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Interview Patty

Business Travel for Women

6 Tips for Playing It Safe on the Road

Recent research shows that women account for nearly half of all business travelers in the U.S. This is rather astounding considering 40 years ago this number was a mere 5%. And according to a different study, 48% of the surveyed women traveling for business said they often travel alone.

Despite advances in gender equality in business travel, women are still faced with a unique set of circumstances when it comes to safety. However, with some good judgment and common-sense precautions, female business travelers can significantly reduce their chances of experiencing safety-related issues during their trips. Check out our top 6 safety tips for women traveling for business:

1. Understand the Risks

Different places require different levels of precaution. For example, western women traveling to India have reported incidents of verbal and physical harassment by groups of men (“eve-teasing”) in crowded locations such as market places, train stations, buses and public streets. And amongst large cities in India, Delhi experiences the highest number of crimes against women.

2. Know Your Geography

Find out how far your hotel is from the airport (bonus points to those who schedule their flights to arrive during the day!). In advance of your trip, use a tool like Google Maps to get a handle on where restaurants, shops, local police stations and the U.S. Embassy are located in relation to your hotel and business meetings. Whatever you do, avoid signaling to people that you are lost! Walk with confidence and appear like you know exactly where you’re going even if you don’t.

3. Develop Cultural Awareness

An important part of traveling abroad is paying close (and sensitive) attention to a country’s culture. For example, consider learning some important key words and phrases in the country’s language, such as “please” “thank you” and “help me.” Google Translator is a great site to reference they even have a mobile app that you can download and use on the fly.

4. Practice Good Hotel Safety


When the time comes to book your hotel, pay close attention to their security measures. Are guestroom floors restricted to guests only? Is the front desk staffed 24/7 (speaking of the front desk if the front desk clerk blurts out your room so others can hear, quietly request a new room it’s not worth the risk!)? Are there security guards and surveillance cameras on the premises? Notice the hotel’s location, too. Is it in an area where terrorism is prevalent? If it is, choose a hotel near a police station and with vehicle inspection at the entrance gate.

5. Know the equivalent of “911”

Don’t forget that emergency response is not 9-1-1 outside of the U.S. Before you go, check out the State Department’s list  of emergency contact numbers in foreign countries and save the number used at your destination in your cell phone. And speaking of cell phone, make sure you have a fully functioning cell phone with you at all times that has its roaming capabilities turned on and ready to go. Additionally, take the time to pre-program the local police, embassy, your hotel, and travel assistance provider into your phone for quick reference.

6. Enroll in STEP

In addition to sharing your itinerary with a trusted friend and/or family member, don’t forget to register your trip with the State Department’s Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) if you’ll be traveling out of the country. It only takes a few minutes to fill out the online form, and you’ll not only automatically receive timely updates on travel warnings and travel alerts, but the information you enter (including your emergency contacts) can help the embassy or consulate locate you in the event of an emergency.

Read the full article at: oncallinternational.com

Patty Block, President and Founder of The Block Group, established her company to advocate for women-owned businesses, helping them position their companies for strategic growth. Charting the course for impactful, sustainable, profitable businesses, the beacon is control: of your strategic direction, your money, your time, your staffing, and your ability to bring in business. The Block Group brings together the people, resources and ideas that build results.

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