THERE are always risks that travellers need be aware of regardless of their destination. What is important is for travellers and organisations to understand these travel risks and have processes and systems in place to mitigate these risks. Preparation and mitigation of travel risks is paramount to ensure a safer travel.

The risk for a worker travelling or working abroad can cover a wide range of issues in addition to the traditional occupational safety, health and security considerations.

Some of these issues are: health issues such as cardiovascular diseases; quality and accessibility of adequate healthcare; location-specific infection risks; lost medication; lost travel documents; the quality of state security and emergency services; road traffic accidents; political unrest; violent crime, terrorism and conflicts; major accidents; natural disasters; as well as cultural and legal complexities.

A recent Ipsos Global Advisor study found that although 80 per cent of travellers had concerns about safety abroad, less than four in 10 travellers research about the level of crime at a destination, what neighbourhoods they should avoid, the safety standards of public transport, or security features at their accommodation before they travel.

The study also reported that while 71 per cent of senior executive travellers had experienced a medical problem abroad, only 15 per cent assessed the adequacy of local healthcare before travelling. In addition, nearly one in three trips abroad are to countries with higher risk ratings than the traveller’s home country.

For companies, Duty of Care to employees is the expectation – not the exception. International travel is a large component of many organisations to such an extent that the definition of the workplace is evolving, integrating professional travel and assignments.

In order to fulfil its Duty of Care responsibility to employees, organisations need to consider the different needs of the many types of working travellers. They can be a senior executive who is travelling to close an important deal, a consulting technician who is travelling to service a system or a manual labourer working with a large group building a road through a jungle.

When employees feel unwell or unsafe when travelling, it will cause them to feel extremely vulnerable. As such, organisations need to ensure that adequate measures and support are in place for their employees.

A practical framework which organisations can use should include these elements: policy development and implementation; dynamic threat and hazard identification and risk assessment; organising, planning and implementation; evaluation; and action for improvement.

Organisations should ensure that adequate health, safety, security and legal protection measures are in place for their workers on international travel assignments for the following reasons.

First, prevention, timely intervention and mitigation of incidents reduce costly disruption to business activities, help to improve morale and strengthen productivity.

Secondly, an adequate identification of threats and hazards, and the management of risks during an incident may allow for the continuation of activities or the development of new opportunities, which could have otherwise have been lost.

Meeting these responsibilities can mean a positive return on investment. Moreover, this protection is an important part of corporate social responsibility. It is important to ensure that all relevant legal obligations are met, hence reducing risks that an organisation could face with litigation.

Juliana Gim is the managing director of International SOS Singapore.

By Juliana Gim

MORE than 20 inspirational speakers – from the world’s leading enterprises and a broad variety of industries – will share their experience building and promoting global brands on social media at the upcoming Engage Bali 2016 conference.

More than 200 marketing experts from all over Asia-Pacific are expected to attend.

“For the first time ever, we are bringing to Bali an entire constellation of the world’s best digital marketers, such as the legendary Daniel Morel who led Wunderman, a leading global digital agency, for 14 years, and Veronica McGregor who launched NASA on Twitter and has won many awards in the field of social marketing,” said Robert Lang, CEO of Socialbakers.

Other digital marketing gurus speaking at Engage Bali include Dennis Owen from Cathay Pacific, Sabeen Ahmad from Publicis Groupe, Lars Silberbauer Andersen from Lego, and Paul Moore from Australian Open.

Keynote speakers will shed light on best practices for creating powerful stories, attracting millions of followers, engaging target audiences and boosting companies’ business performance with the help of social media. In addition to the main conference, participants will be able to attend a full-day programme of workshops and trainings.

To be held at the Grand Hyatt Bali resort in Nusa Dua, Indonesia from October 7-8, 2016, the conference is conducted by Socialbakers, a social media analytics provider, and supported by Telkomsel, Indonesia’s largest mobile operator.

SANYA has taken major steps to be China’s next top MICE destination, and one of them include the inauguration of the International Island Sanya Forum that concludes tomorrow.

The MICE-focused forum is a project three years in the making by the Sanya Tourism Development Commission (STDC) and its partners. The event has drawn more than 200 delegates from all over China as well as international MICE media representatives.

Also significant at today’s MICE forum was STDC becoming an ICCA member and the incorporation of a China MICE tourism advisory board which comprises eight of the country’s leading MICE companies.

Ni Hui, president of Grand China MICE and a representative of the board, said the aim is to help develop Sanya into a world-class MICE destination.

He added that delegates attending events organised by his company were satisfied with the hardware and software in Sanya which is benefitting from continuous infrastructure upgrades.

Meanwhile, Noor Ahmad Hamid, director of Asia-Pacific with ICCA, reported that for the first time Sanya has made it to the 2014/2015 Asia-Pacific city rankings.

The hotel’s Siam Grand Ballroom can be divided into two independent spaces

THE Mövenpick Siam Hotel Pattaya hotel, which opened in December last year, is ready to welcome MICE groups.

The beachfront hotel now features business events spaces such as the 392m² Siam Grand Ballroom (for up to 350 pax in theatre seating or 200 in banquet arrangement), which can be divided into two ‘Siam Rooms’; three separate Marina Conference Rooms (each for 20 to 40 pax); and a pre-function foyer.

Hayden Edgtton, general manager of Mövenpick Siam Hotel Pattaya, said: “There has already been strong interest and bookings for the MICE facilities and packages.”

Apart from working with clients to arrange half- and full-day meeting packages, themed parties and gala dinners, the hotel’s meetings and events team can also host chartered yacht parties for groups at the nearby marina.

To launch the MICE facilities, the property is offering a promotion for bleisure travellers.

From now until December 21, 2016, clients who confirm bookings 30 days before check-in will enjoy benefits that come with the Early Bird Business Package, including complimentary Wi-Fi in guestrooms, a choice of Thai or International lunch menu, full-day use of the meeting rooms, and a choice of an early morning coffee break, themed coffee break or pre-dinner cocktails.

Weekday room rates for the package start from just 4,000 baht (US$115.50).

MORE than 10,000 employees of an association that arranges funerals and weddings in Japan are to take part in an incentive tour to Seoul and Busan, the largest Japanese incentive group to ever visit South Korea.

The Tokyo-based mutual fund society, Zengokyo, has 229 member companies and 2.4 million clients. Its staff will visit South Korea over a period spanning six months between this autumn and next spring, said the Busan Tourism Organisation (BTO).

“This is the first time that over 10,000 employees will visit Korea on an incentive trip from Japan. We see this as a clear indication that Japanese firms are considering Busan as a destination for their incentive trips again,” Yoon Joong-hwa, convention marketing manager for the BTO, told TTGmice e-Weekly.

“This is a mega event that will bring enormous benefits to the local economy. (Moreover), the period from December to March is the off-season for Busan’s MICE industry, so this will serve as a solution to our off-season issues,” he added.

Groups bound for Busan will also explore nearby tourist destinations, including the picturesque coastal cities of Gyeongju, Tongyeong and Geoje. Those who are scheduled to be in Busan in October will also get to attend the Busan One Asia Festival, one of South Korea’s largest music, culture performance and food festivals.

A further 1,000 employees are scheduled to visit Seoul, with shopping expeditions and casino visits high up on the list of things to do.