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Research released by Amadeus has found that nearly one out of five companies surveyed do not have a fully developed security plan for travelling employees, and nearly one out of three lack a personnel tracking mechanism. The findings reveal a critical need for technology solutions that address travel security, a crucial issue in today’s corporate travel environment.
The Amadeus-commissioned research, conducted by Intercedent Asia, analysed a broad range of international companies in Asia Pacific with an average yearly travel spend of US$7 million, with some respondents reporting up to US$100 million in corporate travel expenditure.
David Brett, President, Amadeus Asia Pacific, commented: “This research comes at a pivotal time for companies in Asia Pacific. Not only do we face heightened safety risks from natural disasters and terrorism, but also increasing numbers of executives travelling to foster their business relationships throughout the region. This research provides insight on how we can continue to enhance and develop technology solutions to address the travel needs of corporations today.”
The research assessed the companies’ perceived importance of traveller safety and physical security, use of tracking mechanisms, existence of documented emergency response plans, and method of data security.
Some of the key findings include:
- While 79% of respondents commented that personal safety is at the heart of all travel management policies, 18.4% reported that they have yet to fully adopt many safety practices for their travelling executives, and feel a need to so.
- 32.4% of respondents do not have an employee tracking mechanism. Of those that do (64.9%), a significant proportion relies on internal or manual tracking systems, as opposed to integrated, real-time solutions.
- Nearly all companies report the existence of a documented emergency response plan. However, many respondents are unsure if employees are aware of or know how to utilise the plan in the event of a crisis. It is unknown if such plans are readily accessible during travel as part of an integrated technology offering.
- Data security measures are commonly employed, with the vast majority of companies protecting confidential information and data through use of passwords or encryption. However, encryption is not as well implemented in Asia compared to other regions, due to language issues.
“As a global technology partner for the travel industry and a leader in R&D investment, Amadeus is committed to developing cutting-edge solutions that address the changing needs of corporations when it comes to corporate travel. Research such as this allows us to understand the challenges they are facing, so we can continue to develop solutions that address their security needs,” said Brett.
Vicky is the co-founder of TravelDailyNews Media Network where she is the Editor-in Chief. She is also responsible for the daily operation and the financial policy. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Tourism Business Administration from the Technical University of Athens and a Master in Business Administration (MBA) from the University of Wales. She has many years of both academic and industrial experience within the travel industry. She has written/edited numerous articles in various tourism magazines.
