Travel risk assessment for companies
A travel risk assessment asks a simple question before a trip: what could go wrong, how likely is it, and what will we do about it? For most trips the answer takes a minute. For higher-risk destinations it decides whether the trip goes ahead at all.
A four-level model
Keep the model simple enough to apply to every trip.
| Level | Typical destination | What it requires |
|---|---|---|
| Low | Major business cities with stable conditions. | Standard booking, tracking and emergency contacts. |
| Medium | Destinations with some security, health or disruption concerns. | Briefing, approved hotels and daylight transfers. |
| High | Areas where official advisories warn against all but essential travel. | Written risk assessment, senior approval, security plan and check-ins. |
| Extreme | Areas where official advisories warn against all travel. | Normally no travel; any exception decided at board or executive level. |
Start with official advisories
Use official government advisories as the baseline, such as the UK FCDO foreign travel advice. They are updated often and are widely used by insurers. Add your own security team’s view and the host organisation’s knowledge of the local situation.
Insurance cover can be affected when travel goes against official advice. Check the policy wording before approving a trip to an area under an advisory.
What a pre-trip assessment covers
A short form is enough for most trips. For higher levels, add detail and an approver who is not the traveller’s line manager.
- Destination and dates, with the current advisory level
- Purpose and whether a remote meeting could replace the trip
- Traveller profile: experience, health, any personal risk factors they choose to share
- Accommodation and transport, with approved options
- Communication plan and check-in times
- Medical and evacuation cover
- Who to call, and what happens, if something goes wrong
Match controls to the level
Controls are the actions that reduce risk: choosing a different hotel, travelling only in daylight, using a vetted driver, changing the meeting venue, adding check-ins or postponing the trip. The assessment should say which controls apply and who confirms them.
A recognised framework
ISO 31030 is the international standard for travel risk management. It is a useful reference for building a programme, though most companies start with a simple process and improve it over time.
How Go Global puts it into practice
Classify
Destination level set from advisories.
Assess
Pre-trip form completed for medium and above.
Approve
Right approver for the level.
Book
Bookings follow the controls.
Track
Check-ins and changes recorded.
Travel risk assessment: questions
Does every trip need a risk assessment?
A short check for every trip, yes. A full written assessment is needed for medium and higher levels.
Who should approve high-risk travel?
Someone senior and independent of the trip, such as a security lead or HR director.
Do you provide security services?
No. We book within your security rules and keep the record; your security team or provider assesses threats.
Keep the assessment with the trip
Store the completed assessment with the trip record and the approval. If something happens, the record shows what was known, what was decided and why, which matters for both the traveller’s family and the company.
Planning a travel policy?
Tell us who is travelling, when and why. We reply with a plan, the visa route and a quote. Go Global has handled 100,000+ trips, and our team works 24/7 for travellers on the road. Email insights@goglobal.pk or WhatsApp 0320-4111222.