Duty of care has become one of the most discussed topics in corporate travel, yet it is also one of the most misunderstood. Many organisations believe that implementing a tracking or risk-alert solution is enough to fulfil their responsibility towards travellers.
In reality, duty of care begins long before a trip is booked.
If travellers book outside approved channels, data visibility is lost. If policies are unclear or unrealistic, compliance suffers. If suppliers are poorly integrated, information becomes fragmented. In each of these cases, technology can only compensate so much.
Effective duty of care is the result of deliberate programme design. It requires alignment between policy, booking behaviour, approval processes, and supplier data flows. It also requires clear internal ownership — someone who understands where responsibility sits when things go wrong.
Experienced travel managers focus on fundamentals. They simplify policy so travellers understand it. They design booking flows that make compliant behaviour the easiest option. They ensure that data from airlines, hotels, TMCs, and risk providers is consistent and actionable.
They also recognise that duty of care is dynamic. Travel patterns change. Risks evolve. Programmes must be reviewed regularly, not treated as a one-off implementation.
Organisations that approach duty of care in this way move beyond box-ticking. They protect their travellers more effectively, reduce exposure, and build trust internally. Most importantly, they avoid the false reassurance that comes from relying on tools without addressing the underlying structure of the travel programme.
