Building a resilient travel programme: steps you can take to futureproof against disruption

19 June 2026
Building a resilient travel programme: steps you can take to futureproof against disruption

A resilient business travel programme is now a strategic necessity. Below are practical steps you can take to strengthen your setup against disruption, protect your people, and maintain business continuity, with the support of an expert Travel Counsellor. 

Prioritise traveller visibility and duty of care

One of the biggest challenges during travel disruption is knowing where your employees are and whether they're affected. 

A robust duty of care strategy should provide real-time visibility of traveller locations and itineraries. This allows travel managers and business leaders to identify impacted employees quickly and provide support when circumstances change. 

Key considerations include: 

  • Centralising travel bookings through approved channels 

  • Maintaining accurate traveller profiles and contact details 

  • Using travel management technology that provides live itinerary tracking 

  • Establishing clear communication protocols during disruptions 

When people book outside approved systems, organisations often lose visibility, making it harder to fulfil their duty of care responsibilities when emergencies arise. 

Review and strengthen your travel policy

Many travel policies were developed during more predictable times. Today's environment requires greater flexibility. 

Consider whether your travel policy allows people to: 

  • Rebook quickly when disruptions occur 

  • Access alternative transport options when necessary 

  • Extend stays if safety concerns prevent travel 

  • Make informed decisions based on local conditions 

A resilient policy balances cost control with employee wellbeing and business continuity. While budgets remain important, overly restrictive policies can increase risk and lead to greater costs when disruption occurs. 

Choose suppliers strategically

The partners you choose for flights, accommodation, rail and ground transport have a major impact on how well you can manage disruption. A futureproof programme is built on quality supplier relationships, not simply the lowest upfront price. 

Look for suppliers that can offer: 

  • Strong operational performance and reliability: Historical on-time performance, robust contingency plans and clear communication during disruption. 

  • Flexible fares and conditions: Options to change or cancel with minimal penalties can be invaluable when plans shift. 

  • Consistent standards across markets: For global or multi-region programmes, consistency of safety, service and inclusions keeps things predictable for travellers. 

  • Data visibility: Access to usable management information so you can spot trends and refine policy. 

Working with a dedicated Travel Counsellor means you can tap into established supplier relationships, benefit from their experience of managing disruption day in, day out, and align your preferred suppliers with your strategy and culture. 

Leverage technology for proactive risk management

Technology plays a vital role in anticipating and managing disruption, but it works best in combination with expert, human support. 

Future-focused programmes typically include: 

  • Real-time alerts: Automated notifications of delays, cancellations or emerging issues, so you and your employees can react quickly. 

  • Centralised traveller tracking: Visibility of who is where, which routes they’re using, and where they’re due next, which is essential in a crisis. 

  • Integrated reporting and analytics: Insight into patterns of disruption, traveller behaviour and policy leakage, enabling continuous improvement. 

  • Central communication channels: Clear, consistent channels for colleagues to request help, share updates and receive guidance. 

Your Travel Counsellor can help you interpret the data and translate it into practical changes that reduce risk and improve the overall experience.  

Put 24/7 human support at the core

No amount of technology can replace calm, experienced professionals when disruption occurs. One of the most powerful ways to build resilience into your travel programme is to ensure your travellers have access to dedicated, round-the-clock support. 

With us, your organisation benefits from: 

  • A named expert who understands your business: They know your travel policy, your people and your priorities, so they can act quickly and decisively. 

  • Proactive rebooking during disruption: When schedules change, they can move fast to secure alternative options and keep colleagues moving. 

  • Consistent communication: Travellers receive clear, empathetic and timely updates, reducing stress at difficult moments. 

  • Single point of contact: Instead of your teams calling multiple airlines or providers, your Travel Counsellor coordinates everything for you. 

Use data to learn, adapt and improve

Travel programme resilience is an ongoing process rather than a one-time exercise. Regularly analysing travel data can help identify: 

  • Frequently disrupted routes 

  • High-risk destinations 

  • Supplier performance issues 

  • Policy compliance gaps 

  • Emerging travel trends 

How resilient is your travel programme?

Get in touch to assess the strength of your current travel programme, identify potential vulnerabilities and uncover opportunities to better support your travellers when it matters most.


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