April Newsletter - Business Travel

Travelling on business alone? Here are the risks and how to mitigate them. 

Business travel has never been risk free but the stakes are currently higher than ever. Geopolitical tensions are rife with active conflict across the middle east, Gaza and Ukraine. Climate disruption is causing more frequent incidents of extreme weather and natural disasters. And business travellers are also more prone to digital and cybersecurity threats as well as physical risks.  

For women travelling alone on business, risks are further heightened as they are more likely to be subjected to:  
 

• Increased risk of harassment and assault, especially in regions with weak enforcement of gender-based protections such as Asia Pacific, Southeast Asia, Middle East and North Africa and Sub-Saharan Africa, and when travelling through unfamiliar urban areas late at night.  

• Increased legal and cultural restrictions. In some countries, such as Saudi Arabia, Afghanistan and Gaza, laws restrict women’s mobility; they are required to travel with male guardianship and cannot stay in hotels alone. 

• Gender specific dress codes and cultural expectations.  
   

• Business-specific vulnerabilities when attending networking events, late-night meetings or travelling between venues in less secure environments. 
   

• Being unfairly targeted and exploited by scammers and thieves who see women as easier prey. 

According to Riskline, 29 nations have flagged safety concerns for solo women travellers, ranging from harassment to systemic discrimination, and risk maps show a gap between growing independence and stagnant safety measures, meaning women are travelling more but protections haven’t improved. 

According to new data from Business Travel Show Europe, which polled 60 business travel buyers and bookers in April 2026, just 32% of travel programmes are built with special consideration for solo women travellers. A further 2% may be planning to, but 57% do not.  

“The majority of corporate travel programmes are still not being built with special consideration for solo women travellers,” said Jonathan Carter-Chapman, marketing director for Business Travel Show, which holds events in London, New York and Singapore.  

“What’s more, 72% of buyers and bookers confess their corporate travel programmes do not provide specialist training for solo women travellers, which essentially means most women travelling alone on business are pretty much being left to their own devices.” 

So, whether women are booking their own business travel, it’s managed internally or through an external TMC, here are five simple checks to tick off before leaving home.  

1. Research destination laws and customs before travel (especially in the Middle East, South Asia and parts of Africa). 
2. Choose secure accommodation: Research which hotels/chains have the best reputation and track record for safety and women-friendly policies. 
3. Limit late-night solo transit: Only use vetted transport apps or company-arranged drivers. 
4. Strengthen your digital security: Avoid sharing itineraries publicly and always use secure networks. 
5. Corporate support: While the Business Travel Show Europe shows the majority of companies do not currently build programmes that consider the specific requirements of solo women travellers or provide gender-sensitive travel risk training and emergency contacts, it’s a good idea to put pressure on them to make a policy change.  

Maiden Voyage is one of hundreds of suppliers exhibiting at Business Travel Show Europe this summer and are specialists in providing engaging, informative and actionable learning through training, workshops, eLearning and complementary resources designed to keep employees safe both at home and abroad. The website also features lots of free tips and advice for travellers including a list of certified inclusive hotels.  

Business Travel Show Europe (which takes place 24-25 June 2026 at Excel London) is the go to event for the corporate travel community in Europe. For buyers and bookers, it’s the ultimate shortcut to corporate travel innovation with hundreds of suppliers including airlines, hotels, tech providers and TMCs to discover and buy from, practical education sessions curated by the market-leading BTN Group, and over 700 fellow buyers and bookers to network with.  

Anyone who buys or books travel for their business is invited to attend Business Travel Show Europe for free by registering at businesstravelshoweurope.com/register