Business Traveler Security Guidelines The most effective means of protecting yourself and your property is the liberal use of common sense reinforced with a high state of security awareness. Do not give anyone the opportunity to exploit vulnerabilities. Stay alert and exercise good judgment. Travel Preparation and Planning.
Travel Itinerary – DO NOT publicize your travel plans, but limit that knowledge to those who need to know. Leave a full itinerary of your travel schedule, hotel phone numbers and business appointments with your office and with a family member or friend.Passport – Check validity and visas current for the country of destination. Make photocopies of your passport, visa and other important documents that you will be traveling with. Put copies in both your carry on and checked luggage. (Also, it is a good idea to leave a photocopy with
someone at home.)
Visas -Check if visa required for any of the countries that you are visiting and do you have the appropriate visa(s)? Is the
information on your visa application true and correct?
Medical – Take plenty of any prescription medication with you, as well as an extra set of eyeglasses or contact lenses. Also, take a copy of your prescription should you need to have glasses, contacts or medication replaced. Keep an inoculation record and update it before each trip as each country has different requirements. Carry with you a list with your blood type, allergies, medical conditions and special requirements. It is a good idea to have a medical alert bracelet if you have a special medical condition.
Inoculations — Check if the country to be visited require any specific inoculations? This information is available from the embassy or
consulate. Be sure to carry your international shot record, just in case. If you do not have comprehensive medical coverage, consider enrolling in an international health program. Hospitals in foreign countries do not take credit cards and most will not honor your country based medical insurance plans.
Miscellaneous – Keep your personal affairs up to date. If possible, leave a power of attorney with a family member or friend should
anything happen to you. Do research on the country you will be traveling to before you go. Talk with friends, family or business associates who have visited the country. They can usually give you some good tips for your trip. Also, for any travel warnings or other conditions that you should be aware of, check with your state Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Travelers should discuss with their travel agents, which airlines, hotels and car rental companies are recommended.Carry in your wallet/pocketbook only the documents you will need. Take only the credit cards you plan to use on your trip. If you plan to rent a car, check to see if you must obtain an international drivers permit for the country you plan to visit.
Local Import Restrictions – Request from the embassy of the country you plan to visit a copy of any list or pamphlet describing customsrestrictions or banned materials. This is a hint designed to minimize the possibility of an encounter with the local authorities.
Leave all expensive and heirloom jewelry at home.
Luggage – DO NOT pack sensitive or proprietary information in your checked luggage. Double envelope the material and hand carry it. Be sure that your luggage is tagged with covered tags that protect your address from open observation. Put your name and address inside each piece of luggage and be sure that all luggage is locked or secured in some fashion.
Luggage Locks – The locks on your luggage are not that secure when it comes to the professional thief or manipulator and are really no more than a deterrent. But, if time is of the essence to the perpetrator, and it usually is when a crime is involved, there are a couple of suggestions that might deter surreptitious entry and/or theft. For added security on all luggage, run a strip of nylon filament tape around the suitcase to preclude its opening accidentally if dropped or mistreated by baggage handlers. For luggage and briefcases with two combination locks, reset the combination locks from the factory combination (000) to different combinations on each of the right and left locks. For luggage with single locks, set the lock on each piece of luggage with a different combination.
In Your Hotel
Hotel Room Key – Keep it with you at all times. The two most common ways that thieves and others use to determine if a person is in their hotel room is to look at the hotel room mail slot or key board or call the room on the house phone. If you do not answer the phone that is one thing, but, if your room key is there, you are obviously out and the coast is clear for a thief or anyone else who is interested in searching your room and luggage.
Upon Arrival – Invest in a good map of the city. Mark significant points on a map such as your hotel, embassies and police stations. Study the map and make a mental note of alternative routes to your hotel or local office should your map become lost or stolen. Be aware of your surroundings. Look up and down the street before exiting a building. Learn how to place a telephone call and how to use the coin telephones. Make sure you always have extra coins for the telephone. Avoid jogging or walking in cities you are not familiar with. If you must jog, be aware of the traffic patterns when crossing public streets. (Joggers have been seriously injured by failing to understand local traffic conditions.)
Valuables – Valuables should normally be left at home. The rule of thumb is, if you neither want nor can afford to lose them, DO NOT TAKE THEM! However, if you must carry valuables, the best way to protect them is to secure them in your local offices. If that is not possible, the next best course of action is to seal any valuables by double enveloping, initialing across seams and taping all edges and seams before depositing them in the hotel’s safe deposit box or safe.
Luggage – Keep it locked whenever you are out of the room. It will not stop the professional thief or intelligence agent but it will keep the curious maid honest.
