Hotel safety remains an important concern for business travelers. BCD research found business travelers often feel confident in their hotel choices, but safety risks still exist. This guide, with insights from our Global Crisis Management team and BCD Marketplace partner Maiden Voyage, outlines practical steps travelers can take to improve personal safety during hotel stays. Travel teams can reinforce these tips by sharing this guide with employees through their usual communication channels, such as the intranet, email briefings, or pre‑trip resources.
8 practical hotel safety tips for business travelers
1: Set preferences before you arrive.
A little planning can reduce risk. As your company policy and booking channels permit:
- Share safety-related preferences in advance. For example, you might request:
- A non-adjoining room
- A room above the ground floor
- A location close to elevators or away from isolated areas
Hotels may not be able to satisfy every request made, but flagging preferences early can help. Approved booking channels may also make it easier to communicate accommodation preferences before arrival, giving properties more opportunity to accommodate requests and helping support traveler safety objectives.
2: Be mindful at check-in.
Your safety starts before you reach your room.
- Protect your room number. If check-in staff announce your room number out loud within earshot of others, ask to switch rooms and request that the number be written down discreetly instead.
- Avoid sharing your room number with people you do not know.
- Keep your room key separate from any sleeve displaying your room number.
- If you lose a room key, notify the front desk immediately and request that the missing key be deactivated before a replacement is issued.
3: Trust your instincts about room location.
Not all rooms feel equally safe, and that matters.
- Assess the location when you arrive. If your room’s location does not feel right to you, return to reception and ask for an alternative.
- Check all access points. Make sure doors, windows, and any adjoining-room entrances are secure and lockable. If something feels unsafe, request a different room.
- Confirm that room safety features appear operational, including locks, smoke alarms and room telephones. If something seems unsafe or is not working properly, request a different room.
4: Once you are in your hotel room, make security your first priority.
- Use all available locks. If your room has a secondary lock, such as a deadbolt, chain, or security bar, use it whenever you are inside.
- Understand the limits of primary locks. Even when your door is locked, hotel staff may still be able to enter with a master key, or another guest could be mistakenly assigned to your room.
- Consider a portable locking device. Some travelers choose to carry a secondary device, such as a doorstop or wedge, to add an extra layer of protection when it is safe and appropriate to do so.
5: Verify before opening the door.
Unexpected visitors should always be checked.
- Confirm unplanned visits. If someone claims to be from maintenance or room service and you were not expecting them, call reception to verify before opening the door.
- Use the peephole first. Even when you are expecting housekeeping or room service, take a moment to confirm who is there.
6: Know how to leave in an emergency.
Most hotel stays are uneventful, but a few minutes of preparation can make a difference during a fire, security incident or other emergency.
- Locate the nearest emergency exit after arriving at your room.
- Identify an alternative exit route in case your primary route is unavailable.
- Take note of how to contact reception, hotel security or emergency assistance if needed.
- Follow instructions from hotel staff and local authorities during an emergency.
7: Protect personal and business information.
Business travelers often carry company devices, confidential information and valuable equipment. Taking a few precautions can help reduce unnecessary risk.
- Follow your organization’s guidance when using hotel or public Wi-Fi networks.
- Keep laptops, mobile devices, badges and work documents secure when not in use.
- Avoid leaving sensitive business information unattended in guest rooms or shared hotel spaces.
- Keep luggage, work equipment and personal belongings with you or stored securely in public areas of the hotel.
8: Report safety concerns.
If something does go wrong, you do not have to handle it alone.
- Let someone know. If you experience a safety-related incident while traveling for work, consider informing your employer and or your travel management company, if you feel comfortable doing so.
- Flag hotel issues. Report any safety or security concerns to the hotel so they can be addressed.
- Once your safety is assured, please also report concerns to your managed travel team. Your feedback can help influence future supplier decisions.
Traveler Security Program Assessment
Protecting traveling employees starts with understanding the risks.
A Traveler Security Program Assessment helps identify opportunities to strengthen duty of care, safeguard business continuity and better protect your people. Advito and BCD travel security experts assess your program across 11 critical areas and provide personalized recommendations to enhance traveler protection, improve program maturity and support alignment with ISO 31030 travel risk management guidance.
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