There’s a quiet shift underway in corporate travel, and it’s not about upgraded cabins or faster Wi-Fi.
It’s about risk.
New research from BCD Travel suggests that while companies have spent years refining duty-of-care frameworks, the travelling workforce is still grappling with a more basic issue: knowing what to do when things go wrong.
And increasingly, things do.
The modern traveller’s worry list is changing
According to BCD’s latest survey of 1,284 business travellers, transportation incidents now sit at the top of the concern ladder, cited by 37% of respondents. Health risks follow closely at 35%, a lingering reminder that global travel hasn’t quite shaken off its pandemic-era sensitivities.
Beyond that, the usual suspects, crime and natural disasters, continue to loom large, each troubling roughly a third of travellers. But it’s the immediacy of transport and health risks that stand out. These are not distant hypotheticals; they’re risks that can unfold mid-journey, often without warning.
Notably, 8% of travellers reported experiencing an incident in the past year that required company support. Weather disruptions alone accounted for nearly a quarter of those cases, underlining just how unpredictable the operating environment has become.
Confidence in the system is mostly intact
Despite all the concerns, corporate travel hasn’t lost its backbone.
BCD Jorge Mesa
Managed programmes continue to inspire confidence, with 86% of travellers saying they feel safe staying in company-approved hotels. Ground transport, whether ride-share or traditional taxis, also scores well, with more than 70% of respondents viewing these options as secure.
That consistency matters. It reflects years of supplier vetting, negotiated standards, and the quiet discipline that sits behind every well-run travel programme.
But confidence in infrastructure doesn’t always translate to confidence in action.
The awareness gap that refuses to close
Here’s the sticking point, and it’s a significant one.
Nearly one-third of travellers admit they don’t know where to find their company’s safety information. More than a quarter turn to alternative sources during an incident, effectively stepping outside the very systems designed to protect them.
Even more concerning, around 30% are unsure who to contact in an emergency. And 18% hesitate to seek help altogether, unsure whether their situation qualifies as serious enough.
This isn’t a failure of investment. Most organisations already provide access to safety tools, apps, alerts and support lines.
It’s a failure of clarity.
As Jorge Mesa, senior director of Travel Risk Management at BCD, puts it:
“The research shows travellers want clarity, not complexity. When people get simple guidance at the right moment, they feel more confident on the road.”
It’s a line worth noting. In an industry that often leans into technology as the answer, the real solution may be far more straightforward.
Behaviour is starting to shift
Safety concerns are no longer theoretical; they’re influencing decisions.
BCD’s broader 2026 outlook shows that 11% of travellers have already cancelled trips due to safety concerns. That’s not an outlier; it’s an early indicator of behavioural change that travel managers can’t afford to ignore.
At the same time, expectations of employer support remain high. Two-thirds of travellers rate company assistance during incidents as strong, with only a small minority reporting minimal or no support.
Common tools, flexible travel policies, 24/7 emergency assistance, real-time alerts and company-issued devices are now standard practice.
Yet when asked what they actually want, travellers point to something refreshingly simple: clear, pre-trip destination information. About 30% say it’s their top priority, even though only 38% report having consistent access to it.
Employers under pressure to keep up
There’s also a subtle confidence gap emerging.
While more than half of travellers believe their company’s safety measures are evolving, a sizeable 35% remain unsure, and 9% don’t believe improvements are happening at all.
Interestingly, satisfaction is evenly split. Around 27% of travellers say current policies are adequate, while an equal share is calling for better communication.
That symmetry tells its own story. It’s not necessarily the policies that are failing; it’s how they’re communicated, understood and reinforced.
A simpler path forward
Corporate travel has always been about managing variables. What’s changed is the number and nature of those variables.
Extreme weather, geopolitical tensions, and shifting health risks are now part of the everyday equation. Layered on top is a workforce that expects not just protection, but clarity.
BCD’s model, combining digital tools with round-the-clock human oversight, leans into that reality. Technology may enable, but it’s the human layer that reassures.
And perhaps that’s the real takeaway.
In a world of growing complexity, the most effective travel risk strategies aren’t necessarily the most sophisticated. They’re the ones that are understood.
Because when a traveller knows exactly what to do and who to call, the journey becomes a great deal safer, no matter where it leads.
by Alison Jenkins
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