Skip to content
American ExpressAmerican ExpressAmerican ExpressAmerican ExpressAmerican Express
  • Card Accounts

    • Your Account
    • Activate a New Card
    • Register for Online Services
    • Amex Mobile App Features
    • Add Someone to Your Account
    • Moving Abroad? Transfer Your Card

    Business Owners

    • Your Account
    • Activate a New Card
    • Register for Online Services
    • Membership Rewards & Travel
    • Add Someone to Your Account

    Other Accounts

    • American Express @Work
    • Online Merchant Services
    • International Payments for Businesses

    Contact Us

    • Support 24/7
    AustraliaChange Country
  • Personal Cards

    • View All Personal Cards
    • Learn About Credit Cards

    Popular Personal Cards

    • The Platinum Card
    • The Qantas Ultimate Card
    • The Explorer Card

    Cards for Business Owners

    • View all Business Cards
    • Popular Business Cards
    • Manage Your Business

    Corporate Cards

    • View All Corporate Cards
    • Corporate Payment Solutions
    • Corporate Purchasing Card
    AustraliaChange Country
  • Online Travel

    • Book Travel Online
    • Book Fine Hotels & Resorts
    • Book The Hotel Collection

    Travel Resources

    • Destination Guides
    • Travel Insurance
    • Using Your Card Overseas
    • Card Member Benefits
    • Find a Travel Service Office

    Business Travel

    • Global Business Travel Solutions
    • Small Business Travel
    • Foreign Exchange Services

    Travel Money

    • Travelers Cheques
    • Qantas Credit Cards
    • Travel Rewards Credit Cards
    AustraliaChange Country
  • All Insurance Services

    • Insurance Home Page
    • Insurance with your card
    • Other Insurance

    Travel Insurance

    • Travel Insurance
    • Multi-Trip/Annual Policy
    • Single Trip Policy
    AustraliaChange Country
  • Membership Rewards

    • Use Points for Gift Cards
    • Use Points for Travel
    • Rewards Changes

    Rewards Programs

    • Membership Rewards Cards
    • Qantas Frequent Flyer

    Card Member Offers & Benefits

    • Explore Card Benefits
    • Amex Experiences
    • Refer Friends. Earn Rewards
    AustraliaChange Country
  • Merchants

    • Merchant Home
    • Accept the Card
    • Manage Merchant Account
    • Contact Us and FAQs

    Corporations

    • Corporate Cards
    • Purchasing Solutions
    • Customer Centre
    • Global Business Travel Solutions
    • Meetings & Events
    • International Payments for Businesses

    Business Owners

    • Popular Small Business Cards
    • View All Small Business Cards
    • Manage Your Business
    • Business Credit vs Charge
    • How to Apply for a Business Card

    Global Network

    • Home
    • Issuers
    • Acquirers
    • Service Providers
    • Developers
    AustraliaChange Country
  • Contact Us
  • Log In
      • Your Account
      • Activate a New Card
      • Register for Online Services
      • Amex Mobile App Features
      • Add Someone to Your Account
      • Moving Abroad? Transfer Your Card
      • Your Account
      • Activate a New Card
      • Register for Online Services
      • Membership Rewards & Travel
      • Add Someone to Your Account
      • American Express @Work
      • Online Merchant Services
      • International Payments for Businesses
      • Support 24/7
      • View All Personal Cards
      • Learn About Credit Cards
      • The Platinum Card
      • The Qantas Ultimate Card
      • The Explorer Card
      • View all Business Cards
      • Popular Business Cards
      • Manage Your Business
      • View All Corporate Cards
      • Corporate Payment Solutions
      • Corporate Purchasing Card
      • Book Travel Online
      • Book Fine Hotels & Resorts
      • Book The Hotel Collection
      • Destination Guides
      • Travel Insurance
      • Using Your Card Overseas
      • Card Member Benefits
      • Find a Travel Service Office
      • Global Business Travel Solutions
      • Small Business Travel
      • Foreign Exchange Services
      • Travelers Cheques
      • Qantas Credit Cards
      • Travel Rewards Credit Cards
      • Insurance Home Page
      • Insurance with your card
      • Other Insurance
      • Travel Insurance
      • Multi-Trip/Annual Policy
      • Single Trip Policy
      • Use Points for Gift Cards
      • Use Points for Travel
      • Rewards Changes
      • Membership Rewards Cards
      • Qantas Frequent Flyer
      • Explore Card Benefits
      • Amex Experiences
      • Refer Friends. Earn Rewards
      • Merchant Home
      • Accept the Card
      • Manage Merchant Account
      • Contact Us and FAQs
      • Corporate Cards
      • Purchasing Solutions
      • Customer Centre
      • Global Business Travel Solutions
      • Meetings & Events
      • International Payments for Businesses
      • Popular Small Business Cards
      • View All Small Business Cards
      • Manage Your Business
      • Business Credit vs Charge
      • How to Apply for a Business Card
      • Home
      • Issuers
      • Acquirers
      • Service Providers
      • Developers
  • Contact Us
AustraliaChange Country
  • Card Accounts

