Research from World Travel Protection advises precautions
A large majority (71%) of women traveling for work feel unsafe when out of town for their jobs, an issue not addressed to the same degree by their male colleagues. The survey, published in Raconteur and conducted by travel agent and risk-management provider World Travel Protection (WTP), polled 2,000 business travelers, with more than half of the participants admitting to feeling uneasy when venturing to another city for work obligations due to safety concerns.
Additionally, the survey revealed that 31% of women said they wouldn’t take any solo outings at night while traveling for work, and 12% have been in dangerous situations like theft or assault during a business trip. This has raised alarms, said the article, about whether women’s needs are being met while on the road and whether additional safety measures should be implemented.
WTP found in their survey that 70% of the business travelers they polled reported that their company advises them to download a travel assistance app, but only 30% have done so and used it.
In June 2024, according to the article, Booking.com for Business found that people were more lax with their safety measures when traveling domestically than internationally, with 26% taking extra precautions during work trips within their own country and 42% exercising more caution when venturing abroad.
According to the report, precautions may involve establishing a clear travel policy, including stating expectations, safety measures and emergency contacts if the individual should need it. Experts also suggested that travelers share their itineraries with their employers so they can respond quickly in case plans go awry.
Employers should also consider arranging private rides or chauffeur services and ensuring the hotel has a 24-hour reception to secure the utmost safety for their workers. Although many companies are taking these precautions, said the article, there is considerable room for improvement, and the first step is knowing what their employees need to feel safer.
Female employees in particular should have a confidential forum to voice their concerns and open up about their experiences when traveling for work, according to the article.
