New York, NY – May 26, 2016. IMG GlobalSecur, a leading international security consulting firm at http://www.theimg.com/, is proud to announce an important blog post on airport travel security tips for business travelers to international destinations. In light of recent events in Brussels and Paris as well as the tragedy of EgyptAir Flight 804, corporations worldwide are scrambling to enhance the security awareness of their business travelers. [Read more…] about IMG GlobalSecur Releases Tips on Airport Travel Security for Business Travelers in Light of Recent Events
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In light of the recent tragedy at the Brussels International Airport and the tragic incident regarding EgyptAir Flight 804, more and more corporations and business travelers are realizing that travel security is not something just for the streets and subways of Europe, but a frame of mind that must be active from the moment that one leaves one’s doorstep in the United States until the moment that one returns. Among the areas where one can take security for granted is, of course, the airport. As various terrorist attacks have indicated, airports are not completely secure, especially in those areas that exist before one goes through the security checkpoints.
Here are some thoughts about how to think about airport travel security for business travelers. Of course the readers of this blog are largely corporate travel security experts, but if you are a business traveler, you should also be able to find some useful information and food for thought.
Tips on International Travel Security at Airports
First, educate your employees about international employee travel security and about the fact that it is a frame of mind that should begin before, during, and after the travel. For example, even airports in the United States, and even minor airports as we learned during the 9/11 terrorist attacks, can be utilized as targets. Educate your employees, therefore, to always be vigilant when traveling. Educate them to look around at their surroundings and pay attention to any suspicious people or packages. Obviously, if something is truly suspicious they are advised to alert the various police or security officers.
Second, educate your employees to think broadly about travel security. For example, although terrorist attacks gather all of the headlines, the reality is that many, many more business travelers are subject to petty crimes when traveling abroad. It may not make headlines when a person is mugged in London, but if it is your employee who is mugged, that in a sense is a travel security problem. Similarly, while diseases such as the Z cut virus garner the headlines, the reality is that influenza kills many, many more people across the world than these high profile viruses such as Z cut or Ebola. Educate your employees to be aware of sick people around them in the crowded environment of an airport, and to move politely away.
Third, while on board an airplane, advise your employees to not let their guard down. Pay attention to the other travelers, and pay attention to the flight attendants and crew in terms of their instructions. With recent unfortunate events in terms of people who have been speaking Arabic on planes, also advise your employees and executives to be culturally sensitive and to not go overboard. Not everyone who is different is a security threat!
In sum, travel security for business travelers (both executive travel security and junior employee travel security) begins in their mind. Make the correct frame of mind a priority, and educate your employees that airport travel security is the first part of general international security.
Let’s assume that you are the travel manager at a large corporation. Many of the folks who read our blog are just that: their job is to make sure that employees and executives are safe when they travel abroad. Of course, as a leading international travel security consulting firm, we can advise in great detail as to steps to take to prepare those employees to be as safe as possible when traveling to Europe. In light of recent events in Brussels and Paris, we are receiving more and more questions about how to prepare employees and executives for travel to Europe.
Here are some tips.
Create a Plan and Other Tips for Travel to Europe by Employees
First and foremost, work with your employees and key executives to create a plan. As they say, failing to plan is planning to fail. In business this often is meant in terms of productivity. In terms of travel security, this can be the difference between life or death. Not to freak everyone out, but sit down with your key employees and executives and make sure that you have a written security plan. For example, clarify something as simple and obvious as who will check in on what days and how, and what will be done if a check-in is not made. We produce the innovative FoneTrac Travel Security App which makes this check-in very easy.
Second, advise your key executives and employees on the need to blend in. In European countries, even Americans or Canadians can stick out, and this is even more true if you travel to Eastern European countries such as Bulgaria or Russia. Sticking out is never advisable in a foreign situation, because something as simple as crime can target tourists and business travelers. It is also a good idea to leave expensive jewelry at home, again, to avoid being the victim of simple crime.
Third, work with your executives and employees on some basic cultural awareness. Go to Amazon, and purchase simple but explanatory books on the countries to which they will visit. Do something fun and make a simple cultural quiz. Being culturally aware is not only fun and important, but is also a way to mitigate any security risks.
Fourth, brainstorm various security risks that might occur in Europe. While unfortunate terrorist attacks grab the news headlines, the reality is simple things such as being mugged on the Metro or succumbing to the flu are often the more common certain security problems in Europe. Two Americans who are used to our Byzantine health system, the nationalized health systems of the continent are also mystifying.
Fifth, advise on what to pack that will help with security issues. For example, make sure that contacts are stored not only in one’s smart phone but also on traditional paper. In addition, make sure that both business and casual clothing are available, so that one can blend in when one is not on a business assignment.
The point of these tips is to make sure that you and your employees sit down and plan to be prepared for travel to Europe. To Americans, Europe is an amazing place to visit, because of its incredible history and culture. Remind your employees to have fun but also to be safe!
If you are planning a trip overseas this summer, chances are you are somewhat concerned about two big security threats: 1) the threat of terrorist attacks such a we witness in Paris and Brussels, and/or 2) the threat of medical problems such as the Zika virus outbreak in South America. Whether you are a business traveler or simply a tourist, it pays to be prepared. While there are many concrete things you can and should do, this blog post will focus on the information aspects. Here are some pointers in terms of staying informed about travel security risks on a global level.
- Educate yourself about the countries you will visit. We live in the Internet age, and it can be as simple as a Google search and a Wikipedia read to get basic information on a country. Many Muslim countries, for example, have dress and clothing customs which can seem strange to a Westerner. Not being properly dressed in these countries can not only provoke some hostility but could also make one easier to “spot” as a target. Being culturally sensitive is always good advice.
Photo credit: Kurt:S via Foter.com / CC BY - Buy some key travel books. Similarly, if you are going for a longer visit, consider purchasing in-depth travel guides. Publishers such as Fodors and Lonely Planet publish in-depth guides that explain many tourist features but also have information such as emergency contact numbers and procedures. With Amazon’s Kindle, you can even get these in digital format for your Kindle device or by downloading the Kindle App for iPhone or Android, you can have them on your smartphone.
- Subscribe to information updates. Click up to our home page, and subscribe to the IMG GlobalSecur service. These updates will keep you up-to-date on security warnings worldwide. Similarly, visit the Department of State website and sign up for the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP).
- Read the news. In between Google news and the obvious sources of information such as the New York Times, begin to read BEFORE you go abroad.
- Sign up for Google Alerts. Google’s free alerts can be set up by keyword (country name) and are another way to stay informed about a country.
Have Fun
These are just five key pointers to help you with travel security updates. Oh, and here’s a sixth one: have fun! Despite the fact that international travel, for both business and pleasure, can seem scary, remember that in point of fact you are much more likely to be hit by a car or mugged than you are to die in a terrorist attack or from some strange virus. These things can happen in Toledo, Ohio, just as easily as they can happen in Caracas, Venezuela. So being safe is just a habit of modern life. That said, going abroad is an amazing opportunity to see the world, experience new cultures, and meet new people. Enjoy yourself!
April 29, 2016 – New York, NY. IMG GlobalSecur, a leading international security consulting firm, is proud to announce that it has published a Q&A (Question and Answer) document on its website to address many questions on its FoneTrac travel security app. With business travel safety high on the minds of many corporate travelers, the company has received many inbound requests for basic information on the app.
“FoneTrac is the market leader in travel safety apps for business and corporate travel,” explained Chris Hagon, CEO of IMG GlobalSecur. “However, we receive so many inquiries over the phone with similar questions, that we decided to publish a quick Q&A on the website in advance of upcoming conferences on business travel security.”
To read the Q&A post in full, visit http://www.fonetrac-go.com/blog/2016/04/fonetrac-key-features-innovative-travel-safety-security-app/. There, in addition to an explanation of the benefits of this innovative travel security app (one with much more functionality than ‘free’ apps in the Apple Store or Google Play), one can also browse the website for more detailed information and even reach out for demo version.
International Travel Safety App: Common Questions
Among the more common questions asked about the app are the following. First and foremost, people want to understand what is a travel security app and how does a stand alone app differ from a more powerful connected app. (FoneTrac is the latter). Second, business travelers and travel managers are keen to learn about the check-in feature and panic button feature. While not wanting to invade the privacy of employees overseas, corporations do want to safeguard their security through both required check ins and an ‘on demand’ panic buton. Next, people are curious about how a travel safety app for either iPhone or Android can function in areas with poor cell or poor WiFi connections. Other questions are answered on the post as well, but again, interested parties should reach out for a demo version. No two travel security scenarios are alike, after all.
About the Incident Management Group (IMG)
Incident Management Group is a leading international security consulting firm. Corporate or business organizations concerned about their need for robust travel security solutions can reach out to the IMG Group for assistance. The company’s experts provide services such as executive, employee, VIP, and expatriate travel security, workplace safety, duty of care management, risk and threat assessments, workplace violence prevention, crisis management planning, and more.
Web. http://www.theimg.com
Tel. (954) 458-5500