Charities are making positive steps when it comes to travel policy and risk management awareness, according to a survey out today.

The annual survey of travel bookers and procurement managers, conducted by Key Travel, attracted over 1,000 responses from charities, educational, governmental, and faith sectors.

When asked if their organisation had a travel policy, 71 per cent of charities responded affirmatively, with 100 per cent saying they understand its contents and 91 per cent saying they always follow it.

The encouraging results continued when questioned about risk management procedures, with almost six out of ten respondents (58%) saying they receive destination and risk management training/briefings before they travel, or are aware that this is something their organisation offers.

Furthermore, 85 per cent have an agreed way of communicating in an emergency, while 57 per cent have an established procedure to receive situational updates and news of what to do in such situations; crucial given the fact that 32 per cent said they or a colleague had been overseas when a serious incident had occurred.

Other findings from the survey shed new light on the booking habits and travel preferences of the sector.

For example:

In spite of the recession, more than a quarter (27%) of charities expect the amount of travel they book to increase over the next 12 months, while nearly two thirds (67%) expect it to stay the same.

The way non-profits prefer to book their travel is divided fairly evenly between email (46%) and telephone (39.8%), with only 14 per cent expressing a preference to book directly through an online site. This strong preference for human interaction when booking reflects the often complex and non-standard travel requirements of the sector.

When asked, 30 per cent of respondents cited the range and value of quotes and options as the most important service factor, perhaps symptomatic of the fact that charities are required to manage budgets tightly and explore many alternatives before making informed decisions on how to spend their valuable funds.

Across all the sectors which participated in the survey, the operating of a carbon offsetting policy took low priority, or respondents knew little about it.

Steve Summers, chief executive of Key Travel, said: “This annual survey provides us with invaluable insight into the buying behaviours and preferences of the not-for-profit sector, allowing us to stay on top of what's important to our customers, and shape future product developments in line with their needs.

"While it is encouraging to see that charities are making good inroads when it comes to policy compliance and risk awareness, there is always scope for improvement and it is important that they do not become complacent."

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