AMI is always thinking about how to best advise our partners on how to be prepared and plan a successful event. Here are a few tips from the American Meetings Team on how to be safe and prepared for International Travel.
Follow these 5 simple steps before departing and you can rest assured that you have a plan in place in case of an emergency so you can enjoy your international meeting and event travel experience.
1. Enroll in STEP (Smart Traveler Enrollment Program), It’s Free
The US Department of State’s STEP is a free service to allow U.S. citizens and nationals traveling abroad to enroll in their trip with the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate. According to their website, enrolling will help the U.S. Embassy contact you in an emergency, whether natural disaster, civil unrest, or family emergency, and help family and friends get in touch with you in an emergency. Click https://step.state.gov/step/ to enroll. The enrollment only takes 5 minutes.
2. Review the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website
Go to https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/destinations/list/ and select the country you are traveling to find out any special precautions you should take, such as vaccines and medicines, before traveling.
3. Check the U.S. Passports & International Travel website
Check https://travel.state.gov/content/passports/en/alertswarnings.html and enter the country you are traveling to for specific alerts and warnings that might impact your travel.
4. Inform your emergency contact back at home
Give your emergency contact back at home a copy of your travel itinerary including flight information and where you are staying while traveling. Include contact phone numbers. If your emergency contact needs to reach you because of an emergency at home or if they are worried about your welfare, they should call the Office of Overseas Citizens Services in Washington, D.C. at 888-407-4747 (during business hours) or 202-647-5225 (after hours).
5. Take important phone numbers with you & copies of important documents
The 24-hour U.S. Consular Emergency phone number outside the U.S. is +1 202-501-4444. When calling the U.S. from another country, keep in mind you will have to dial an exit code before dialing the phone number. The most commonly used exit code is 00 so you would dial 00 1 202-501-4444. Visit https://travel.state.gov/content/passports/en/emergencies.html for additional important phone numbers you may need. Make a copy of your passport, credit cards and itinerary to bring on your trip.
At American Meetings, Inc., we believe an informed and prepared traveler is the best meeting and event attendee. Finally, one final website to visit before traveling is https://travel.state.gov/content/passports/en/go/checklist.html which provides you with a complete checklist of things to do and know before traveling, including the steps above. Bon voyage!
Happy Planning!!!
For more information, or help with a meeting or event, contact bd@americanmeetings.com or call American Meetings, Inc. @ 866-337-7799
