RISKY BUSINESS

Business travellers need their wits about them more than ever these days with strategies in place should the worst happen

- TAMSIN COCKS

Seasoned travellers know it's not a question of if things go wrong, but when. From flight delays to lost luggage, travel is full of unexpected hiccups. (Read about some of the ridiculous reroutings our readers have experienced on page 18.)

In extreme situations, a missed connection could be the least of your worries. And as travel starts to surge again post-pandemic, so too do the risks. International SOS recorded a 16 per cent increase in security and medical alerts issued in 2023 compared to 2022.

Michael Rogers, chief security analyst at International SOS, says: "The resurgence in global travel comes at a time in which the travel security landscape is increasingly complicated by geopolitical events, natural disasters, emerging diseases, social unrest and evolving crime dynamics. Today, more than ever, travellers need to remain informed of prevailing risks and mitigation measures."

Risk and security management companies act as both morbid fortune teller and guardian angel. Analysts pore over forecasts and trends to assess existing and emerging risks, and create strategies to mitigate against these threats and enable business travellers to get their jobs done. Should things hit the fan, they are also poised to execute emergency protocols that cover everything from hostage situations to volcano eruptions.

Saskia Veldhuizen, senior security coordinator at international risk management firm Healix, explains: "Our job is different every day. One day we might be providing intelligence reports on political elections, the next day we're conducting full-scale evacuations from Khartoum or dealing with a kidnapping in Haiti."