Mega Agencies Add To Safety And Security Repertoire

Two mega travel management companies each debuted high-tech safety and security offerings at last month's Association of Corporate Travel Executives global conference in London. Subscribing clients can have up-to-the-minute details on the status and stability of their destinations, protection against natural disasters and assurances that they will be quickly recovered from host cities in case of an emergency.

TQ3 Travel Solutions' SafetyNet is an "end-to-end risk-management solution that uses advanced 'track and trace' technology to enable clients to warn, protect and, if necessary, find and bring back travelers from areas of risk."

Separately, Carlson Wagonlit Travel contracted with risk-management firm IJet to offer similar services: "tools designed to monitor risk, prepare and protect corporate travelers, and respond to life-threatening incidents 24 hours a day, seven days a week," it announced. "In today's predictably unpredictable world of natural disasters, terrorist attacks and health risks, the security of travelers is an important concern," said Kim Derderian, CWT's director of media and industry consultants relations. "Like our clients, we take this concern seriously."

Both firms said the new services are a direct result of demand from and expectations of corporate clients.

"Safety is paramount, and we have a responsibility to our clients to know where their travelers are at any one time," said Nicola Stopforth, EMEA communications manager for TQ3. "While this was a response to customer demand, it is also in our best interests as a growing TMC to ensure we can offer a first-rate and secure service to all of our clients across the globe."

The agencies said these services are available to anyone, and pricing is subject to the level of service one needs. Neither firm was willing to disclose what they charge.

TQ3's SafetyNet culls together information from a huge swath of online databases and news sources, as well as other commercial alert systems such as NorthStar, GoAlert, TravelBytes, and Wcities. In addition, TQ3 maintains a trained staff of specialists at its 24-hour emergency assist service center. "Destinations across the globe are being monitored by these multiple sources, which are updated every 120 seconds," said Stopforth.

CWT's offerings include a tool that allows travel managers to track people all over the globe. Enhanced Traveler Tracking provides drill-down capabilities that allow travel managers "to see where travelers are located 24/7 with just a few clicks of the mouse, and, when necessary, easily communicate company-specific instructions tothem," explained Derderian.

Perhaps the most ambitious offering, however, is the promise to retrieve corporate travelers more quickly if their destination is determined "at risk" once they've arrived—a service offered by both companies.

According to TQ3's Stopforth, should an area become unsafe, travelers will be located and sent an e-mail requesting they contact TQ3's emergency assist center. If a traveler doesn't respond immediately, attempts to contact him or her will persist until contact is made. Once that happens, the "crisis plan" is executed.

"This could entail rearranging flights and/or accommodation, offering sound advice and keeping in regular contact with the traveler to ensure they are safe," she said.

Included in CWT's offering is a product that helps ill travelers find the most reliable and reputable medical care in their region.

Mark Walton, a principal with travel analysts Consulting Strategies, said that while the technology itself is not new, corporate demand for it seems to be on the rise.

"There certainly is significantly enhanced awareness of these issues from a traveler's perspective and a corporation's perspective," he added. "Corporations are particularly concerned and need to know where their employees are at any given time."