An increasing number of UK-based business travellers are being asked to fly less frequently by their organisations to reduce their environmental impact, according to a new survey by World Travel Protection.
The survey of 500 corporate travellers found that almost one-fifth (18 per cent) had been asked by their organisations to take fewer flights than they have done previously, while a similar number (19 per cent) are now discouraged from flying to a meeting and back during a single day.
A slightly lower proportion (14 per cent) said they are being urged by their company to choose transport providers and hotels that prioritise sustainability, while 5 per cent are being encouraged to hire electric vehicles for business trips.
Kate Fitzpatrick, regional security director, EMEA, at World Travel Protection, said that the switch to more sustainable travel options, such as taking trains instead of flights, meant that organisations needed to update their travel risk management policies to “mitigate potential risks” from this change.
“For example, train journeys are often longer in duration, which increases the possibility of anything going wrong, and there’s also less security in railway stations than at an airport,” added Fitzpatrick
“As well as ensuring business travellers are aware of any changes in risk, organisations must also prepare them for what to do if something does go wrong.”
Fitzpatrick said that recent wildfires and flash flooding in Europe and other parts of the world also illustrated the importance of having an updated risk management policy.
“In a crisis situation, organisations need to know immediately where their people are, be able to contact and track them and have support in place to minimise any risk to them,” she explained.