As global volatility and climate disasters increase, emergency travel management is becoming more crucial for companies to ensure business continuity and the safety of their employees.

Recently, the world has witnessed escalating levels of volatility, including climate disasters and geopolitical unrest. These evolving conditions have underscored the increasing importance of emergency travel management. Companies are finding it more necessary than ever to have robust travel plans to move personnel during crises and maintain business continuity efficiently.

A case in point is Storm Ciaran, which left 1.2 million homes without power in France, necessitating a fast and strategic crisis response. The energy firm overseeing the issue activated its rapid intervention force for electricity, which required a well-coordinated nationwide deployment of technicians. This process involved more than simple travel logistics; it demanded a comprehensive and instantaneous crisis response.

CWT, a global leader in business travel management, activated its crisis unit in response to this incident. It provided 24/7 traveler assistance and real-time booking support, working closely with the customer’s emergency response unit. They successfully handled urgent accommodation requests, securing hundreds of daily bookings totaling 29,000 room nights. Thanks to their longstanding supplier partnerships, the team was able to secure accommodations at remote locations, ensuring the smooth running of operations.

Such complex travel scenarios are not limited to emergency crew deployments. Increasingly, companies are also finding evacuating staff from unsafe environments necessary. According to Stephane Samuel, Customer Support Director, companies used to deal with an average of one weather crisis yearly. Now, they are managing around five such crises annually. This trend underscores the need for a structured crisis response that combines continuous information sharing, daily reporting, and rapid mobilization.

Joanne Jackson, Global Operations Director at CWT Energy, Resources and Marine, notes that each evacuation scenario is unique. She cites an example of a company that had to evacuate a client’s employees from Kazakhstan after a power loss. The complexity of these situations extends to evacuating employees and sometimes entire families, including children and pets.

The demand for emergency travel management will increase for commercial organizations over the next decade. A 2024 World Economic Forum survey cited in the CWT GBTA report, “2040: Baseline, Boom or Bust,” reveals that 63% of leaders predict a turbulent outlook, with less than 10% expecting stability over a 10-year horizon. Coupled with the impacts of climate change, the importance of duty of care in travel management will become even more critical.

As global volatility rises, companies must adapt by implementing expertly managed travel programs. Real-time tracking, risk assessment tools, and strategic partnerships will become crucial in ensuring seamless evacuations and minimizing disruption. Working with trusted partners like CWT can help businesses prepare for any eventuality, ensuring they can respond rapidly and effectively during crises.

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