NEWS

[Lebanon, N.H. – December 27, 2023] Winter is here and blizzard conditions are blanketing parts of the U.S. Whether you’re traveling the roadways for the holidays, seasonal adventures or simply driving out of snow country to get to sun country, smart drivers prepare for challenging road conditions brought on by freezing temperatures, snow, sleet and freezing rain.

“Ideally, drivers watch the weather reports and, if a snowy event is predicted, they let the snow plows and road crews do their work before venturing out,” said Harding Bush, senior manager for Global Rescue Security Operations and a former Navy SEAL with extensive mountain and cold weather operations expertise.

Snow Plow Warriors

Keeping the roads clear and safer for vehicle traffic during the winter is more than timely plowing. Snow removal and ice control usually require the well-timed application of either chemicals, abrasives or a chemical-abrasive mixture to roadway surfaces in combination with aggressive snow plowing operations. Choice of treatment is dependent upon the weather and road conditions.

Salt is the primary material used along with winter sand consists (a blend of coarse, clean, sharp sand). It’s effective at temperatures at or above 15 degrees F. Salt brine, a 23% solution of salt in water, is used to pre-treat highways in advance of a storm event. It’s effective at temperatures above 20 degrees F. Calcium chloride and liquid magnesium chloride are used to pre-wet the solid materials that are applied by the plow trucks to lower the effective working temperature of salt and to help keep the solid materials on the road during the application process.

If driving on roads that are wet or snowy is unavoidable then drivers can take additional steps with their tire choice, drive train options, speed caution and emergency supplies to minimize roadway catastrophe.

Snow Tires, Studded Tires, Siping, and Snow Chains

Snow tires, also called winter tires, have a tread design with larger gaps than those on conventional tires, increasing traction on snow and ice. The rubber used in the construction is also softer than a summer or all-season tire. Tire siping – cutting thin slits across the surface of a tire – is a process to improve traction for driving in snowy, wet or icy conditions.

Using your all-season tires for everyday driving in less harsh conditions is fine. Otherwise, use snow tires in winter for potential travel on snow-covered roads, even if you have an all-wheel-drive or four-wheel-drive automobile winter tires can be essential.

“If the tires are heavily worn or of a type that is not suitable for snowy/icy/extremely cold conditions, even the best AWD or 4WD systems won’t be able to overcome the traction limitations posed by the tires,” Bridgestone Tire says. “That’s why, if you must drive in severe winter weather, installing a set of winter snow tires can dramatically improve vehicle control regardless of the drive system.”

Should you use studded snow tires? Studded tires have metal studs inserted into the tread to increase grip on ice, making it easier to start and stop on the least friendly road surfaces imaginable, according to Michelin, one of the largest tire manufacturers in the world.

Studded tires provide the best traction you can get, even when you’re encountering ice or packed snow, according to Les Schwab Tires, a private tire retailer with nearly 500 locations in the Western U.S. “They help break through packed snow and ice-covered roads to give you better traction.”

Studded winter tires are always permitted in some states – like New Hampshire and Colorado, restricted in others – like Connecticut and California, and not allowed in a few – like Texas and Michigan. Check your state here.

Consider snow chains. Whether you put on snow chains or not depends on where you live and what the conditions are. You will not see many cars with snow chains on the eastern side of the U.S., but when you get to the Rockies, having them on hand for driving in some areas is essential, and even required.

AWD vs 4WD vs FWD vs RWD 

Are you driving a car equipped with all-wheel-drive (AWD), four-wheel-drive (4WD), front-wheel-drive (FWD), or rear-wheel drive (RWD)? Each drive system has its pros and cons and you need to know what capabilities it has on the road. Here’s how to look at the different drives and their capabilities, according to US News & World Report.

FWD vehicles provide superior traction compared to RWD cars in rainy and snowy conditions but they can lose grip easier than AWD vehicles. AWD vehicles have better traction than front-wheel-drive vehicles since every wheel gets power. If one tire begins to slip, three others can work to regain traction.

Not all AWD systems work the same way. Some systems deliver power to all four wheels at all times, other AWD systems are considered part-time since the rear wheels only get power when necessary.

AWD cars and SUVs are ideal for driving over snow-covered roads and in various off-road conditions, but not on slick ice.

