Missed flights. Stolen luggage. Unexpected weather. Even the best-made plans can go awry on a business trip. Experienced traveler Win Sutanto and BCD Travel agent Monique van der Wal offer practical advice for managing trip disruptions.
Take stock of your situation
“There are two types of incidents,” said van der Wal, who books most of Sutanto’s travel for Netherlands-based Springer Publishers. “First, there are inconveniences that are easy to solve, such as a delayed or canceled flight. And, second, there are more serious situations, such as a natural disaster. In those situations, there is one goal: ensure your own safety first.”
Steps you can take to keep yourself safe might include: handling and using money discreetly; reviewing the escape route from your hotel room or office location; avoiding contact with animals while you’re abroad; and checking the U.S. State Department and other government websites for the latest safety information on the region you’re visiting.
Play it smart
“Travel is mainly a question of common sense,” said Sutanto, who travels about nine months of the year to India, the Philippines, Germany, England, the U.S. and Lithuania. “Watch what you eat, and keep an eye on your belongings. If you don’t know a country very well, don’t travel by public transport and don’t get into any anonymous taxis. It’s an unnecessary risk. The hotel should have a car available, or you can take an official taxi.’”
Keep important numbers close
Keeping a typed or handwritten list of important numbers may sound like a retro practice. But a paper list can come in handy if your digital devices stop working.
“Always make sure you have your booking agent’s phone number. … If you miss your flight at three in the morning, they can help book you a new flight,” Sutanto said. “Then, there’s your hotel’s phone number. We always stay at quality accommodations, and the staff there is always very helpful.”
It’s important for business travelers to understand that booking with their corporate travel program’s preferred hotels may help increase their personal safety. The preferred properties have been vetted, and the company knows where the hotels are and whom to contact if a traveler has difficulties.
Van der Wal added one last tip: Keep numbers handy for the business partners receiving you. “They can be of great help, especially if you run into trouble and need a doctor or have to report a theft,” she said. “They speak the language, know their way around and are willing to help.”
Discover how BCD Travel’s Risk & Security solutions can help your company and your travelers prepare for risks, stay in contact anywhere in the world and know what to do in a crisis. Talk to your BCD account manager about how to plan ahead and boost duty of care compliance.
