traveling

As-Salamu `alaykum wa rahamatullahi wa barakatuhu. My wife, who is a university lecturer (and a new Muslim), occasionally needs to travel abroad for conferences related to her area of research (i.e., the perception of Islam in the West). Given that I am unable to travel with her for personal reasons (work, financial, children) and that we live in a non-Muslim country, the only options available to us are that she travels on her own or with her fema le colleagues. Is the latter acceptable in Islam? If it is not, can you please explain whether or not the prophet's (peace and blessings be upon him) hadith that, “There will come a time when a woman will ride her camel to Iraq from Madinah on her own in total security” is of value here? It seems to me that the prohibition of women traveling without mahrams is related to safety, according to this hadith. Your advice will be much appreciated and may Allah reward you.

 Dear scholar, I have a pure intention to go for my umrah this year but my mind always questioning about the issue of muharam. I do not have husband, and only can afford to go umrah with my daughter of 10 yrs old. The travel agent said they could arrange so that i could have muharam during my travel. I will trust the travel agent who had a history record of many years for umrah package. kindly please advise about this case according to islamic values.