    • Your Account
    • Activate a New Card
    • Register for Online Services
    • Amex Mobile App Features
    • Add Someone to Your Account
    • Moving Abroad? Transfer Your Card

    Business Owners

    • Your Account
    • Activate a New Card
    • Register for Online Services
    • Membership Rewards & Travel
    • Add Someone to Your Account

    Other Accounts

    • American Express @Work
    • Online Merchant Services
    • International Payments for Businesses

    Contact Us

    • Support 24/7
  • Personal Cards

    • View All Personal Cards
    • Learn About Credit Cards

    Popular Personal Cards

    • The Platinum Card
    • The Qantas Ultimate Card
    • The Explorer Card

    Cards for Business Owners

    • View all Business Cards
    • Popular Business Cards
    • Manage Your Business

    Corporate Cards

    • View All Corporate Cards
    • Corporate Payment Solutions
    • Corporate Purchasing Card
  • Online Travel

    • Book Travel Online
    • Book Fine Hotels & Resorts
    • Book The Hotel Collection

    Travel Resources

    • Destination Guides
    • Travel Insurance
    • Using Your Card Overseas
    • Card Member Benefits
    • Find a Travel Service Office

    Business Travel

    • Global Business Travel Solutions
    • Small Business Travel
    • Foreign Exchange Services

    Travel Money

    • Travelers Cheques
    • Qantas Credit Cards
    • Travel Rewards Credit Cards
  • All Insurance Services

    • Insurance Home Page
    • Insurance with your card
    • Other Insurance

    Travel Insurance

    • Travel Insurance
    • Multi-Trip/Annual Policy
    • Single Trip Policy
  • Membership Rewards

    • Use Points for Gift Cards
    • Use Points for Travel
    • Rewards Changes

    Rewards Programs

    • Membership Rewards Cards
    • Qantas Frequent Flyer

    Card Member Offers & Benefits

    • Explore Card Benefits
    • Amex Experiences
    • Refer Friends. Earn Rewards
  • Merchants

    • Merchant Home
    • Accept the Card
    • Manage Merchant Account
    • Contact Us and FAQs

    Corporations

    • Corporate Cards
    • Purchasing Solutions
    • Customer Centre
    • Global Business Travel Solutions
    • Meetings & Events
    • International Payments for Businesses

    Business Owners

    • Popular Small Business Cards
    • View All Small Business Cards
    • Manage Your Business
    • Business Credit vs Charge
    • How to Apply for a Business Card

