who don’t feel safe and cared for are unlikely to stay with your company. This can cause reputational damage and rising costs and may negatively impact company performance. Managing risks correctly, though, reassures employees that their health, safety, and security matter to their employer.
The Traveler Security Program Assessment takes much of this into account. It looks at:
- What policies are in place around traveler risk? Are travelers aware of them?
- Who’s responsible for which travel risks, i.e., do some aspects of traveler security fall under the travel program and others under corporate security?
- What’s the protocol for travelers to request assistance on the road?
- What’s the protocol for reaching out to travelers during and after a crisis?
- Do travelers have a defined duty of loyalty to contact the company during and after a crisis? Are travelers aware of their responsibilities?
Christine: Let’s jump into the experience now. Lise and I traveled to the organization’s U.S. headquarters for a full-day strategic workshop. The personnel who participate in the workshop vary by organization but usually include the travel department, security department, human resource department, and sometimes also include risk management, finance, insurance, procurement, to senior executives. The Traveler Security Program Assessment often provides the first opportunity for all of the stakeholders to meet to discuss their travel risk program.
Lise: Over the full-day workshop, we evaluated their travel risk management program against 11 key focus areas that encompass an effective travel risk program. We also conducted a crisis simulation to review the incident management process.
While the assessment methodology is proprietary and developed exclusively by travel risk experts at Advito, it is important to note that it aligns with the ISO 31030, which is the global guidance released by the International Organization for Standardization, with the first of its kind guidance on travel risk for organizations. At the end of the workshop, we provided the stakeholders a preliminary overview of the results, providing a high-level outline of what the organization is doing well and growth opportunities.
Christine: In the weeks after the workshop, we dove into the data uncovered during the session. We used that to create an in-depth analysis for the client, including our findings, evaluations, and recommendations. It was pretty clear they found the assessment process valuable, especially where it helped them identify what they’re doing well and where they may need additional support.
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