4WD systems send equal amounts of power to all four wheels at the same time and are generally much more robust than AWD systems.

Travel Prepared Bonus Tips

“Blizzards are predictable. When you hear about bad weather coming, pay close attention. You do not want to get caught in one of these storms,” Bush said.

Snow squalls, however, are much harder to forecast. These are sudden, fast-moving bouts of snow that can reduce visibility to zero in a matter of minutes, especially while driving on a highway where other vehicles are kicking up snow. If the forecast calls for the possibility of snow squalls, best to avoid driving until the coast is clear.

Always have a full tank of gas. A typical 15-minute drive could take two-to-three hours if there is traffic related to sleet and snowfall. A full tank of gas reduces the likelihood of running out of gas in a storm.

Top off your antifreeze and your windshield wiper fluid. You’re likely to use a lot of wiper fluid in a snowstorm so keep two extra gallons of it in your car.

Pack your car with emergency supplies. Warm clothing, including a pair of winter boots, a warm parka, a wool hat and waterproof mittens; hand and foot warmers; a sleeping bag; a small shovel to clear out the exhaust pipe, if needed; a ready-made snow safety kit.

Slow Down 

Even if you have all you need to be prepared, and your car is in top shape, remember to drive at the speed at which you can safely control your vehicle. “No matter what your experience level, everything is going to take longer. Your reactions will be slower, turning the wheel will take more time, braking distances will be longer, and you won’t be able to do lane changes as fast as you usually can. Drive farther behind people, and take it slowly,” Bush said.

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(Lebanon, N.H. – December 18, 2023) Passenger volumes are up 13% in 2023 compared to last year, according to the TSA. Travelers taking more trips than before the pandemic spearheaded the 2023 travel rebound. The forces driving the rebound include catching up on missed opportunities due to the pandemic shutdown, anxiety that future travel may not be available, and entertainment media inspiring travel.

The possibility of travel restrictions in the future and the YOLO maxim – you only live once – drives millions of travelers to get as many trips in as possible before they no longer can. But travelers also highlight the movies, books and music that inspire them to travel.

According to the survey, the movie Out of Africa starring Meryl Streep, the book Around the World in 80 Days by Jules Verne, and the song “Beautiful Day” by U2 were the leading art forms inspiring trips among the world’s most experienced travelers.

Close behind Out of Africa in the category of travel-inspiring movies were the Indiana Jones series led by Harrison Ford, Under the Tuscan Sun starring Diane Lane, Seven Years in Tibet featuring Brad Pitt, Into the Wild directed by Sean Penn, and Lawrence of Arabia led by Peter O’Toole.

The five books survey respondents noted for inspiring travel after Verne’s classic were A Moveable Feast by Ernest Hemingway, Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance by Robert M. Pirsig, On the Road by Jack Kerouac, Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert, and The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho.

The Annual List of Top Songs Inspiring Travel includes perennial favorites like “On the Road Again” by Willie Nelson, “Take It Easy” by the Eagles, “Vacation” by the Go-Gos, and “Margaritaville” by (the late) Jimmy Buffett. There are a dozen new entries for 2023 (below) and you can find the complete list of the top travel inspiring songs from the past several years here:

• “Back to Black” by Amy Winehouse
• “Beautiful Day” by U2
• “Free Bird” by Lynyrd Skynyrd
• “Here Comes the Sun” by The Beatles
• “Landslide” by Fleetwood Mac
• “Moondance” by Van Morrison
• “Piano Man” by Billy Joel
• “Stairway to Heaven” by Led Zepplin
• “Son of a Son of a Sailor” by Jimmy Buffett
• “Sweet Caroline” by Neal Diamond
• “Sweet Emotion” by Aerosmith
• “Truckin’” by the Grateful Dead

More than 80% of the world’s most experienced travelers took as many or more trips in 2023 than at any time before the pandemic, according to the survey. “Travel confidence is exploding in a positive direction. TSA data reflects traveler volumes pushing past pre-pandemic levels for the first time in more than two years. Call it revenge travel or make-up travel, the comeback to international travel is surging,” said Dan Richards, CEO of Global Rescue, the world’s leading provider of medical, security, evacuation and travel risk management services and a member of the U.S. Travel and Tourism Advisory Board at the U.S. Department of Commerce.