    Global Network

    • Home
    • Issuers
    • Acquirers
    • Service Providers
    • Developers

AustraliaChange Country
Small Business Cards
Cards
American Express® Platinum Business Card
American Express® Qantas Business Rewards Card
American Express Business Explorer® Credit Card
View All Cards
Compare Cards
International Payments
International Payments
American Express AccessLine™
View All International Payments
Manage Your Business
Business Benefits
Why Amex for your Business?
Business Credit vs Charge
Business Rewards
Business Cash Flow Management
Business Travel Rewards
Existing Customers
Order Cards for Employees
Corporate Card Programs
Cards
American Express® Corporate Platinum Card
American Express® Qantas Corporate Platinum Card
American Express® Corporate Gold Card
View All Corporate Cards
Compare Corporate Cards
Payment Solutions
Buyer Initiated Payments
American Express vPayment™
View All Supplier Payments
International Payments
American Express AccessLine™
View All International Payments
Trend & Insights
Business Trends & Insights
Products & Solutions
Service & Expertise
Existing Customers
Trends & Insights
Trends & Insights
Insights and Inspiration to Help Grow Your Business
Security
Managing Supply Chain
Managing Data and Trends
Managing Risks
Growth
Expanding
Adapting to Change
Future Proofing
Funding
Managing Cash Flow
Financing
Becoming More Efficient
People
Leading My Team
Managing Talent
Collaborating
  • Trends and Insights
  • Security
  • Managing Risks
Business Class

28 February 2018

Combatting Business Travel Risks in 2018

Combatting Business Travel Risks in 2018

Twitter Icon
Facebook Icon
LinkedIn Icon
Alexandra Cain

Writer, Cain Creativity, Inc.

Summary

Risk management is a key part of the CFO role – and any business with staff on the road should have strategies in place to monitor any clear and present dangers in the locations to which team members are travelling.

Twitter Icon
Facebook Icon
LinkedIn Icon

Today's CFO uses vigorous and proactive risk management to manage the potential economic impact of risk on their business and to implement policies that minimise these risks.

Global connections are a core part of business in many sectors today – and business travel can pose a potential risk to the most robust firm, as each business has a duty of care to ensure the safety of employees travelling for business purposes.

As the recent mistaken missile alert in Hawaii demonstrated, business travel risks can eventuate quickly and in unexpected locations.

Had the threat been real, any firm with staff on the island would have urgently needed accurate contact information to be able to locate them and be assured of their safety.

Any business without this information may be in a difficult situation in the event staff are involved in any sort of security incidence.

This is a pressing matter given current geopolitical risks. According to risk technology company Strafor's Geopolitical Risks for 2018, “deepening collaboration between China and Russia, increasing US unilateralism in trade and Eurozone reform are three of the major trends for this year."

While the risks business travellers face shift all the time, the processes and procedures in place to ensure staff are properly protected need to remain consistent and well understood across the business.

CFOs with their finger on the pulse may find it worthwhile to institute a regular review of business travel risk policies and strategies.

According to the latest Ipsos MORI Global Business Resilience Trends Watch 2018 survey, 72 per cent of Australian business decision makers think travel risks have increased in the past year[1].

Sally Napper, International SOS and Control Risks' Australasian Security Director explains some of the common risks business travellers face include road safety, crime, terrorism and natural hazards.

“In 2017, 58 per cent of business travellers modified itineraries due to security concerns and 43 per cent adjusted plans due to natural disasters[2]," she says.

But while terrorism and natural disasters capture headlines, and their unpredictable nature is rightly concerning, business travellers face much more preventable and routine threats from medical illnesses, petty criminals and occasionally violent crime.

“Even with terrorism reaching into previously considered low-risk countries and regions, crime continues to be a bigger risk for travellers. The nature of this threat fluctuates depending on travel location and traveller profile," says Napper.

Managing risks

Understanding the environment and how it impacts travellers is the key to proper risk management, Napper says.

She says that building awareness of the environment means travellers can take practical steps to mitigate risks.

“Reviewing risks at the destination and consulting with on-the-ground experts are ways to mitigate risk," says Napper.

“From my experience travelling to higher risk destinations around the world, practical steps include engaging a local guide, using secure transport, installing phone tracking software and having a pre-agreed 'check-in' time so our team can account for each other 24/7," she adds.

When it comes to travel risk management, information is powerful. Access to accurate data about the security environment in the countries business travellers visit will enable companies to make smart decisions about where and when they send travellers, as well as the types of steps they must take to deal with risks.

Having prompt access to this information is critical for rapidly evolving situations – such as during terrorist attacks or natural disasters. These tend to change quickly and can happen at any time, in or out of business hours, which adds additional complexity.

