WorldWide Drilling Resource

Overseas Travel Management by Ashish Rathi National Sales Manager, Shakti Pumps USA LLC WorldWide Drilling Resource, Inc. is pleased to welcome Ashish Rathi’s submission of his travel handbook - a most important and relevant topic. Even the most planned and organized trips can go wrong for reasons beyond anyone’s control. It’s important to plan your reaction to an event in advance. Globalization and the search for new business opportunities are en- couraging many organizations to send more and more staff abroad on business. This series of articles will cover some of the issues you need to consider, whether you’re on a short business trip or posted overseas for longer periods. Getting health and safety right won’t just protect your staff while they’re traveling, either. It can also make a difference to your organization’s prof- itability - for example, by reducing downtime and losses, and boosting productivity and building reputation. Your Destination e Check with your government to see there are no warnings about traveling to your destination. If you’re going to a poten- tially unstable country - even for a short stay - always register with your country’s consulate. e If someone you know has visited your destination before, ask them for advice. e Learn some basic phrases in the local language if you can, and consider using a phrasebook. e Carry a copy of emergency contact names and phone numbers, including details of your country’s consulate, your credit card company’s hotline, local police and fire stations, nearby hospital or medical center, a local cab company, and any other numbers you may need in a pinch! e E-mail someone a copy of your itinerary. Phone a contact at your office base regularly to let them know where you are, where you’re going, and when you expect to get there. Always make sure your contact knows your plans, including any last-minute changes. If you have a meeting or you’re away from your base, tell your hotel or another contact person when you expect to return. e Be aware of “no go” areas, and stay away from them. Keep to well-lit streets and always walk on the outside of the pave- ment, purposefully and confidently. e Avoid walking around alone if possible, and be aware of who’s around you. e Carry two wallets or purses. Prepare one as a “dummy” to be handed over if you’re threatened - it should contain around $50 and some local currency, together with a couple of old receipts, expired credit cards, and a few banknotes from your home country. The other one is your real wallet or purse - keep this safely on your body and only carry the money you need for one day. e When traveling, make sure you know what route you’re taking in advance and how long you expect the journey to take. e Don’t get a map out in public - walk into a shop or a hotel lobby and then look at the map. e Be particularly alert for pickpockets on public transportation and in crowded areas. Be alert with strangers and cautious in conversation. Don’t give away personal information. e Never agree to carry packages out of the country for people you don’t know! Look for more travel tips next month. Ashish Ashish Rathi may be contacted via e-mail to michele@ worldwidedrillingresource.com 8 OCTOBER 2017 WorldWide Drilling Resource ®