About the Global Rescue Traveler Sentiment and Safety Survey

Global Rescue, the leading travel risk and crisis response provider, surveyed more than 2,300 of its current and former members from October 5-12, 2023. The respondents revealed a variety of behaviors, attitudes and preferences regarding current and future travel.

Contact Bill McIntyre at bmcintyre@globalrescue.com or 202.560.1195 (phone/text) for more information.

About Global Rescue

The Global Rescue Companies are the world’s leading provider of medical, security, evacuation and travel risk management services to enterprises, governments and individuals. Founded in 2004, Global Rescue has exclusive relationships with the Johns Hopkins Emergency Medicine Division of Special Operations and Elite Medical Group. Global Rescue provides best-in-class services that identify, monitor and respond to client medical and security crises. Global Rescue has provided medical and security support to its clients, including Fortune 500 companies, governments and academic institutions, during every globally significant crisis of the last two decades. For more information, visit www.globalrescue.com.

(Lebanon, N.H. – December 11, 2023) More than a third of the world’s most experienced travelers (34%) are planning to take more adventurous or riskier trips in the future, according to the Global Rescue Fall Traveler Sentiment and Safety Survey. Most respondents reported that the possibility of travel restrictions in the future and the YOLO maxim – you only live once – drives them to get as much adventure travel in as possible before they no longer can.

“Travelers are exhibiting behavior consistent with a mounting desire for immersive experiences,” said Dan Richards, CEO of the Global Rescue Companies and a member of the U.S. Travel and Tourism Advisory Board at the U.S. Department of Commerce. Most travelers responding to the survey (65%) want to go to destinations they have never been to, while 17% want curated trips to new, unusual destinations where they can have completely new experiences. New Zealand, Australia, Antarctica, Iceland and Japan were the most frequently mentioned places survey respondents listed as bucket list travel destinations.

“Revenge travel demand initially contributed to the growing adventure travel boom. We anticipate increasing interest in adventure travel like African safaris, hiking trips, camping excursions and motorcycle tours,” Richards said.

Not everyone, however, is seeking more risk or adventure in their travel itineraries. More than half of respondents are taking the same number of adventurous or risky trips since the end of the pandemic, reporting they enjoy the way they travel and do not see a need to change. More than a tenth (13%) said they would take fewer adventurous trips to minimize health and safety risks while traveling. Some reported they were scaling back their level of risk-taking after learning about high-profile disasters involving adventure travel.

With increasing desires for more risk and adventure travel coupled with elevated international war and violent conflict, most survey respondents welcome the technological advances like adding satellite connectivity to smartphone capabilities. Most respondents (82%) said they would feel safer with satellite connection abilities on their smartphone. They liked knowing they could call for help if they lost cell coverage, even though only 13% said they had lost cell coverage in the past. Many liked the peace of mind it would give their friends, family or colleagues.

About the Global Rescue Traveler Sentiment and Safety Survey

Global Rescue, the leading travel risk and crisis response provider, surveyed more than 2,300 of its current and former members from October 5-12, 2023. The respondents revealed a variety of behaviors, attitudes and preferences regarding current and future travel.

About Global Rescue

The Global Rescue Companies are the world’s leading provider of medical, security, evacuation and travel risk management services to enterprises, governments and individuals. Founded in 2004, Global Rescue has exclusive relationships with the Johns Hopkins Emergency Medicine Division of Special Operations and Elite Medical Group. Global Rescue provides best-in-class services that identify, monitor and respond to client medical and security crises. Global Rescue has provided medical and security support to its clients, including Fortune 500 companies, governments and academic institutions, during every globally significant crisis of the last two decades. For more information, visit www.globalrescue.com.

(Lebanon, N.H. – November 27, 2023) The travel rebound continues as travel volumes break records. More than 80% of the world’s most experienced travelers took as many or more trips in 2023 than at any time before the pandemic, according to the Global Rescue Fall Traveler Sentiment and Safety Survey. More than a third of respondents (35%) said they traveled more in 2023 than any time before the pandemic. Nearly half (48%) said they traveled about the same amount and less than a fifth (17%) traveled less.

