Accommodation

Accommodation

Accommodation

Green Tick

Do's

  • Use the best quality accommodation that you can afford.  Try to avoid camping or hostels as security for yourself and your possessions is often poor. 
  • Use accommodation that has been recommended to you by a trusted colleague or collaborator
  • When checking into accommodation walk through the fire escape routes and report to management any locked exits or obstructions.  Move accommodation if you are unhappy with evacuation arrangements.  If moving is not an option at the very least you will be aware of the restrictions. 
  • Ensure all doors and windows are locked when you leave your accommodation. 
  • When in your room, especially if sleeping or showering, lock your door.  Use any available dead locks or security devices that cannot be over ridden by master keys, such as a chair to wedge under the internal door handle to prevent it turning or the door being opened.
  • If you need to open your windows for ventilation ensure that security restrictors are operational.  This especially applies to the lower floors of accommodation where access is available from the ground.  However even upper floors may have easy access form adjoining balconies. 
  • Before answering the door of your hotel room, call reception to confirm the identity of the caller and reason for their visit. 
  • Leave a radio on when leaving your accommodation. 
  • Use caution when using public rest rooms (toilets) in hotels. These facilities are sometimes used by criminals to rob unsuspecting guests or for drug dealing. 
  • Some hotels will retain passports for review by police or other government officials. To reduce the likelihood of your passport falling into the wrong hands, try to obtain its return as soon as possible and make a copy of the photo id pages and any visa stamp. 
  • Hotel employees can be an invaluable source of information. Ask them for recommendations on safe restaurants, exercise facilities and taxi operators. 
  • Where practical take your room key with you rather than leave it at the front desk/reception. 
Red Cross

Don'ts

  • Do not stay on the ground or first floor of your hotel or apartment block, as there is an increased risk from burglars. Ground floor rooms with door or window pool or beach access are considered particularly high risk
  • Do not stay in rooms above the 9th floor as most fire response unit ladders, even in developed countries, will not reach above this height. Most modern Hotels will have protected fire escape routes that are safely compartmentalised and protected from fire but this cannot be relied upon in many developing countries. 
  • Do not display hotel room keys in restaurants, at swimming pools and in other public places where they could be viewed or stolen.
  • Do not allow your luggage to leave your sight.  If you have to leave it in storage in a Hotel while waiting for your room or checking out then make sure it is locked with a good quality lock.  If you have had to leave your luggage unattended when departing for the airport check the contents before you pass through customs or checking it in to the airport. Someone may have tampered with it. 
  • When paying for your room do not allow your credit card to leave your sight.  Watch out for suspicious looking scanners or swipe devices. 

Enhanced guidance for staff when selecting booking hotels and accommodation.

Business travellers should always check available feedback on hotels and accommodation prior to selecting accommodation and completing a booking.  In many cases review ratings and feedback is available and provides a useful insight into the traveller experience, quality of accommodation, available facilities and the surrounding area.

Travellers (Self Bookers) and (travel) Arrangers using Egencia's online booking tool to search for hotels will automatically see TripAdvisor ratings which are based on reviews by business travellers.  Travellers should also bear in mind the following:

  1. treat the hotel booking as you would a personal booking and check the relevant feedback and comments;

  2. check the relevant feedback even if an Arranger is booking on your behalf;
  1. consider the overall TripAdvisor rating and the total number of reviews and whether comments are recent and consistent.

Travellers and Arrangers can also use the Google map view in Egencia’s booking tool to check the hotel location and surroundings.

You can also contact Egencia's booking team should you have any doubts about selecting a hotel. 

Always report any immediate concerns (e.g. about service, health or safety) to hotel management and contact Egencia should you need to change your accommodation.