Know Before You Go: Business Travel Safety Tips for C-Level Executives

It’s a fact of life for many C-level executives: Travel. And lots of it. Your days, weeks, and months are filled with early morning flights, and business meetings, and deals closed over drinks or on the golf course. The business of your business travel is foremost in your mind, but safety must be a priority as well.

Consider these tips to keep you safe on your next business trip.

Before you leave

• • Pack all necessary prescription medication, and also certain over-the-counter medications (e.g., pain reliever, antihistamines, and cough syrup) so illness will never catch you unawares.
  • When traveling internationally, do not pack your passport in a bag you intend to check at the airport. Your bags could be lost or stolen, and without a passport, your travel could be hindered.
  • Ensure that your cell phone is fully charged, and the charging cord packed.

At the airport

• • Know where your carryon bag is at all times. Refrain from placing your items on the conveyor belt until the person(s) ahead of you in line have cleared security.
  • Have a contact information card attached to your luggage? Tuck it in a pocket, or otherwise hide it from clear view of everyone around you.
  • Store your laptop / laptop bag under the seat in front of you, not in the overhead bin. Bags and other such items often shift during travel, and your hardware could be damaged or stolen.

On the road

• • Before ever shifting any rental car into gear, educate yourself on the HOWs and WHEREs of operating headlights, hazard lights, and all locking mechanisms.
  • Ask the rental car agency for advice regarding what to do in the event of a breakdown or an accident. It’s always a good idea to be over-prepared.
  • Get clear driving directions, in your native language. And a road map. Or better yet, employ a digital GPS with updated software.
  • Get instructions from the rental agency about what to do in case the car breaks down or you have an accident.

At the hotel

• • Avoid rooms that open to the street.
  • Take down contact information for hotel security. And if you’ll be traveling from the hotel to your rental car late at night, ask a security officer to accompany you.
  • When ordering food from room service, ask that you be notified before your meal is due to arrive. Doing so will ensure that you only open the hotel room door for verified personnel.

When traveling abroad for business, be vigilant.

Know before you go. Check with the U.S. Bureau of Consular Affairs for information about your destination, including health conditions, travel advisories, political disturbances, and security information.

Your safety is of the utmost importance when traveling abroad for business.