Travel Security: How to Keep Your People Safe
Business travel exposes employees to a range of security risks, from theft and cybercrime to political unrest and natural disasters. Organisations that send employees on business travel - whether for client meetings, site visits or long-term assignments - must have a robust travel security strategy to mitigate risks and ensure the safety of their people.
This guide provides practical steps to safeguard business travelers, covering:
✅ Pre-Trip Risk Assessments
✅ Travel Security Training
✅ Crisis Planning and Emergency Response
✅ Cybersecurity for Travelers
✅ Medical and Health Preparedness
By taking a proactive approach, organisations can minimise risk and fulfill their duty of care responsibilities, ensuring employees return home safely.
1. Conducting a Pre-Trip Travel Risk Assessment
Every business trip is different, and risks vary by location, traveler profile and purpose of travel. A pre-trip risk assessment helps organisations identify potential threats and take preventative measures before an employee even steps on a plane.
Key Risk Factors to Assess:
✅ Destination Security:
Is the country facing political instability or civil unrest?
Are there high crime rates or known threats such as kidnapping, terrorism or cyber risks?
Is the area prone to natural disasters like hurricanes or earthquakes?
✅ Traveler Profile:
Does the traveler have any high-risk attributes (e.g. executive status, nationality, gender, or religion) that could make them a target?
Are they familiar with the country’s laws, customs and safety protocols?
Have they travelled to the destination recently?
✅ Logistics and Transportation Risks:
Are local transportation options safe and reliable?
Does the traveler require secure ground transportation or an escort service?
✅ Health and Medical Risks:
What medical infrastructure is available at the destination?
Are vaccinations or health precautions required?
After the assessment, you may decide that the risk is just too high for your organisation to take, even with any risk mitigations you put in place. Use our High-Risk Travel Plan Template to ensure every trip is properly assessed before departure.
2. Preparing Travelers with Security Awareness Training
Even the most detailed travel risk assessment is useless if employees don’t know how to act in risky situations. Travel security training empowers employees to protect themselves and react appropriately in a crisis.
Key Topics for Travel Security Training:
✅ Situational Awareness
Recognising suspicious behavior and avoiding risky situations.
Understanding local laws, customs and social norms to avoid drawing unwanted attention.
✅ Hotel and Accommodation Safety
Booking secure hotels in safe areas and avoiding high-risk districts.
Always requesting rooms on higher floors (3rd-7th floors are safest) to reduce risk of burglary or attack.
Using secondary locks and door wedges to secure hotel rooms.
✅ Street and Public Transport Safety
Avoiding public demonstrations, protests and unsafe areas.
Using trusted transport services (e.g. vetted taxis or corporate car services).
Keeping valuable items hidden and carrying minimal cash.
✅ Emergency Response and Evacuation
Knowing who to contact in case of an emergency.
Understanding local emergency services and embassy contacts.
Developing an evacuation plan for high-risk areas.
3. Creating a Crisis and Emergency Response Plan for Travelers
Even with careful planning, things can go wrong. A well-defined Crisis Response Plan ensures employees know what to do in an emergency and that organisations can respond effectively.
🔹 What Should a Travel Crisis Plan Include?
✅ 24/7 Emergency Contacts
Internal corporate security team contact
Local law enforcement, medical and embassy details
✅ Evacuation Procedures
Designated safe zones or shelters
Pre-approved emergency transportation options
✅ Communication Protocols
How employees should report an emergency
Who will authorise emergency actions
✅ Ransomware, Kidnapping and Extortion Response
Steps to follow if an employee is kidnapped or extorted
Coordination with specialist security firms or government agencies
4. Cybersecurity for Travelers: Protecting Sensitive Data
Cyber threats are a major risk for business travelers, especially executives carrying sensitive corporate data. A single breach can result in data theft, financial loss or reputational damage.
Cybersecurity Best Practices for Business Travelers:
✅ Use a Travel-Only Laptop and Phone
Avoid carrying sensitive company data on personal devices.
Use a VPN for secure browsing.
✅ Avoid Public Wi-Fi
Never access corporate systems on unsecured networks.
Use personal hotspots or secure networks instead.
✅ Disable Auto-Connect & Bluetooth
Prevents devices from automatically connecting to unsafe networks.
✅ Beware of Spear Phishing and Social Engineering
Cybercriminals target business travelers with fake emails and messages.
Never click on unverified links or provide login credentials over email.
5. Medical and Health Preparedness for Travelers
Medical emergencies can derail business trips - from minor illnesses to major accidents. Companies must plan ahead to ensure travelers can access quality healthcare.
Key Medical and Health Considerations:
✅ Travel Health Insurance
Ensure coverage for medical evacuation, hospitalisation and emergency treatment.
✅ Pre-Trip Medical Screening
Check for underlying conditions that may require special medication or accommodations.
✅ Emergency Medical Contacts
Pre-identify trusted hospitals and clinics at the destination.
✅ First Aid and Personal Medications
Carry a basic first-aid kit and necessary prescription medications.
Download our Medical Emergency Incident Response Guide to ensure your staff are prepared for a medical emergency when travelling.
Conclusion
Business travel exposes employees to risks that require careful planning and preparation. By implementing a structured travel security plan, companies can:
✔ Reduce risk exposure
✔ Protect employees from security threats
✔ Ensure rapid response in emergencies
Organisations that fail to prepare not only endanger their employees but also risk reputational and financial damage. Explore CrisisCompass travel security templates and tools today.