The enduring travel recovery is welcome news for the travel industry, and travel continues to surpass pre-pandemic travel levels. “Adventure travel, luxury travel and other activity-focused segments continue to see strong growth. Many places are at capacity or are over-subscribed and have waiting lists,” said Dan Richards, CEO of The Global Rescue Companies, the world’s leading provider of medical, security, evacuation and travel risk management services, and a member of the U.S. Travel and Tourism Advisory Board at the U.S. Department of Commerce.

Despite rising travel costs, airline flight disruptions and travel staff shortages, most survey respondents (66%) did not cancel any trips in 2023 and more than a third (38%) did not postpone any travel plans. Fewer than 5% of survey respondents said they had to cancel at least one trip due to rising travel costs and fewer than a tenth (9%) had to postpone a trip.

Experts predicted the travel rebound could lead to crowding at popular destinations, limited flights and lodging availability. More than half of survey respondents (58%) did not encounter any sold-out occurrences for any of their trips. However, nearly a third (30%) said they were prevented at least once from booking something because it was sold out. Fewer than a tenth (7%) said they missed out on a booking three times or more.

For most travelers responding to the survey (67%), it was a flight that was sold out. Fewer than half (41%) of respondents said it was lodging that was unavailable. Fewer than a fifth (16%) said restaurants were unavailable.

The bullwhip effect may help reverse rising travel costs and increase flight and lodging availability. “Where previously ordered but undelivered supply like airplanes, buses and trained labor finally arrive in a market with tepid demand, falling prices will result,” Richards said.

Contact Bill McIntyre at bmcintyre@globalrescue.com or 202.560.1195 (phone/text) for more information.

About the Global Rescue Traveler Sentiment and Safety Survey

Global Rescue, the leading travel risk and crisis response provider, surveyed more than 2,300 of its current and former members from October 5-12, 2023. The respondents revealed a variety of behaviors, attitudes and preferences regarding current and future travel.

About Global Rescue

The Global Rescue Companies are the world’s leading provider of medical, security, evacuation and travel risk management services to enterprises, governments and individuals. Founded in 2004, Global Rescue has exclusive relationships with the Johns Hopkins Emergency Medicine Division of Special Operations and Elite Medical Group. Global Rescue provides best-in-class services that identify, monitor and respond to client medical and security crises. Global Rescue has provided medical and security support to its clients, including Fortune 500 companies, governments and academic institutions, during every globally significant crisis of the last two decades. For more information, visit www.globalrescue.com.

Lebanon, N.H. – November 20, 2023 – The 2023 Annual Global Rescue Holiday Travel Gift Guide includes 15 perfect gifts for anyone is on your winter shopping list, including you. The Global Rescue 2023 Holiday Gift Guide provides curated recommendations from the world’s most experienced travelers, our in-house medical and security professionals, and Global Rescue’s Safe Travel Partners.

“We asked the world’s most experienced travelers — Global Rescue’s medical and security professionals, our Safe Travel Partners and members – to curate a list of must-have gifts for leisure and business travelers,” said Michael Holmes, marketing vice president at Global Rescue, the world’s leading provider of medical, security, evacuation and travel risk management services.

“The following recommendations can be part of your holiday wish list or thoughtful goodies to bestow upon your loved ones,” Holmes said.