Says Napper: “Along with having access to timely, accurate information, communication is key. This is one of the biggest challenges we see for businesses managing overseas operations or even simply sending individual travellers to uncover new markets or opportunities."

Businesses must be able to communicate with travellers to ensure employee well-being and guide them to the best possible assistance or advice when things go wrong.

Napper's research also found 47 per cent of travel risk professionals said communicating with employees during a crisis is a leading challenge to protecting their mobile workforce.

Local focus

A recent change is heightened risk for domestic business travellers given incidents on home soil, for instance Sydney's Lindt Café and Melbourne's Federation Square incidents.

Brett Evans, Managing Director of Atlas Wealth Management, is one business owner who has taken this into account and has implemented strategies to help ensure his staff are safe.

Evans says with the advent of social media, it's easier to get information when incidents happen. But his first port of call is the federal government's Smartraveller Twitter feed.

“The alerts are sent to a special folder in my email inbox and when I have a few minutes free I scan them and determine whether they affect me or my staff. If they do, then I read them to find out more."

He points out it's important for managers to be aware not just about terrorism threats, but also about social uprisings, which are becoming more common.

“I've been in situations where you get a sense something's building and the best thing to do is remove yourself from that situation. Use common sense," he explains.

With clients in more than 18 countries, Evans' team travels regularly and he says modern mobile phone plans make it much easier to communicate when abroad.

“Only a few years ago massive data charges meant people would turn off their phones while they were overseas. But it's now much cheaper to keep them switched on when you're travelling and that means you remain informed. That's a big part of being aware of any unfolding situation," he adds.

If staff are in an incident, Evans' team knows to head to the local Australian embassy or consulate.

“These days staff and management can get real-time information and disseminate it quickly. So there's no excuse for not being aware of an incident, especially in more volatile places."

The message to managers is to stay alert of unfolding incidents, ensure staff contact details are up-to-date and have a pre-agreed process staff know to follow if they are caught in an incident.

Key Takeaways

  • Risk management strategies in place could include following the Australian federal government's Smartraveller Twitter handle to remain informed.
  • Ensure the business has up-to-date contact details for all staff so you can communicate with them no matter where they are.
  • Global mobile phone roaming plans can encourage staff to leave their phones on so they can be contacted in case of emergency.

[1]Business Resilience Trends Watch 2018 https://www.internationalsos.com/-/media/corporate/files/business-resilience-trends-watch-2018---international-sos-ipsos-mori.pdf accessed 19/02/18

[2] Business Resilience Trends Watch 2018 https://www.internationalsos.com/-/media/corporate/files/business-resilience-trends-watch-2018---international-sos-ipsos-mori.pdf accessed 19/02/18

Twitter Icon
Facebook Icon
LinkedIn Icon
Want to Dig Deeper?

Get an American Express Card

  • Personal Cards
  • Credit Cards
  • Small Business Cards
  • Corporate Cards
  • Add Someone to Your Account

More Products & Services

  • Insurance
  • Accept the Card
  • Online Services
  • Book Travel
  • Business International Payments
  • Refer a Friend

Important Links

  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Chip & PIN
  • ATM Locator
  • Accessibility
  • Safe and Secure

Company Information

  • About American Express
  • About American Express Australia
  • Careers
  • Contact Us
  • Site Map
  • Facebook
    • Personal Cards
    • Credit Cards
    • Small Business Cards
    • Corporate Cards
    • Add Someone to Your Account
    • Insurance
    • Accept the Card
    • Online Services
    • Book Travel
    • Business International Payments
    • Refer a Friend
    • Frequently Asked Questions
    • Chip & PIN
    • ATM Locator
    • Accessibility
    • Safe and Secure
    • About American Express
    • About American Express Australia
    • Careers
    • Contact Us
    • Site Map
    • Facebook

American Express
AustraliaChange Country
  • Connect with Amex on Facebook
  • Connect with Amex on Instagram
  • Tweet your questions to @AskAmex
  • Connect with Amex on LinkedIn
  • YouTube

  • Website Rules and Regulations
  • Trademarks
  • Privacy Statement
  • Security Alerts

Copyright © 2021 American Express Company