Increasing rates of travel and recent geopolitical tensions have amplified the need for businesses to assess the safety and security of the accommodation used by their travelling workforce and assignees. Photo Credit: International SOS
International SOS has developed an enhanced safe accommodation
service to support clients with secure accommodation options, a key
component of wider travel risk management plan.
The enhanced offering includes a tailored workforce resilience
subscription, 24/7 assistance, expert consulting services and a
brand-new partnership with Safehotels, the world’s leading hotel safety
and security certification company.
Increasing rates of travel and recent geopolitical tensions have
amplified the need for businesses to assess the safety and security of
the accommodation used by their travelling workforce and assignees.
While most stays occur without incident, the importance of reviewing
accommodation risks has been highlighted in recent years by terrorism
becoming more prevalent, including attacks against hotels.
We are witnessing an era marked by geopolitical shifts and perma-crises. This is accompanied by associated mass protests and civil unrest, which can escalate in scale and frequency across continents and countries. In a time when workforce safety is of paramount concern, it is important for employers to understand that the dynamics of social unrest can rapidly evolve and escalate.
James Wood, regional security director, International SOS
“Organisations have a critical role in safeguarding their workforce.
They can achieve this by taking proactive steps to prioritise risk
assessments and implementing effective risk management strategies.
During this period of heightened tension, employers should also ensure
that their workforces stay informed about the local security situation
through official sources. They should also avoid areas with known
protests or demonstrations, particularly near embassies, government
buildings amid protests linked to the Israel and Gaza crisis,” added
Wood.
International SOS has significantly bolstered its capabilities for
advising businesses on keeping employees safe when staying abroad
through its enhanced Hotel Security Advisor feature.
One of the key highlights of the enhanced services is the strategic
partnership with Safehotels, bringing additional expertise in
independent, on-the-ground assessments of hotel safety, security, and
hygiene. This collaboration expands the network of safety and
security-credentialed hotel options available to clients, with
Safehotels independently setting standards that verify safety, security,
cleanliness, and hygiene.
The standardised hotel certification levels (Standard, Premium, or
Executive) cover assessments of safety and security measures, training,
security systems, fire systems, crisis management, and enhanced security
for locations in high-risk areas. This partnership aims to provide
clients with a wider range of secure accommodation choices, aligning
with the evolving landscape of global travel risks.