Global Guardian CEO Talks Mexico Safety, Business Travel, Crises Situations and More

Safety while traveling is one of the biggest concerns for Americans traveling domestically and internationally, but there are methods and strategies to avoid potential issues.

Whether the risks are associated with criminal activity or medical issues, Global Guardian is a provider of world-class security solutions, custom-tailored to the individual needs of its global client base. 

The company offers an integrated suite of best-in-class security services that help American tourists identify and mitigate the risks of traveling and doing business both overseas and domestically.

Global Guardian CEO Dale Buckner spoke to TravelPulse about a multitude of topics, including being prepared for possible crisis situations, whether it is safe to visit Mexico, executive protection plans for business travelers, medical services and more.

Here is the entire Q&A session with Buckner, retired U.S. Army Colonel:

TravelPulse (TP): For those unfamiliar with Global Guardian, it’s a duty of care firm that helps organizations and families with travel safety domestically and internationally. Can you explain what exactly your company does to protect travelers? 

Dale Buckner (DB): Global Guardian provides a “one-button solution” to help our clients identify and mitigate the risks of traveling and doing business both overseas and domestically. Our 24/7/365 Operations Center staffed with experienced security analysts and medical professionals—and on-the-ground response teams in over 130 countries—assist travelers pre, during, and post-trip. Before travel, clients receive intelligence reports that inform them of the potential risks they may encounter while traveling, and how to prepare for such risks. 

During travel, if an incident occurs, whether a traveler breaks their leg or finds themselves in a natural disaster event, they can press the panic button on our mobile application and connect directly to our Operations Center—or in some cases, our analysts will proactively reach out to inform the traveler of a nearby situation. Our team responds and triages the incident, and if needed, works with our local teams to assist the traveler or safely evacuate them back to their home base. 

Global Guardian has proven capabilities and teams worldwide, providing real outcomes by swiftly responding to client needs and ensuring the well-being and security of travelers, no matter the incident.

TP: Global Guardian offers emergency response, security, intelligence, evacuations and kidnap and ransom services. How important is it to be prepared for possible crisis situations, especially when heading to areas where potential issues are more prevalent? 

DB: The global threat environment has turned increasingly complex. In the past few years alone, we have faced a pandemic, a major war, geopolitical tensions, a rise in violent crime, destructive natural disasters, rampant cybercrime, and more. Preparation is critical for companies and individuals to have better outcomes in the face of such challenges, especially when their travels put them at the center of any of these crises.

Whether taking a business or leisure trip, travelers should understand the risks associated with a destination—kidnapping, cyber threats, crime, poor medical care, etc.—and think through the worst-case scenarios. The most prepared traveler or organization will have a concrete plan to address any potential threats they may encounter, thus minimizing their risk.

For organizations, we specifically emphasize the following: Prepare, make a plan, practice that plan to ensure it has real rigor, and communicate that plan accordingly so that when the time comes, your team knows how to respond. We advise companies to conduct at least two tabletop exercises per year with key staff, reviewing and updating contingency plans, insurance coverage, and the company’s vendors, and running emergency situation scenarios to ensure preparedness and familiarity with all the necessary details. 

TP: Your company offers executive protection plans for business travelers. How common are issues with this type of travel and what can you do to protect Americans traveling internationally for business? 

DB: Today, executives face various digital and physical threats, and travel can be a threat multiplier. High-profile execs such as CEOs, especially of unpopular or controversial companies, are at higher risk of unwanted attention while traveling and accompanying safety risks. When considering an executive protection program to deter and mitigate these threats, there is no one-size-fits-all model. Instead, a tailored approach must be taken—a plan that ensures the safety and security of an executive without being a hindrance to their business goals and travel requirements.

Part of that plan is preparation. Prior to travel, executives must be aware of the risks associated with their destination, as well as local customs, culture, etc. Global Guardian provides detailed reports and real-time alerts on any developing situations leading up to travel and clear direction on any steps that need to be taken to mitigate risk, like backing up files or acquiring single-use devices.

Another part of that plan is customized on-the-ground support based on multiple factors, such as the local risks and the executive’s profile. Global Guardian’s on-the-ground teams are comprised of security agents who understand the local threats and are able to mitigate emergency situations—something that executives will not find using a ride-sharing service or even a local black car service. Many high-risk destinations also require special accommodations, such as discrete agents and transportation, kidnap, ransom, and extortion coverage, and cyber security monitoring to ensure the executive is insulated from all threat vectors. 

Again, for an executive protection plan to be effective, it must be built around the client and their goals, without compromising their safety and security.

TP: Medical issues during a trip can be devastating, but what services and options does Global Guardian provide to minimize stress and further problems? 

