TRAVEL SAFETY & SECURITY IN TODAY'S WORLD

COVID-19 has impacted all facets of society, including high-net-worth individuals, business owners, and C-suite executives who typically travel extensively for work and pleasure. While many initially scaled back their travel plans amid the global lockdown, people are beginning to travel once again. In fact, private jet companies are experiencing an uptick in bookings, as wealthy individuals plan luxury holidays in the countries where they hold additional citizenship and corporate buyers fly as a group. The private aviation business, according to the Word Travel Market, is forecasted to recover in three phases: repatriation, business trips and leisure tourism. For example, by the end ofMay,2020,private travel had returned to 60% of pre-COVID levels.

Travel safety and security, always a concern for affluent families and business owners and executives, have been made even more complicated by COVID-19. In addition to taking the precautions and measures necessary when traveling to protect against potential nefarious and criminal activity, it’s also important to rethink how and where you travel until the exposure to COVID-19 is mitigated. As mentioned above, many wealthy people are opting to exclusively fly privately, while others are increasingly looking at multi-million-dollar, single-family vacation residences, as they offer safe sanctuaries, peace of mind, and the ability to travel within one’s circle of trust. Places like Cyprus and Malta have been big draws for the wealthy as have countries in the Caribbean, such as Dominica, Antigua, Barbuda, and St. Kitts, where there have been few cases of the virus.

WHEREVER YOU GO, HOWEVER YOU GO, WHEREVER YOU STAY, REMAIN SAFETY-VIGILANT

It’s important that prior to taking off, whether you’re traveling on your own, with the family or on a business trip, that your safety and security plan is reviewed and updated to reflect what’s going on in the world today, particularly at a time of economic crisis when civil unrest and crime are more prevalent.

BE SURE TO REVIEW THE FOLLOWING:

PRIOR TO DEPARTURE

• Check visa requirements and ensure all information on visa applications is 100% accurate.
• Keep copies of all your important documents, particularly passports and credit cards, in a safe, secondary location, and use your initials and a corporate address—never your full name or home address—on your luggage.
• Ensure a family member has a copy of your itinerary and contact details. Communicate any changes.
• Purchase travel insurance and medical assistance/evacuation coverage and consider purchasing Kidnap & Ransom insurance.
• Alert each of your credit card companies of your travel plans.
• For foreign travel, have your family office or business travel group register you with the U.S. State Department, which will alert you to any known threats.

WHILE ON YOUR TRIP

• Confirm your arrival to your office and/or family and call in regularly.
• Travel with a satellite phone or a Bluetooth beacon, which will send authorities a request for assistance if needed.
• Avoid using publicWiFi; instead, use your cell service. The amount of confidential data and information on a phone, a laptop or an iPad is too valuable.
• Travel in casual clothes. Don’t wear expensive watches or jewelry and avoid using expensive luggage–all of which can attract unwanted attention.
• Arrange for licensed transportation ahead of the trip. Check the credentials of the person who is meeting you. The risk of ‘express kidnapping’ is extraordinarily high when a family is meeting someone at an airport who may present him/herself as a private driver.
• Remain alert–fraudsters and pickpockets operate in many airports and on the streets.
• Do not carry large sums of money or carry all your credit cards on you.

Travel poses a specific set of risks and considerations for high-net-worth individuals, business owners and executives. It’s important to review your security measures and have a crisis management plan in place in the event of a medical emergency, criminal activity, terrorist attacks, political unrest, or other security issue that compromises you and your family’s well-being. Learn more about our travel insurance product for you and your family.