Travel Safety

Kidnap Avoidance – Move off the X

27 September in Personal Safety, Travel Safety by admin

Never underestimate the value of introducing an element of randomness to your behavior when traveling in high-risk environments. Examples of high-risk environments include countries at war or neighboring the war, politically charged foreign cities or countries, cities or countries nationally and internationally known for active drug cartels, drug trafficking, human trafficking etc. Kidnapping is a crime that requires forethought, planning, and surveillance. Kidnappers typically follow a set sequence, from considering the level of difficulty in identifying a potentially valuable target, to determining when that target is...

Five Key Components of an Effective Corporate Travel Security Program

27 September in Business Continuity Planning, Corporate Security, Crisis Response, Personal Safety, Travel Safety by admin

Policy: Effective travel program development begins with a well-written policy that clearly establishes how your employees travel on business. It should include what class of fares can be purchased and whether direct routing can be booked—in lieu of cheaper fares available with connecting flights. Your policy should address the needs of international travelers allowing for improved class on long flights over a clearly defined length. The class of hotels must be included, describing the level of service permitted that is booked on business travel. The...

Predicting Violence in Public Venues

27 September in Corporate Security, Crisis Response, Personal Safety, Travel Safety by admin

News reports in the aftermath of an incident involving extreme violence frequently quote victims and witnesses as saying things like “it came out of nowhere”, or “he just snapped”, or “he seemed like such a nice guy, I never would believe he could do it”. All are common quotes and all are likely incorrect. While specific incidents of violence can never be entirely predictable, the capacity for violence is often entirely predictable. When situations are predictable, they are preventable. In the recent tragic case of the...

The Vulnerability of Attack: Surveillance—the Common Denominator

27 September in Business Continuity Planning, Corporate Security, Personal Safety, Protective Services, Travel Safety by admin

Ever wonder why criminals are often so successful at their trade? There are a number of reasons, but one stands out above all others—they watch and plan their attack at your most vulnerable moment. They conduct surveillance on their targets. Here are a few things to consider to help you prevent a potential attack. Surveillance precedes attack. A kidnapper abducts a business traveler in a foreign country; an attacker sexually assaults a female runner on an isolated jogging trail, and a tractor-trailer load of electronics is...

Vehicular Safety Tips In Mexico—for High Level Protectees and Vacationers

27 September in Corporate Security, Personal Safety, Travel Safety by admin

12 Safety Tips to Note Travel to certain regions of Mexico is risky– even with a full-blown protection detail. Whether you are traveling to Mexico for vacation or business, with or without protection, here are a few critical safety tips that might help prevent an attack or help you avoid catastrophe under attack. Do not rent or utilize cars with running boards or luggage racks. These are holding straps for would-be attackers. Running boards allow them to stand alongside the vehicle and hang on to...

Selecting a Safe Hotel when Traveling Internationally

06 September in Personal Safety, Travel Safety by admin

Business travelers are frequently restricted by company policy to hotels with pre-negotiated rates and packages. If you are allowed to select your hotel, make your personal security a top priority. Prior to booking a hotel, do an online review of the amenities provided. Hotels offering dining, laundry, transportation, fitness and other services internally can be important if a crisis requires you to limit your travel outside the hotel for security or safety reasons. Research the hotel online prior to making reservations to see if it has been...