Choosing the right business travel cover

From cross-country client meetings, to conferences in the next city, there are endless reasons to travel with work. And with that in mind, there are many reasons why you need business travel insurance too.

If travelling for work is something you do regularly, travel insurance that’s tailored to businesses is essential. Protecting your business from a multitude of scenarios like theft, cancellation or delays, your business trip will start and end with reassurance.

What is Business Travel Insurance?

Business travel insurance essentially protects your business from a variety of circumstances when travelling for work. Providing more specific coverage than regular travel insurance, business travel insurance gives you, your colleagues, your employees and your business peace of mind.

What does Business Travel Insurance cover?

Business travel insurance is an option you can choose as part of your Business Insurance and includes a variety of cover as standard – whether it’s an unexpected cancellation or passport theft, you and your employees can be covered for:

• Medical costs: expenses incurred due to injury or illness during the trip. We cover up to £5 million per person for up to 52 weeks.
• Personal accident: In the unfortunate event of death or permanent injury. We cover up to £25,000.
• Hospital benefit: for any in-patient treatment or stays. We cover up to £1,000 (£30 per day).
• Cancellation, rearranging or cutting short trips: instances that occur due to unforeseen circumstances e.g. a traveller having to take part in jury service or act as a witness in court or having to cancel due to an accident or injury that occurs prior to the trip. Cancellation or curtailment cover is available up to a £5,000 limit.
• Delayed departures: this includes compensation for enforced stays, abandoned trips, missed connections, or plane mechanical problems. We cover up to £250 for delayed departures, up to £1,000 for an enforced stay, or up to £5,000 for an abandoned trip due to the delay.
• Loss or theft: this cover includes, cash, passports and tickets. We cover up to £1,000, and cash up to £250.
• Unauthorised use of credit card. We cover up to £10,000.
• Baggage damage: we cover up to £2,500 of damage.
• Personal liability: if any property is damaged or people are injured and you are legally liable. We cover up to £2.5 million.

Although these levels of cover will protect your business against a lot of unforeseen scenarios and unfortunate situations, there are some things which aren’t covered with business travel insurance like travelling to countries where The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office has issued a warning, losses due to war or terrorism or any hazardous sports. Supervising or carrying out manual work is also excluded, unless this cover is specifically taken out as an additional extra. It's important to note that any pre-existing health conditions are not covered. 

What’s the difference between Travel Insurance and Business Travel Insurance?

Business Travel Insurance covers any company money and business equipment like laptops and phones, as well as cancellation expenses and medical expenses specific to the business trip. Whereas Travel Insurance, on the other hand, only covers your personal belongings. So it’s important to take out Business Travel Insurance for those work trips for more specific cover, as regular Travel Insurance has different limits and covers.