TRAVEL RISK PLANNING: THE PLAN YOU DON’T KNOW YOU NEED UNTIL YOU NEED IT.
This blog is based on true events.
Imagine the scene.
You’re travelling out of the country for the long-awaited first face to face staff meeting in three years. Anticipation is high, work hours will be long, and socialising will be maximised.
It’s going brilliantly.
On the final night, a ‘surf n’ turf’ feast is served. The meat and fish have been locally sourced, and everyone reckons it is a meal that will go down in the history books.
It does.
What happened?
The next day, two senior leaders reported feeling ill – vomiting, diarrhoea – the works. They text their security driver that afternoon.
Luckily, this business had a Travel Risk Plan in place.
The first text, as per plan and agreed with the driver, triggered a sequence of actions that ensured the senior leaders were able to travel back home safely and quickly.
The Travel Risk Plan in action
Upon hearing the senior leaders were ill, the driver immediately checked if they were okay and whether a doctor was required.
A Response Team, which was agreed upon beforehand, was told what was happening and a WhatsApp Chat Group was activated to keep communications open.
The driver then called the pre-arranged doctor, who was able to attend to the senior leaders within the hour. The doctor confirmed it was shellfish poisoning and arranged for prescription medication to be delivered by the driver to the patients.
The driver asked the two individuals to call at any time if they needed assistance. The Response Team was updated – who in turn updated family members and staff. The driver and his security company provided updates every 30 minutes.
Both travellers were constantly communicated with and were fit enough to travel back to the UK the next day. Their driver escorted them to the airport and stayed until the flight took off in case they were still too unwell to travel.
What’s in a Travel Risk Plan?
Inverroy Crisis Management believes that every business should have Business Continuity Plan and Emergency Response Plan for when an emergency or disruption strikes.
Emergencies are not just forces of nature, terrorism, or cyber-attacks. An emergency can be as ‘simple’ as key members of your leadership team falling ill and not being able to access help – a situation more concerning if they’re travelling abroad.
Inverroy has a Travel Risk Planning Team who helps develop plans and in country support for those travelling to high-risk areas, unfamiliar places, or simply travelling frequently.
We specialise in:
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In-country security, from armoured vehicles to highly trained, security and medically qualified drivers to escort you throughout your trip.
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Security and Medical Risk Assessment beforehand to ensure you are safe and prepared.
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Travel Safety Briefs and Journey Management Plans so you know what to do during an emergency.
Getting prepared and staying ready to respond
Travel Risk, Business Continuity and Emergency Response Plans can seem overwhelming and time-consuming to do. Understandably, many organisations find it difficult to start planning, far less finish and maintain their plans – as necessary as they may be.
Inverroy Crisis Management has developed an easy-to-use Business Continuity and Emergency Response online resilience platform that can help all organisations get their plans done with a few simple clicks: Inverroy Digital.
Inverroy Digital (ID) is an online web application that allows organisations of all sizes to create their own bespoke Resilience Plans. Simply login, answer the questions relevant to your organisation, get approvals/updates/changes all in one place, and ID will generate the plan for you.
ID is cyber-safe, meaning that even if your IT systems are compromised, your response plans will not be – so you can be ready to respond to any eventuality, have access to all your business-critical information and recover quickly from disruption.
If your leadership team or employees are travelling, Inverroy can provide the much needed safety and security support . For further information please contact Shauna (shauna@inverroy.com) for an informal discussion on how we can help keep your people safe during their travels.
Safety tips for your hotel stay (IOGP Guidance 2020)
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Do not stay out late at night unless with trusted persons
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Secure valuables in hotel safes when not in use, including passport and visa
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Carry a laminated credit card size photocopy of your passport and visa in your wallet at all times
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Take a hard copy of emergency contact details and travel insurance
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Only stay in business approved accommodation
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Carry your personal things in public with caution
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Use your first initial and no title when checking in
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Never leave your room key where someone can note your room number, especially in the gym or bar
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Lock your room door from the inside and consider using a door wedge
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Do not leave your window open if your room is near the ground floor
