Security Tips for the Business Traveler


Travel Security


 

 

 

 

 

An increasing number of Americans are fortunate enough to combine work related trips with brief vacation stints or getaways. This opportunity of combining work and pleasure, is great if we keep in mind how to avoid unpleasantness. The risks faced can be avoided if we keep a few security recommendations in mind. First and foremost, is the mindfulness to the safety and security recommendation in previous posts.  Specifically, what we referred to as the “Ice Cube” (I3) model ̶ to remind ourselves of the behaviors we should avoid to stay safe:

Ignorance

Stay informed of general conditions at your intended destination(s). Monitor developments via news media, social networks, and hotel concierge.  Word of mouth from other travelers or tourists is another good way of staying informed and up to date with local news.   A word of caution, rumors generally lack specificity or credible details, while objective facts are rich in specific details of what, where, when, and who.

Inattention

Whether in the business or pleasure portion of your trip, remain mindful of your surroundings and pay close attention to people, events, and conditions that applying your experience are not normal.  Always trust your intuition and act on it immediately.  Taken action will keep you out of harm’s way and it will also buy you time to make a decision that best meets your immediate needs.

Imprudence

The third element of the “Ice Cube” model is imprudence.   We are all familiar with this behavior, most of which includes activities that are unwise, injudicious, incautious, indiscreet, misguided, ill-advised, ill-judged, impulsive, brash, careless, foolish, and ultimately dangerous.

The main idea to keep in mind when combining work and pleasure trips is legal liability. What actions would be considered “within the scope of one’s employment and which one were of a purely personal nature; should an unforeseen contingency ranging from death or disabling injury occur – the “scope of employment” will be key in determining legal liability. This will apply to people who are employees of a company, as well as those that developed and lead their own enterprises, like entrepreneurs. Legal liability will determine who gets paid, how much, and under what legal doctrine. Its importance cannot be overemphasize.

The second key consideration of mixed travel is protection of proprietary information, documents, and technology.  Ensure you protect proprietary information, which ranges from equipment, documents, and even casual conversations concerning work related information.  It is important to remember that personal or work related information should not be disclosed in public or to temporal acquaintances without a clear and objective need to know. There are documented cases where casual seemingly innocent remarks have resulted in assaults and deaths where the motive was profit and the perpetrator relied on casually overheard innocently shared comments.  Information collection is standard trade-craft for criminals, spies, and terrorists. Generally, discretion on personal and work matters serves your best interests while traveling.

Writing for a magazine whose primary audience is former government law enforcement officials, an executive and former law enforcement officials herself wrote an article “Travel Insurance Ensures Peace of Mind” which includes several excellent recommendations, well worth keeping in mind. (Travelers’ Notebook, Travel Insurance Ensures Peace of Mind, By Sherri Rost, Castaic Travel. The Grapevine, July 2016. P. 28)

The following excellent advice was extracted from the article.

Travel Insurance

Travel insurance typically costs 4 to 8 percent of the total cost of the trip, but it is invaluable in the face of unpredictability. Sometimes randomness can be expensive. Long anticipated trips sometimes have to be cancelled abruptly or even interrupted once in progress. If the employer pays for insuring the business portion of the trip, but not all do since it is a controllable expense. If the traveler is willing to cover the insurance for all portions of the trip, which requires a cost/benefit analysis, insurance offers protection for the investment made by recouping they monies spent for accommodation, transportation, etc. To be on the safe side the traveler should discuss plans with corporate travel, if employed to ensure clarity of limitations and liability.

The comments here do not refer to Policies purchased at a Kiosk at the airport, but the purchase of policies that actually fit your specific need and requirements. The four basic areas to consider are:

Trip cancellation and interruption

Cancellations on pre-paid trips are very expensive, the insurance will reimburse non-refundable costs in the event of illness or other personal issues, including illness, work issues such as lay-offs, family emergencies (a death), the policy can cover financial losses as well as penalties incurred for a prepaid tour or flight.

Insurance can also cover trips cancelled or delay due to natural disasters if carrier in unable to reschedule, or goes out of business. In cases covered by the policy money can be recovered.

Medical Issues

Many insurance policies, Medicare included do not cover you while traveling internationally. In an emergency situation, a health provider will work with a travel insurance company on billing. Without insurance, foreign hospitals or doctors may expect a significant cash payment before treatment.

It is very important to include a “pre-existing conditions waiver” in any type of travel coverage. Travel insurance policies typically cover unexpected injury and illness, if you have consulted a doctor 60 to 180 days before the trip, insurance will not cover it without this waiver. To be eligible for this waiver, you have to buy travel insurance within 7 to 30 days before making the first payment for your travel. Waivers have to be included waivers for traveling companions.

Evacuation

Without sounding alarmist, evacuation coverage can be a lifesaver, in case of an accident or illness requiring emergency medical transportation can easily run into tens-of-thousands of dollars. This contingency alone, which is a form of “medical repatriation” will get you home or to a major hospital in your country of origin than can render the required life-saving treatment.

Baggage insurance

This not necessarily needed in short-term business/official trips, but longer trips that include transportation of expensive items/jewelry/professional apparatus and medically essential items will appreciate the coverage.

Advantages

Travel insurance policies sometimes include little-known perk that can have a big impact on the quality of a trip – concierge service. This typically is a 24 hour assistance program that provides quick referrals for local restaurants and entertainment venues; they can also include tickets for local events – arts, theater, music and sporting venues. While some high-end elite credit/travel cards provide concierge services, these are not available to all.

Travelers should consults with their employees, or professionals (physicians, legal counsel or travel agency representatives) to ensure foreseeable contingencies are covered and planned for.

Enjoy and safe travels!