SPORTS TRAVEL
BUILDING A DUTY OF CARE PROGRAMME FOR SPORTS TRAVEL When athletes are match day ready, the world of sports travel may be rather thrilling, but who looks after the team when they’re not working? As sports is increasingly global, more time is spent in transit between training and matches. It can, however, be rather complex.
focus is on building a culture of safety and trust by putting thorough processes in place and clearly communicating them so that employees feel safe and empowered when travelling for any reason.
What is duty of care? So, what is encompassed in an organisation’s duty of care? It is a corporate policy and legal duty that ensures businesses are committed to their employees’ physical and emotional safety and wellbeing. It begins before you plan a trip and continues until they return home safely. The main
Why should the sports industry focus on duty of care? Duty of care is a vital component of every travel programme. These components become even more critical when booking and managing travel for elite athletes and professional sports teams. They may need to arrive refreshed and ready to perform on the field or there to support. There may be requirements for maintaining the privacy/security of a VIP sports personnel or entire team who may attract considerable attention while travelling. There’s also a chance that something might go wrong while on the road, such as:
As we enter 2022 and given the ever-changing landscape of travel there are several factors to ensure a seamless process. When it comes to organising athlete, team, or staff travel; there are lots of additional safety measures and logistics to think about as well as providing a legal duty of care.
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• A change to fixtures • The need to change the schedule • Weather disruptions • Natural disasters • Incidents requiring medical attention • Political risks • Missed flights/connections • Covid Fortunately, advances in travel technology can provide travel managers with robust solutions to evaluate the risks to travel before travellers depart. It can also assist in providing instant support to those in need. In today’s global climate, it is becoming increasingly important to be aware of and plan for, potential risks to safety. We have put together some helpful advice to help you initiate a solid duty of care programme for your next travel journey. ◆
CTM’S TIPS TO IMPLEMENT A SUCCESSFUL DUTY OF CARE PROGRAMME
