Why traveler safety needs to be on HR’s agenda for 2027

As the global economy becomes more interconnected and geopolitical tensions continue, HR leaders with responsibility for employee travel are managing an increasingly complex set of demands. Their remit may include everything from coordinating travel and immigration requirements to ensuring appropriate duty-of-care measures are in place, supporting traveler well-being and helping employees navigate company travel and expense policies. 

A recent survey by Business Travel Show America* highlighted geopolitical uncertainty as one of the key concerns for one in five (20%) corporate travel managers looking to book and manage travel for employees in the year ahead.  In addition, just over one in ten (11%) also believe geopolitical tensions and conflict will have the greatest impact on corporate travel in 2027, suggesting the employee and corporate travel to-do list will become even more challenging in the months ahead.  

This year’s Business Travel Show America which takes place October 14 – 15, 2026 at Javits Center, New York will include the session ‘Bordering on insecurity: How our world turns’. Hosted by BTN Group Managing Editor Chris Davis, it will examine how changing geopolitical conditions are affecting corporate travel programs and traveler safety, what HR managers need to consider, and how companies can respond effectively to real-world events to help keep their people safe on the road. 

Chris Davis will be joined for the discussion by a panel of corporate travel and risk management experts including 

• Dale Buckner, CEO – Global Guardian 
• Dan Harrington, Head of Global Security – Wellington Management 
• Samantha McKnight, Senior Vice President Partnerships and Commercial Enablement – CIBTvisas 
• Kristen Reeves, Head of Global Travel – Wellington Management  

Through its reporting, research, education and events, The BTN Group works with corporate travel leaders throughout the year to examine how organizations are responding to changing risks and evolving duty-of-care responsibilities. Drawing on that work, Jen Bankard, Executive Director, Conference Content & Strategy for The BTN Group, shares five considerations for HR leaders looking to strengthen traveler safety. 

Safety needs a solid foundation and communication  

A strong travel risk management program needs clear ownership, senior-level support and coordination across HR as well as travel, security, legal, IT, communications and other relevant functions. Likewise, training and communication are just as important as the written policy. Employees need to know what resources are available, how to access help and what responsibilities they have themselves.  

Focus on prevention, not just the response 

Good travel risk management starts before the employee leaves. HR managers and companies need sufficient visibility into planned and booked travel to identify higher-risk trips, provide relevant information and take preventive action, where possible.  

Put traveler safety tools to the test 

Do not simply assume that traveler tracking and safety tools work. Testing can include regular incident-response exercises and scenario planning, as well as reviewing real incidents after the fact. Technology can also create a false sense of security. Buying a traveler-tracking or alerting platform is not the same as having an effective program. Companies first need clear processes, responsibilities and communications, then technology that supports those processes rather than dictates them.  

A one-size traveler safety policy does not fit all 

Companies can overlook differences between travelers. Risk is not experienced uniformly. Gender, nationality, race, religion, sexual orientation, disability and other characteristics can materially change the risk associated with a particular destination.  

Adopt an informed approach to AI 

AI looks set to play a dual role in terms of traveler safety in the months to come. It has real potential to help organizations analyze much larger volumes of risk and travel data, identify potential problems earlier and get more relevant information to travelers. But AI is also making misinformation, phishing and deepfakes more convincing. That makes trusted communications more important, not less. Employees need to know where official company guidance will come from, which sources they should trust and how to verify something that looks suspicious. 

‘Bordering on insecurity: How our world turns’ will take place on October 14, 2026, at 3 p.m. in the Capital One Business Travel Knowledge Arena at Business Travel Show America.