Business Travel Direct called on QCIC’s expertise after its research revealed that on any given day it was sending over 300 business travellers to ‘category 4 or 5’ countries – including Russia, Thailand, Nigeria, South Africa, Pakistan and India.
QCIC’s expertise in security service will be used to alert business travellers to the potential risks/problems they face when visiting a risk category 4 or 5 country.
Business travellers will receive an automatic weblink to a free QCIC country risk overview report as soon as they book a trip to a category 4 or 5 country.
There are currently over 50 countries with a category 4 or 5 rating, and QCIC’s country risk overview includes a summary of the current political situation, general security and travel tips and emergency contact numbers for the British embassy and local emergency services.
Enhanced service
For companies and travellers seeking an enhanced service, QCIC will provide a range of paid services such as a secure meet and greet, country risk reports, business etiquette reports and group presentations.
The secure meet and greet service is particularly useful for those travelling to category 5 countries, the company explains. QCIC’s service will include the full detailed country risk report and an individual report based on the traveller’s itinerary.
The traveller is met at the airport by a consultant who provides a full security briefing as well as information on local laws, where to change money and recommendations for safe restaurants and bars. Travellers also have telephone access to a consultant throughout the trip.
Business etiquette
A business etiquette report is designed for companies wanting to adhere to local business conventions. The report provides information such as how business is conducted locally, when it is appropriate to discuss business, local business hours and how the local religion may impact business.
Group pre-trip presentations are offered for companies where several members of staff will be travelling to high-risk countries.
Mark Rowan, director of QCIC said: “This partnership with Business Travel Direct brings business travel and security together in an easy to use, accessible service.
“Our aim is to make business travellers more aware of the problems they may face. While the majority of trips are completely trouble free, we believe that being forewarned is being forearmed.
“We can help by providing simple guidelines so that business travellers can avoid inadvertently breaking local laws.
“At the other end of the scale we offer a fully comprehensive service for those travelling to high risk areas. While countries such as Iraq and Afghanistan are immediately recognised as high risk, people frequently don’t realise that areas within a country can have varying risk levels. With our personal itinerary we can make them better aware of what they may encounter.”
Surprising results
Julie Oliver, group managing director, Business Travel Direct said: “We were surprised to find that so many of our clients’ employees are regularly travelling to category 4 and 5 countries.
“Equally surprising was the discovery that many companies do not have anyone with responsibility for monitoring the safety of staff while they are abroad. We believe this new service will be particularly useful for small and medium sized companies.
“This service is timely as it will help companies to better fulfill their duty of care obligations which have been further highlighted under the new Corporate Manslaughter Act.”
