Security Expert Shares Tips for Female Business Travellers

Women traveling for business is one of the fastest-growing sectors of the travel industry – but research by the Global Business Travel Association showed that just 18% of corporate travel and business security policies address safety and security concerns specific to women. As a security expert and a leader in the business security industry, it’s vital to raise awareness of this industry and empower women with the knowledge to increase their safety while traveling for work.

Know the risks and be a hard target

As a female business traveler, the unfortunate reality is that you are at much higher risk than male counterparts – especially when traveling alone. Dangers include sexual harassment and sexual assault, kidnapping, destination-specific gender norms, muggings, and even gender-specific health risks. Security experts know that it’s important to be aware of these risks and actively take all the steps you can to manage risk effectively, including addressing concerns with their company, getting advice from a business security specialist, or taking steps to enhance personal safety.

Choosing a hotel room

One of the main concerns for female business travelers is the security of their hotel room. Business security experts recommend that you specify a room on the third floor or higher to prevent access from the outside, and to ensure that there are double locks on the internal doors. The hotel should also have 24-hour onsite security. Read up on the hotel options on online review boards to ensure you are aware of the location and security of the hotel, whether it’s foreign or domestic.

Research your destination

If you are unfamiliar with your destination, take some time to read up about it online, specifically focusing on safety and security in the area.  Security industry research advises that you get to know the local culture as it relates to women, hotspots for protest action and opportunistic crimes like muggings, no-go zones for tourists and safe modes of transportation.

Ensure your business provides registered, chauffeured ground transportation

Getting to and from business meetings and hotels is a challenge even in the best circumstances, but it carries additional risks for female business travelers, according to the security industry. Driving alone, late at night, through unfamiliar streets or to unfamiliar addresses is high-risk for personal security and should be avoided. Uber and other ride-sharing tech are incredibly useful and widespread throughout the world but still comes with security risks. If you do use these services, try to avoid traveling alone whenever possible and make sure that your driver and the car is the correct one according to the app.

Of course, as security experts know, there is only so much that female business travelers can do on their own to reduce these personal security risks – it is essential that companies and business security partners come together to develop effective policies to safeguard employees traveling for work purposes. There’s a lot more the security industry and private organizations can do.