Distinction in travel journalism
Is independent travel journalism important to you?
Click here to keep it independent

10 Nov, 2015

New Security Module Launched to Mitigate Risks to the Female Business Traveler

TREVOSE, Pa.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–November 03, 2015 – International SOS and Control Risks launched the latest module in its travel preparedness suite for business travelers, risk managers and expatriates. Women’s Security eLearning provides practical tips and actionable advice for the female traveler.

Fely Bowen, Regional Security Manager for International SOS and Control Risks, explained: “Female travelers have different risk profiles and considerations to those of male travelers. We have found that while women have continued to rise through the ranks and are travelling more and further than ever before for their careers, some organizations have been slow to implement policies and programs to keep up with the unique needs of their changing workforce.”

An analysis of travel itineraries from International SOS’ TravelTracker shows a 13% year on year increase of women travelling abroad for business.1 In addition, women travelers are increasingly travelling to destinations that are rated as having “High” or “Extreme” travel risks.

Bowen continues: “It’s an organization’s duty of care to reduce risks to their employees. Pre-travel advice and personal security training should be provided to all employees, regardless of gender, as part of an organization’s travel risk mitigation program. Unfortunately, the majority of organizations still do not offer their employees training on how to mitigate risks while traveling.”

The recently released benchmark study, “Policy in Practice 2015: Business Travelers” by the Forum for Expatriate Management (FEM) reported that over half of organizations surveyed do not provide any personal security training to business travelers.3

International SOS and Control Risks provide a suite of Travel Risk eLearning modules to help prepare the employee pre-travels. The Women’s Security eLearning provides information about the most common threats faced by women travelers, and strategies to mitigate those risks.

For more information on the full Travel Risk eLearning suite of products, visit https://www.internationalsos.com/medical-and-security-services/training/travel-risk-elearning.

EXPLANATORY NOTES

1. International SOS reviewed travel data gathered from itineraries of travelers between 2012–2014. The data was provided by International SOS TravelTracker. A trip abroad is defined as the country of arrival differing from the home country of the traveler.

2. International SOS and Control Risks assign a travel risk rating to countries based on the threat posed to travelers and expatriates by political violence (including terrorism, insurgency, politically motivated unrest and war), social unrest, and violent or petty crime. Risk ratings range from Extreme, High, Medium, Low, to Insignificant.

3. Download “Policy in Practice 2015: Business Travelers” from Forum for Expatriate Management (FEM) here: http://www.totallyexpat.com/reports/policy-in-practice-2015-business-travelers.