10 Jun 2025
When Business Meets Leisure: Rethinking Duty of Care in a New Era of Travel
In today’s rapidly shifting global landscape, business travel is far from straightforward. Companies are sending employees to countries across the world where geopolitical tensions, civil unrest, and emerging risks are becoming the new normal. As the environment evolves, so too must the way organisations manage the safety, well-being of, and support to, their travelling workforce.
While technology enables remote collaboration, the value of face-to-face interaction remains a priority for many organisations. Business travel is rebounding – yet not in its traditional form. More employees are extending work trips with personal time, blurring the lines between business and leisure – the term ‘bleisure’. For many organisations, this creates new risk management challenges that legacy policies are not equipped to handle.
From lost passports to large-scale emergencies, such as natural disasters or civil unrest, the consequences of unpreparedness can be severe. The big question for many organisations remains: Whose responsibility should bleisure travel be? And what are the Duty of Care considerations? It’s time to view business travel not merely as a logistical function, but as a core pillar of organisational resilience.
Case Study: Responding to an incident in a Bleisure Context
In July 2023, wildfires swept across the Greek island of Rhodes, triggering rapid evacuations. Among those affected was a board member of an International SOS client, who was travelling with family on a leisure extension following business engagements.
Despite the trip being personal, the organisation took swift action. The company contacted International SOS, activating supporting assets through the London Security Centre and a trusted local partner on the ground in Greece.
Real-time communication channels were established, enabling continuous updates and well-being checks. Intelligence gathered by International SOS and disseminated to our clients alerted the group as the wildfires approached, and local evacuation orders issued by the authorities. When roads between the north and south of the island were closed, contingency plans even included a potential evacuation by speedboat.
Thankfully, the travellers reached Rhodes Airport by bus, met by local representatives who arranged secure accommodation and coordinated the retrieval of their luggage. The group flew home safely the next day. Throughout the process, emotional support was also provided - an essential element in managing the psychological stress of these types of situations.
The organisation’s decision to intervene, even during a non-work-related segment of the trip, mitigated risk, ensured the group’s safety, and demonstrated a clear commitment to Duty of Care. This proactive approach not only protected individuals but also safeguarded the company’s reputation and operational continuity.
The Bigger Picture: Expanding the Duty of Care Mandate
This Rhodes case reflects a broader trend. Travel risks do not distinguish between business and leisure. Whether it's a medical emergency, a security threat, or an environmental crisis, employees are vulnerable regardless of why they travel. With the rise of bleisure, organisations must adapt their Duty of Care strategies accordingly and proactively consider what level of support they are willing or able to provide in this instance.
Forward-thinking companies are doing just that. They’re investing in real-time risk intelligence, partnering with trusted security and medical providers, and ensuring that employees know exactly who to contact in an emergency. They’re also building effective and clear governance into their policies, and empowering managers to respond decisively while equipping them with the tools to do so.
As expectations evolve, so does the definition of corporate responsibility. Supporting employees, no matter where they are or why they’re travelling, is becoming an essential question when considering how organisations approach a responsible, resilient business practice.
If you’re attending the Business Travel Show, visit the International SOS stand G53, we would be pleased to hear how your organisation is approaching business travel, employee well-being, and the future of Duty of Care.
To get in touch with a representative, click here.
While technology enables remote collaboration, the value of face-to-face interaction remains a priority for many organisations. Business travel is rebounding – yet not in its traditional form. More employees are extending work trips with personal time, blurring the lines between business and leisure – the term ‘bleisure’. For many organisations, this creates new risk management challenges that legacy policies are not equipped to handle.
From lost passports to large-scale emergencies, such as natural disasters or civil unrest, the consequences of unpreparedness can be severe. The big question for many organisations remains: Whose responsibility should bleisure travel be? And what are the Duty of Care considerations? It’s time to view business travel not merely as a logistical function, but as a core pillar of organisational resilience.
Case Study: Responding to an incident in a Bleisure Context
In July 2023, wildfires swept across the Greek island of Rhodes, triggering rapid evacuations. Among those affected was a board member of an International SOS client, who was travelling with family on a leisure extension following business engagements.
Despite the trip being personal, the organisation took swift action. The company contacted International SOS, activating supporting assets through the London Security Centre and a trusted local partner on the ground in Greece.
Real-time communication channels were established, enabling continuous updates and well-being checks. Intelligence gathered by International SOS and disseminated to our clients alerted the group as the wildfires approached, and local evacuation orders issued by the authorities. When roads between the north and south of the island were closed, contingency plans even included a potential evacuation by speedboat.
Thankfully, the travellers reached Rhodes Airport by bus, met by local representatives who arranged secure accommodation and coordinated the retrieval of their luggage. The group flew home safely the next day. Throughout the process, emotional support was also provided - an essential element in managing the psychological stress of these types of situations.
The organisation’s decision to intervene, even during a non-work-related segment of the trip, mitigated risk, ensured the group’s safety, and demonstrated a clear commitment to Duty of Care. This proactive approach not only protected individuals but also safeguarded the company’s reputation and operational continuity.
The Bigger Picture: Expanding the Duty of Care Mandate
This Rhodes case reflects a broader trend. Travel risks do not distinguish between business and leisure. Whether it's a medical emergency, a security threat, or an environmental crisis, employees are vulnerable regardless of why they travel. With the rise of bleisure, organisations must adapt their Duty of Care strategies accordingly and proactively consider what level of support they are willing or able to provide in this instance.
Forward-thinking companies are doing just that. They’re investing in real-time risk intelligence, partnering with trusted security and medical providers, and ensuring that employees know exactly who to contact in an emergency. They’re also building effective and clear governance into their policies, and empowering managers to respond decisively while equipping them with the tools to do so.
As expectations evolve, so does the definition of corporate responsibility. Supporting employees, no matter where they are or why they’re travelling, is becoming an essential question when considering how organisations approach a responsible, resilient business practice.
If you’re attending the Business Travel Show, visit the International SOS stand G53, we would be pleased to hear how your organisation is approaching business travel, employee well-being, and the future of Duty of Care.
To get in touch with a representative, click here.
