A new term is emerging in the travel risk management field: Travel Optimisation Management.
Earlier this year, we launched the Travel Risk Academy with our inaugural event, the Travel Optimisation Management Summit. Throughout the day, 75 attendees explored what it means to optimise a travel program to reduce risk. Our discussions revealed a shared understanding that managing travel risk extends beyond one individual’s responsibility. We found that the challenges we face transcend industries; fundamentally, it’s all about caring for people. When we adopt a holistic, cross-functional approach—bringing together stakeholders from:
- Travel
- Security
- HR
- QHSE
- ESG
- DEI
- Finance
- Procurement
- Global Mobility
- Data Security
- Cybersecurity
- Internal Audit
- Insurance
- Legal
…to address travel program risks—we begin to unlock new opportunities. These collaborative efforts are the first steps toward Travel Optimisation Management.
Travel Optimisation is uniquely relevant to each organisation; it’s tailored to your needs and designed to align your travel program with your company’s strategy and vision. Those familiar with risk management frameworks know that with risk comes opportunity, and travel often unlocks these opportunities. By reframing “Travel Risk” as “Travel Optimisation,” we ensure that travel programs support all departments, eliminate supplier redundancies, and increase our purchasing power. Aligning these programs with business strategy and setting measurable goals calls for innovative approaches to achieving objectives without adding strain to our teams or our planet.
Optimisation isn’t solely the responsibility of the organisation; it’s also a responsibility of the industries that support your traveling teams. As your travel partners, we are committed to tackling common issues—issues that could be resolved through collaboration and fresh perspectives in areas like security, assistance, insurance, and more. The Travel Risk Academy has accepted this challenge, gathering dedicated mentors and ambassadors to create a space for meaningful exchange and solutions to shared issues in DEI, safety, carbon reduction, and beyond. We believe that technology is the fastest route to optimisation. With intention, it can radically improve how we design and manage travel programs for the better.
However, technology’s full potential is currently hindered by data flow issues. Poor integration limits data quality, which in turn reduces visibility and control—creating a risk of disarray when precise conditions align. Uncertainty is challenging for everyone, and especially for those on the ground when issues arise. This is where Travel Optimisation Management steps in: if traditional risk management focuses on checklists and policies, then optimisation gets under the hood, breaking the conventional “supplier-buyer” mold to design solutions that truly work for your organisation and people.
In the coming articles, TRA Co-founder Bex Deadman will explore Travel Optimisation Management across the diverse sectors in travel management to guide you in building a travel program that not only performs seamlessly but also engages everyone in your organisation and drives business success.
If you want to start optimising your programme right away, the best place to start is by understanding who your stakeholders are and introducing yourself. Travel Optimisation Management involves the following stakeholders & roles and responsibilities:
TTRM Stakeholders
- Travellers
- Travel Managers
- Human Resources
- Risk Management
- Finance
- Procurement
- Fleet & Facilities
- Meetings & Events
- Corporate Security
- Cyber Security
- Sustainability
- QHSE
- Legal
- Insurance
- Training (L&D)
- Internal audit
- Internal Comms
Roles and Responsibilities:
- Booking & Travelling
- Managing Travel
- People Management & Wellbeing
- Awareness, Avoidance & Mitigation
- Spend
- Contracting
- Operations
- Managing internal external events
- Keeping people and assets safe
- Keeping data safe
- Carbon reduction & reporting
- Traveller Safety & Security
- Duty of Care to employees
- Medical and Travel
- Personal safety and development
- Maintaining standards
- Communicating travel programme
Much of the work that we do at the TRA is about working together across departments to optimise your time, resources and savings. At the Travel Optimisation Management Summit (TOMS) we create a space for your Travel Optimisation Team to come together, to learn with peers and to proactively make changes across our collective industries for the better. You can book tickets for TOMS25 here there are group discounts available for cross-departmental teams.