Passport – Keep your passport with you at all times. The only time that you should relinquish it is:To the hotel if required by law when registering. At night, lock your passport and your other valuables in your luggage. This eliminates their mysterious disappearance while you are asleep or in the shower. Utilize a portable or improvised burglar alarm while asleep. Two ash trays and a water glass are quite effective as an alarm when placed on the floor in front of the entry door into your room. Place a water glass in one ashtray and put the second ashtray on top of the glass. If a straight chair is available, place it next to the door and put the ash tray/water glass alarm on the edge of the chair where it will fall with
enough racket to wake you.
Around The Hotel – Most first class international hotels have spent a considerable sum to ensure your safety and security. Fire safety
equipment, CCTVs, and security patrols are often part of the hotel’s security plan. Regardless of the level of security provided by the hotel, you need to become familiar with certain aspects of the security profile of the hotel. This will take on increased significance when you may be forced to stay at the only hotel at a particular location. Vary the time and route by which you leave and return to the hotel. Be alert for persons watching your movements. Note if hotel security locks certain access points after dark. Plan to use the main entrance upon return to the property. Speak with the bellman, concierge and front desk regarding safe areas around the city in which to jog, dine or sight-see. Ask about local customs and which taxi companies to use or avoid. Do not take valuables to the spa or work out room. Note if there are house phones available in the event of a confrontation or emergency. Be cautious when entering rest rooms in the hotel. On occasion, unauthorized persons use these facilities to deal drugs or engage in prostitution or theft. Female travelers should be alert to placing purses on hangers on the inside of the lavatory doors, or on the floor in stalls — two frequent locations for grab and run thefts. Areas around public telephones are often used by criminals to stage pickpocket activity or theft. Keep briefcases and purses in view or “in touch” while using phones. Caution is urged in safeguarding telephone credit card numbers. Criminals wait for callers to announce credit card numbers on public phones and then sell the numbers for unauthorized use. Purse snatchers and briefcase thieves are known to work hotel bars and restaurants waiting for unknowing guests to drape these items on chairs or under tables only to discover them missing as they are departing. Keep items in view or “in touch”. Be alert to scams involving an unknown person spilling a drink or food on your clothing. An accomplice may be preparing to steal your wallet, briefcase or purse. The pool or beach area is a fertile area for thieves to take advantage of guests enjoying recreation. Leave valuables in the hotel. Safeguard your room key and camera. Sign for food and beverages on your room bill
rather than carry cash. Prostitutes take advantage of travelers around the world through various ploys, use of “knock out” drugs, and theft from the victim’s room. Avoid engaging persons who you do not know and refrain from inviting them to your guest room.
Personal Conduct
A hostile or even friendly intelligence organization is always on the lookout for sources who are vulnerable to coercion, addictions, greed or emotional
manipulation. To eliminate, or at least diminish, the possibility of your doing something inadvertent that would bring your activities to the special attention of one of these agencies, here are some
DO NOT’s to remember:
· DO NOT do anything which might be misconstrued or reflect poorly on your personal judgment, professional demeanor, or embarrassing to you and/or your company.
· DO NOT gossip about character flaws, financial problems, emotional relationships or marital difficulties of anyone working for the company, including yourself. This type of information is eagerly sought after by those who would like to exploit you or another employee.
· DO NOT carry, use or purchase any narcotics, marijuana, or other abused drugs. Some countries have very stringent laws covering the import or use of medications and other substances. If you are using a prescribed medication that contains any narcotic substance or other medication that is subject to abuse, such as amphetamines or tranquilizers, carry a copy of the doctor’s prescription for all medications and check your local restrictions and requirements prior to departure. Some countries may require additional documentation/certification from your doctor.
· DO NOT let a friendly ambiance and alcohol override your good sense and capacity when it comes to social drinking. In some countries, heavy drinking in the form of toasting is quite common, and very few westerners can keep up with a local national when it comes to drinking the national brew. An intoxicated or hung over business negotiator could, if they are not careful, prove to be very embarrassing to them self and expensive to the company.
In these situations, prudence is essential.
· DO NOT engage in “Black Market” activities such as the illegal exchange of currency, or the purchase of religious icons or other local antiquities.
Conclusion
The running, waiting, and anxiety associated with travel can take its toll on the mind and body. Add an unfamiliar location, a foreign language, and a different culture to the situation and you have the potential for all sorts of problems.
As pointed out in this publication, the keys to safe travel are planning and sound security practices. Proper planning ensures your logistical plan is in place and you have the necessary background information to support your itinerary. Incorporating sound security practices into your travel routine will reduce the likelihood of problems. Together, these keys allow you to get on with the real purpose of your trip.
Remember – The most effective means of protecting yourself and your property is the liberal use of common sense reinforced with a high state of security awareness. Do not give anyone the opportunity to exploit vulnerabilities. Stay alert and exercise good judgment.
- At any questions – you can contact Glocal Group experts at: Info@glocalg.com