Global Rescue’s 2023 Winter Holiday Travel Gift Guide

• Airfly Wireless Adapter – AirFly is a wireless adapter that lets you use your wireless Bluetooth headphones or earbuds in places that only have a headphone jack, like airplanes. Plug this tiny transmitter into the headphone jack to listen to in-flight movies, TV and music. “There’s nothing worse than a long flight with poor sound quality,” said Global Rescue’s Operations Manager Dan Stretch. “Airfly also means you can use your noise cancelling settings to drown out any engine noise,” he added.
• Airport Lounge Access – Sometimes the worst parts of travel are the long lines, delays, and all the hustle and bustle that’s associated with getting there and going home. But airport lounge access can make transit time much easier and enjoyable. You can purchase a Plaza Premium airport lounge gift card or you can gift a Priority Pass airport lounge access membership.
• Bug-Out Bag – The Seventy2 Survival System is called Seventy2 because the first 72 hours of a survival situation is extremely critical, and these kits have been designed — with the help of first responders, doctors, special forces operators and mountain guides — to provide the gear you need in a potentially deadly situation. This bug-out bag, made of heavy-duty waterproof canvas, comes with a tent, water filtration system, fire starter and first aid kit, to name a few items.
• Extra Battery Power – The INIU Portable Charger is an Amazon bestseller and has 10,000 mAh, the minimum recommended by Global Rescue’s Associate Director of Medical Operations, David Koo. It’s slim and light and comes with a USB-A to USB-C Cable and a USB-C port that is both an in/out charging port. The Clutch Charger has 5,000 mAh and magnetically attaches to iPhone 12 (and newer models) or to MagSafe cases. It features a built-in cable and LED battery level indicator so you know how much charge is left.
• Mealtime Multi-Tool – Whether you’re living on quinoa while trekking across the Swiss Alps or car-camping in the Shenandoah Valley, the ChowPal by Outdoor Edge is the mealtime multi-tool that makes eating easy and convenient. The ChowPal slides apart to reveal a full utensil set — folding knife, fork, spoon, can opener, bottle opener, flathead screwdriver and graduated wrench — then slides back together for storage in a nylon pouch.
• Packable, Slip On Walking Shoes – Whether you’re saving luggage space, easing through security, walking all day, or seeking footwear versatility, the options today are better than ever including FitFlops, Allbird Loungers, Kiziks, OluKai Pehuea Slip On Sneakers or Dr. Scholl’s Madison Slip On Sneaker. The smart traveler can minimize the number of shoes packed for a trip by getting footwear that’s easier to slip on and off yet has support for all-day walking and is suitable for casual to smart-casual settings.
• Portable Door Locks – “I always bring with me a portable door lock that I use in my hotel room for extra security,” said Global Rescue’s Medical Operations Senior Specialist Princess Celmea Aspuria. There is a wide variety of portable door locks. CNN lists the top-15 here and adds, “No matter where you decide to stay or the type of lodging you book, a reliable travel door lock can make you feel even more protected from intruders and unwanted guests.”
• Power Adapter – The Epicka TA-105C Universal Travel Adapter is an all-in-one adapter equipped with four different plug types covering 200+ countries and regions. It has three USB-C and 2 USB-A ports for charging iPhone, Samsung and other Android phones, smart watch and fitness tracker, tablet, power bank, camera, handheld game console, headsets, and everything else that is charged through a USB port. The Epicka travel adapter is the top choice for Global Rescue’s IT Quality Assurance Engineer Ayesha Usman. “There are a lot of items that I never travel without, but I believe that the Epicka adapter is one of the most essential items that I cannot imagine people traveling without,” she said.
• Smart Watches – There are overwhelming shoutouts for smartwatches like the Apple Watch Ultra 2, the Google Pixel Watch 2 and the Samsung Galaxy Watch6 Classic. People who have them swear by their travel usefulness. Global Rescue’s Senior Manager of Quality Assurance Ammad Aslam said he never forgets to take his smartwatch while travelling. “It is my silent travelling partner. I don’t have to continuously look at my phone because it vibrates to let me know when to turn right or left. It’s like having my own personal guide,” he said.
• The “Best” Wine Bottle Opener – The Makupon Multi-Tool Waiters Corkscrew is the “best corkscrew for your carry-on travel,” according to Minimalist Travel. “In our personal experience, the corkscrew…is so small that it has never even been given a second glance at a variety of American, Canadian, and European airports, who if they even see it probably don’t understand what it is.” That makes Global Rescue’s Marketing Director Meghan Mahoney happy. “I don’t know how many times I’ve shown up at my hotel or Airbnb jet-lagged with a beautiful bottle of wine and just wanting a glass and there is no wine opener. I only travel with carry-on luggage and this corkscrew is a must have for me,” said Mahoney.
• Travel Garment Steamers – Wrinkles, ugh! You packed so carefully only to unpack and discover a wrinkled mess. Garment steamers are a “must have” for Global Rescue’s Associate Marketing Director Samantha Hosking. The handy travel tool is not available at all lodging establishments. Some places provide steam irons but if you have delicate fabrics, a traditional iron can ruin your clothes. Travelers today are learning that compact travel steamers are light, packable and deliver powerful steam to smooth out wrinkles. The Spruce named the True & