Keeping Women Business
Travelers Safe
Women now constitute almost 50 percent of all the
business travel in the United States, and spend $175 billion on 14 million
trips annually. Women also have safety concerns that men don't. Here's a
collection of safety tips from Marybeth.
Place the "Do Not Disturb" sign on your door to
discourage anyone from entering your room while you are away.
When staying in hotels, always check the window and
door locks.
Bolt the door to your hotel room and don't open it
for anyone without first checking with the front desk.
Make sure the sliding door to your hotel room is
locked.
Use your baggage to hold the door to your hotel
room while you check the closets. Even better, ask someone from the front
desk to accompany you to your room while you check it out.
If the desk clerk mentions your room number out
loud and there are other guests around to overhear, request that you be
given a different room and that the clerk not mention the number.
Keep the curtains in your room closed.
If it's very late and you're alone, go to the front
desk and ask security to walk you to your room.
For peace of mind when traveling alone, choose
national hotel chains with interior room entrances. More and more women are
also choosing small inns and B&Bs where the proprietors will know where
they've been for dinner and when to become alarmed if they don't return by a
specific time.
When arriving at night, rental car agencies and
hotels can arrange for someone to accompany you to and from parking lots.
When alone (particularly at night), walk with the
crowd and act as if you're part of the pack.
Carry your passport, plane ticket, traveler's
checks and cash in a concealed money belt worn around the waist.
Look and act confident. Get directions ahead of
time and know your destination. If you are unsure of your location, act like
you know where you are headed and get directions at a safe-looking gas
station, cafe, etc.
Be aware of your surroundings (people, cars,
doorways, stairwells, etc.) and have a plan in case you get into a dangerous
situation.
On all flights, count the seats and rows to the
nearest emergency exit. If there ever is a need to make an emergency exit,
you will know exactly how far you need to crawl (if necessary) to reach the
exit.
Travel with a small, high-powered flashlight in
your briefcase when you're out, and on your bedside table at night for
emergencies.
Use laminated business cards as luggage tags.
Anyone checking the address will not know your home address and telephone
number.
Leave your good jewelry at home. Don't draw
attention!
Be proactive, not reactive.
Never volunteer the fact that you are traveling
alone. Lie if necessary.
Plan your trip before traveling in a rental car. Do
not reveal a map in your car with a marked route on it.
To ward off unwanted male attention, especially in
male-dominated foreign countries, carry fake engagement and wedding rings to
be used as necessary; make hotel reservations as if married.
Do not use room service breakfast door hangers
because they ask for number of guest(s). You don't want anyone to know you
are alone.