DB: While we all hope for a safe trip, medical emergencies do happen and can range from minor to severe. Global Guardian provides comprehensive medical services through our memberships to support clients. 

Our Corporate and Family Duty of Care clients have 24/7/365 access to our board-certified physicians to assist with a variety of situations while traveling, such as medical consultations, emergency prescription assistance, and local hospital referrals. 

Additionally, our Air Ambulance membership provides medical evacuation services to clients; if members are hospitalized from an illness or injury while traveling, we fly them to the hospital of their choice to recover close to family and friends. 

Often, if a traveler experiences a medical emergency while traveling, they do not know who to call for help. Both of these memberships provide peace of mind to travelers, knowing that experienced medical professionals are just a phone call away to assist in their moment of need. 

TP: One of the destinations most popular with Americans is Mexico, but stories of kidnapping, ransom and extortion are becoming more common. Do you believe Mexico is safe for travelers and what should people do to avoid potential threats? 

DB: While traveling to Mexico can be an enriching experience in more ways than one, prospective visitors should be aware of the potential risks involved in their upcoming trip. At Global Guardian, we encourage travelers to visit Mexico ONLY IF they have a concrete plan in place to address the threats associated with their destination. 

—Know the facts on the ground: Understand the safety and security risks of your destination. Global Guardian provides pre-trip intelligence briefings to clients that arm them with this knowledge. In general, it is best practice to stick to areas with large tourist presences and avoid driving through the surrounding rural areas. Though popular tourist destinations are safer in general, there are still significant risks that travelers should plan around.

—Be cautious: While staying up to date on local news is an excellent way to avoid trouble, and keeping friends and family apprised of your circumstances can help mitigate a bad situation, be careful about what you share and where. Mexico has one of the highest kidnapping rates in the world, in part due to the organization and opportunism of Mexican criminal enterprises. 

—Virtual kidnapping poses a serious risk to travelers, even in seemingly safe tourist resorts. In a virtual kidnapping, criminals might steal a victim’s phone and use personal information overheard at a bar or divined from social media to convince the victim’s family that they have been physically abducted. Unable to contact their loved one, many families end up paying the ransom, only to find out later that the danger was illusory. 

—Another form of kidnapping common to urban areas in Mexico is express kidnapping. This is usually done by posing as a taxi or ride-share vehicle that drives the victim directly to an ATM and demands a large and immediate withdrawal. Sometimes this is done through the cooperation or coercion of a legitimate taxi where the kidnapper initially poses as a customer trying to split the fare and share the ride. Express kidnappings typically target people leaving bars and people displaying overt signs of affluence, such as expensive headphones, jewelry, or high-end clothing.

—Travelers can reduce the risk of kidnapping by avoiding conspicuous displays of wealth, flashing cash, or sharing a taxi with strangers, especially if intoxicated. Travelers should always verify the legitimacy of taxis through the use of local apps, if available, or through official taxi-ranks or reputable hotels and resorts. But, to be absolutely sure, use a vetted professional driver service.

—Have a plan if things go wrong: Make sure you know what to do in the event of an emergency Can you confidently answer the following questions: What will you do if you are kidnapped? What is your plan in the event of serious injury or illness? What will you do if you are the victim of a crime? If you don’t have concrete answers, reconsider your plans. 

TP: Global Guardian helped evacuate over 11,000 people from Ukraine and Russia, 700 from Afghanistan and over 3,000 during the COVID-19 border closures. With teams in over 130 countries, how can the lessons learned in these situations be applied to U.S. travelers? 

DB: In looking back at these global disruptions, every crisis invariably follows a similar template, from initial alert to a period of time for preparation to a loss of freedom of maneuver to the onset of panic when travelers realize they are not adequately prepared or have the right coverage.

Business and leisure travelers can study this template, learn from it, and minimize the impact by ensuring they have a plan in place. For instance, if a traveler has travel insurance, they need to understand the limitations of their coverage and the providers. Most insurance does not cover these types of crises.

Additionally, a traveler needs to consider a response plan that goes beyond technology. When a traveler receives an alert for a nearby crisis situation, what should they do and who should they call for help? There are many apps out there that can alert a traveler to a potential situation, but it stops there. 

Taking it a step further, if a traveler does work with a travel security provider, does that provider have the ability to move swiftly and support before ground, air, and/or rail movement becomes restricted—or do they have assets on the ground to step in once public transportation is restricted? An effective provider has proven capabilities in these situations.

At Global Guardian, our 24/7/365 Operations Center works with our in-country teams to provide reliable ground truth and respond to travelers in minutes and hours—supporting travelers with real outcomes when they need it most.

---

For the latest travel news, updates and deals, subscribe to the daily TravelPulse newsletter.

Topics From This Article to Explore