The life of a business traveller often involves jet-setting across the globe in pursuit of the next big deal, luxuriating in business class on board your flight, and checking into a lavish five-star hotel on arrival at your destination. But while it might all sound like glitz and glamour, this isn’t always the case, and those who travel regularly as part of their professional endeavours may often find themselves in precarious, risky and often unsafe situations without the right measures in place to protect them.
Business travel offers opportunities for networking, exploring new markets, and broadening horizons, but when you’re in unfamiliar environments it’s important to have your wits about you whilst online and off to ensure you stay safe and secure.
Here, we take a look at five ways to ensure you are doing just that.
Opt for accommodation with security measures
The great thing about luxury hotels is that they tend to offer an excellent level of security, with guards patrolling throughout the day and night and meticulous rules in place to ensure that guests are kept safe throughout their stays. But increasingly, business travellers on extended trips are seeking out private serviced accommodation, keen to find somewhere that feels like a home from home, and they don’t always come with the same safety credentials.
If private accommodation is your preference, then be sure to seek out places that offer robust security features, including CCTV, 24-hour security personnel on site and secure entry systems, as well as well-lit parking areas. Accommodation that also offers an in-room safe will allow you to keep your valuables secured under lock and key, too – so if you’re travelling with that expensive Rolex or piece of jewellery, then you’ll have peace of mind that it’s being taken care of until you need it.
Keep abreast of local safety concerns
If you’re travelling to a different country, then it’s wise to ensure you’re clued up about safety in the country you’ll be visiting and more specifically, in the area where you’ll be staying. Keep an eye on the latest government advice for your destination and take note of the latest information from travel advisories so that you know exactly what the potential risks are before you arrive and can plan ahead when it comes to mitigating them. From areas that should be avoided to the types of crimes and natural disasters that could come into the picture, knowledge, as they say, is power.
Stay safe online
Business travel often means logging onto various public Wi-Fi hotspots in a bid to stay connected, but without the right precautions, this can put you at risk of being targeted by cyber criminals. Cyber security is of great importance whilst on the go, and investing in a virtual private network (VPN) is a great way to ensure your activity and the data you share is kept as secure as possible, wherever you are.
VPNs work by encrypting your internet connection and masking your IP address so that sensitive information transmitted over public networks remains secure and you’re able to browse anonymously. So, if you’re sending or accessing private personal information or confidential company files, or making financial transactions online, then your data will be kept safe with tools such as VPNs.
Invest in physical security
Safe accommodation is a great start when it comes to physical safety, but what about while you’re on the go? Often, business travel means you’ll be carrying a smartphone, laptop and other digital devices, as well as perhaps expensive accessories or important documents – so to keep them nice and secure whilst getting from A to B, be vigilant about your surroundings, take only well-lit routes, avoid displaying your valuable items in public and invest in some anti-theft devices to deter thieves and make yourself less of a target.
The bottom line
There’s a lot to enjoy about business travel, but trips can quickly be spoilt without taking the right precautions to keep yourself and your belongings safe. By taking a proactive approach and determining any potential issues before they arise so that you can find solutions for them, you can ensure that your next business trip goes without a hitch, and you’ll be able to continue navigating the globe with confidence.
