Safe and Sound

The?origin?of the phrase, “safe and sound” predates the 14th century in Middle English.? It dates to a time when the secondary definition of sound - 'whole, not damaged or injured' - was more commonly used.? However, the term was popularized when Shakespeare first used it in 1594.

The Comedy of Errors, Act 4, Scene 4 reads as follows, “Fetch our stuff from thence: I long that we were safe and sound aboard.” – William Shakespeare

Over the last week, I attended the business travel education day for the GBTA Arizona Chapter BTA and GBTA | New York City BTA.? Physical safety and digital security were prominent on both agendas.? Upcoming elections, protests, civil unrest, regional wars and cybersecurity are all real concerns.? Experts were on hand from both the public and private sectors discussing why safety is more important today than at any time in the recent past.?

Traditionally, hotel procurement primarily focused on savings. But in the post-pandemic world, lodging programs must include a full range of vital aspects including Safety, Sustainability, Security, Satisfaction and Savings. HRS Stay, Work & Pay integrates all these aspects into one platform making your lodging program future-ready.? If you’d like to understand how HRS thinks about prioritizing the security of travelers relative to their hotel spend, check out this video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wJgbbgkNU7U&t=218s

As you consider the safety concerns of your company's travelers, here are some questions to consider:

• How often do you contemplate your safety or those of your employees when traveling?
• Does your travel program prioritize making sure that people know what to do or where to go for information about their safety and well-being?
• Do travelers know who to contact or what number to call when things go wrong, including pre-trip questions and scenarios that could unfold while they are on the road?

Last week in Phoenix, Carol Cambridge, Founder and CEO of The Stay Safe Project, led a powerful discussion on Fear Based Thinking.? Carol is an international conference speaker?and workplace violence expert. She encouraged the audience to use their critical thinking skills to guide them through an emergency or a crisis.? She highlighted the importance of educating travelers about the potential dangers endemic to business trips and provided concrete take-aways and white papers. Some highlights include:

• Have a plan prior to your arrival at your destination – know exactly how you are getting from the airport or the train station to your hotel. Remember, Uber/Lyft isn’t available everywhere.
• Always use the second lock in the hotel room – statistically, men are most likely to neglect this or often forget.
• Pick pockets often work in groups to steal – avoid being a victim by placing your wallet in a front pocket of your pants, not in a suit jacket pocket or purse that might be open.
• Understand that 911 is not a universal number for emergencies - travelers should have the correct number, web URL and/or address to contact for emergencies and know what they need to dial when traveling abroad.
• Cross the street twice if you feel you’re being followed - Once you confirm, avoid darting into dark places. Instead walk in the middle of the street where you are most likely to be seen.

As a frequent and seasoned business traveler, I found the content to be fresh and relevant.? I heard several people in the audience exclaim the same.? In fact, one woman highlighted the fact that many of her business travelers are relatively young and not experienced in traveling at all, for business or leisure.?

For those that don’t have experience in navigating the world’s busiest airports and cities, where can they go for this information?? I’d love to hear from you on what safety resources your company provides and from what sources.        

Attendees in Arizona chimed in with other safety tips and tricks.?Some highlights from my notes:

Avoid

• Avoid leaving your room number on your tab at the hotel bar and walking away
• Avoid telling the bartender your room number out loud
• Avoid isolated stairwells that people sometimes use for exercising purposes or to stay fit

Always

• Always separate your key card from your room number sleeve in case you lose it
• Always take two keys upon hotel check-in so people don’t know you are alone
• Always be aware of your surroundings and avoid letting your phone distract you when crossing streets and crowded public spaces.

Those of you managing a travel program or focusing on, traveler engagement and/or experience are strongly encouraged to reach out to Carol on LinkedIn referencing this article to receive a copy of her whitepapers or schedule a free consultation.

In New York this week, Frank Harrison, Regional Security Director of the Americas at World Travel Protection led a discussion on cyber hygiene and cybersecurity.? Cyber safety is essential for travelers to protect their personal information, avoid financial loss, maintain privacy, prevent travel disruptions and protect business information.?

He shared some simple device advice to help keep cyber thieves at bay including:

• Keep your devices updated with security patches
• Make sure your devices aren’t more than four years old.
• Don't connect to public WIFI unless you are using a VPN.
• Don’t repurpose passwords.
• Use at least a dozen characters when creating passwords

It was interesting that he expanded upon many of the same concerns raised by Special Agent Nicholas Smith of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Arizona Field office, who spoke last week in Phoenix.? Agent Smith highlighted the increasing sophistication of cyber attacks and how often they occur.? He highlighted the number of incidents and cost to the US taxpayers and businesses in the United States (in order of loss)

1. Investment Fraud: 40k Reports: 4.5B Loss
2. Business Email Compromise: 21k Reports: 2.9B Loss
3. Data Breaches: 60k Reports: 1.3B Loss
4. Impersonation Fraud: 52k Reports: 1.3B Loss
5. Ransomware & Extortion: 52k Reports: 135M Loss?(only about 10% thought to be reported)

In closing, stay safe when you travel. Prioritize making a plan before you head to the airport or train station. Moreover, note that HRS Stay, Work & Pay technology can help ensure the hotels your travelers book are located in ideal, safe locations, while balancing the company’s priorities with the goals of each business trip. Comment with any additional insight you'd like to share!