An international travel safety checklist for your group

International travel can be so incredibly rewarding, and the opportunity to experience different cities and cultures can be often be life changing. But as many planners know, going outside of your comfort zone can sometimes put you at risk. Traveler safety is something that can easily be overlooked.   

Our friends at Host Global are worldwide leaders in the hospitality industry who offer full-service destination management in over 300 locations worldwide.  These experts in global travel gave us a quick list of resources and tips for safety while traveling internationally. You’ll want to keep this on file for yourself and your team.

Register your international trip:

• Register for STEP (Smart Traveler Enrollment Program) with the State Department when leaving the United States. This free services sets you up with important information from the U.S. Embassy and helps them contact you in an emergency.

Stay safe outside the hotel:

• Stay in groups of two or more.
• Avoid dark streets and secluded alleys.
• Remove your event badge- you don't want anything that makes it easier to identify you as a tourist, especially with your full name and company name.
• Choose front facing fanny packs over backpacks.
• Make more of an effort to keep your wallet and phone out of sight- try a subtle travel scarf with pockets or even a beach towel that doubles as a wrap with zip pocket enclosures, like this one from NeonSun.

If you're the event manager:

• Be aware of local criminal activity. Use Crime Mapping to identify crime density in your area.
• Consider using iJET International. This service delivers intelligence-driven, integrated risk management solutions that enable multinational organizations to operate globally with confidence. iJET’s end-to-end, tailored solutions integrate world-class threat intelligence, innovative technology, and response services to help organizations avoid threats and mitigate risk.