Most business travelers are confident in the safety of the suppliers in their organizations' managed travel programs, according to a new global BCD Travel survey.
In the November survey of 1,284 business travelers worldwide—more than half based in North America and about one-third in Europe, a significant majority (86 percent) indicated they feel safe staying at the hotels in their company's travel program.
Many ground transportation options also earned votes of confidence from business travelers: ride-hailing options and traditional taxis were viewed as safe by more than 70 percent of respondents, and more than half said the same about public transportation.
Nearly two-thirds of respondents, however, considered micro-mobility options, which include scooters or bikes, unsafe. About 92 percent of survey respondents were aged 45 or older.
Transportation accidents were ranked as a top concern by 37 percent of respondents. Health emergencies followed at 35 percent, while 32 percent worried about crime or theft and 31 percent pointed to natural disasters or severe weather.
Almost a third of respondents said they weren't sure how to access safety information. A similar share of respondents said they didn't know who to contact at their company during a travel emergency, and 18 percent said they have hesitated 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 percent reporting minimal or no support.
“The research shows travelers want clarity, not complexity,” Jorge Mesa, BCD's senior director of travel risk management, said in a statement. “When people get simple guidance at the right moment, they feel more confident on the road."
Company resources available to business travelers, according to respondents, 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 percent of respondents named pre-trip destination information, such as primers on cultural norms. About 38 percent of respondents said they already have access to this resource.
More than half of respondents (56 percent) said their company’s safety measures are evolving to address new risks. More than a quarter of business travelers said they are satisfied with their employers’ travel safety policies, and an equal share of respondents want better communication.