BCD: Inbound U.S. Traveler Toolkit Gains Traction

BCD Travel recently has developed a toolkit to offer guidance about entry into the U.S., which the travel management company said has been in high demand amid heightened scrutiny at U.S. entry points.

The toolkit, developed alongside BCD’s Advito consultancy and first released in May, was designed to “give an additional level of confidence” to travelers entering the U.S., “making sure they are well-equipped and safe,” BCD senior director of travel risk management Jorge Mesa said. 

It includes information on digital, advice on speaking with U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers, context of what to expect should a secondary inspection occur and a list of essential contacts that should be kept in a format accessible offline should access to a mobile device be unavailable, he said. The toolkit also includes a printable checklist for both pre-departure and arrival of key steps around what is needed and what to expect.

Mesa said the toolkit has been highly requested since its release.

“You can see the perception of the clients, when people are requesting the copies and in different languages,” Mesa said. “The reaction was positive, and it was needed.”

In addition to the toolkit, Advito is working with clients needing a “more robust, organizational response” with a toolkit that can be customized to a client’s internal branding, BCD global crisis management senior program manager Christine Connolley said. 

“That includes guidance on documentation, digital privacy, device searches, customs interactions, what to do if your workforce is delayed or denied entry,” she said. “It outlines key contacts and internal resources.”

Advito also is working with clients on communication strategies for the guidance so companies can be sure travelers are getting the information, she said.

While BCD is following and informing clients on changing policies that affect global business travel, including the Trump administration’s travel ban restricting travel from 19 countries to the U.S. last month, Connelley emphasized that the toolkit is not a response to new policies but rather a preparation tool in light of tighter enforcement of existing policies. Specialists in global mobility and security have reported increased anxiety and requests for information from inbound business travelers to the United States.