For business travelers, their mindset is always about meeting their potential clients or business partners and successfully closing deals. As fancy as traveling for business may sound, it can be a pressure for most people as they need to use their time making more sales or expanding their network. Furthermore, their schedules are mostly filled with working lunches, client meetings, and training sessions.
But despite having a packed travel schedule, make sure to prioritize your safety. Sometimes, you get so wrapped up with your job that safety can easily fall on the wayside. Remember, you’re much vulnerable on the road and prone to any type of security and safety issues, especially if you’re traveling alone.
Taking precautionary steps to protect yourself and your things is essential for all business travelers. For your guide, here are eight safety tips you need to remember every time you’re traveling for business:
1. Aim For Simple And Direct Routes
If you’re in control of your travel route, aim to keep your routes simple and direct. Avoid booking flights that require multiple plane changes or bus trips with so many bus stops that could delay or slow your trip down. The more you have stops and pauses along the trip, the more you’re exposed to crowds with the risk of pickpockets. If you’re traveling on land, it’s best to book a rental car beforehand to avoid long bus lines. It’s also vital that you’re prepared by knowing what to do after a car accident.
Another way to simplify your travel route is by going contactless. In this option, you can do your airline payments, car payments, and hotel fees online, so you can save time and effort from having to personally pay the counters.
2. Share Your Itinerary To Your Family
Before your trip, it’s a good idea to share your itinerary with your loved ones so they’ll be aware of where you’ll be during your travel. Make sure to share the important details such as where you’re staying, how long your trip will be, when they expect your return, and which contact details you’re using during the trip.
You can even take pictures of your travel documents like your airline or bus tickets or hotel reservations and give a copy to your co-worker or family member. This way, in case of an emergency or anything suspicious arises, your family can contact the authorities and give out enough information about your trip.
3. Dress And Pack Smartly
Business travel isn’t about looking or feeling like a tourist, regardless if it’s your first time visiting a region or not. So, when dressing and packing for the trip, always choose to leave your jewelry and other expensive accessories at home. Instead, opt for more professional-looking alternatives and wear conservative outfits to make you look like a local. The point is, you need to maintain a low profile and seek less attention from strangers and possible thieves.
4. Keep Your Bags With You
Once you’re in the airport or bus terminal, always keep your bags with you until you’ve safely checked them in. Never put them on the ground unless you keep them between your legs or feet. Moreover, it’s best to pack a small separate bag and fill it with the essentials like your money, cellphone, wallet, IDs, passport, and tickets. Avoid depending on your pants’ pockets alone for storage.
5. Familiarize Your Rental Car
If you’re using a rental car throughout your business trip, make sure you know everything about its essential functions such as locks, hazard lights, horns, breaks, and headlights. Also, secure the contact details of the rental agency so you can contact them when necessary. Furthermore, ask for more instructions from the rental agency about what you can do if you experience a flat tire, the car breaks down, or you have a road accident.
6. Consider Your Hotel Security
Once you arrive at your hotel or other types of accommodation, approach the front desk and ask for the contact numbers of the hospital, police station, and other emergency services. This ensures you’re ready in case emergencies arise during your stay. Other than their contact numbers, it’s also ideal if you know the addresses of the closest hospitals and police stations from your hotel or meeting location.
7. Park Your Car In Secure Areas
When parking your car, whether a personal or rental vehicle, consider parking at the hotel or conference center parking lots. Their parking lots are often a well-lighted or open area, giving you a safer space to search for your car instead of trying to find your way on an underground and dark parking garage somewhere else.
On the other hand, if you’re riding on a vehicle with a hired driver, don’t forget to ask the driver’s complete name, contact number, and license plate before entering the said vehicle. Then, you may send the information to a close family member just in case.
8. Explore Safely
Educate yourself about your destination’s customs, ethics, and culture to avoid offending a local and jeopardizing your safety. If you wish to explore your host area during a trip, it’s best to do it in daylight only.
Conclusion
Aside from concentrating on your business endeavors, prioritizing your safety during a business trip is important, so remember these tips. Your safety should be first more than anything else during your travels.
