Most business travellers are confident in the safety of the suppliers featured in their organisations' managed travel programmes, according to a new global BCD Travel survey.
The survey of around 1,300 business travellers worldwide found that a significant majority (86 per cent) said they feel safe staying at the hotels in their company's travel programme. The poll was conducted in November 2025, with around one-third of respondents based in Europe and more than half in North America.
Many ground transport options also earned votes of confidence from business travellers: ride-hailing options and traditional taxis were viewed as safe by more than 70 per cent of respondents, and more than half said the same about public transport.
Nearly two-thirds of respondents, however, considered micro-mobility options, which include scooters or bikes, unsafe. Around 92 per cent of survey respondents were aged 45 or older.
Transport accidents were ranked as a top concern by 37 per cent of respondents. Health emergencies followed at 35 per cent, while 32 per cent worried about crime or theft and 31 per cent pointed to natural disasters or severe weather.
Almost one-third of respondents said they weren't sure how to access safety information. A similar number of respondents said they didn't know who to contact at their company during a travel emergency, and 18 per cent said they have hesitated in seeking help because of uncertainty about whether their situation would be considered a serious emergency.
Nevertheless, two-thirds of respondents rated their company's support during risk incidents as high or very high, with only 7 per cent reporting minimal or no support from their organisation.
“The research shows travellers want clarity, not complexity,” said Jorge Mesa, BCD's senior director of travel risk management. “When people get simple guidance at the right moment, they feel more confident on the road.”
Company resources available to business travellers, according to the survey, include flexible travel options, 24/7 emergency support, risk alerts and company phones with roaming.
When asked to rank the resource they don't currently have but would like to, 30 per cent of respondents named pre-trip destination information, such as advice on cultural norms. Around 38 per cent of respondents said they already have access to this resource.
More than half of respondents (56 per cent) said their company’s safety measures have been evolving to address new risks. More than a quarter of business travellers said they are satisfied with their employers’ travel safety policies, while an equal proportion of respondents want better communication.