Elizabeth Anderson is global travel risk assistant at telecommunications firm Inmarsat. Travel buyers can hear her advice and experience in setting up and identifying the loopholes in a travel risk plan during a session at Business Travel Summit Amsterdam.
What are the top three tips you would give to travel managers/buyers when it comes to implementing a risk travel management programme?
Write your own travel safety policy with the assistance of your security provider to understand the various risks and use this as a guide for your travel safety management. Know who your travellers are - understand the various profiles and types of risks.
And learn effective ways of communicating with your travellers.
Do you think organisations provide adequate travel risk management? Do you feel some countries are better than others? Why is it so essential right now?
I don't think that companies yet provide fully adequate travel risk management but there is a growing focus on it. While larger companies are often better prepared due to the widespread recognition of risks and availability of resources, smaller and medium sized companies are increasingly aware of the need to have a plan in place but often have less resource.
It is particularly important now where the risks at least appear to be growing and it is an opportunity to advise travellers on the various risks surrounding travel.
I don't know if certain countries are better than others but those such as the UK, US and Germany as well as Asia Pacific countries are likely the most focused.
What's the biggest challenge facing buyers now and why?
Getting senior management and colleagues from different departments involved (establishing ownership and types of risks), communicating effectively with travellers as well as understanding the different types of risks that can affect travellers.
What's the biggest opportunity they should be taking advantage of and why?
Keeping up with publications to constantly review your travel risk programme, using the resources you have and speaking to your security provider regularly.
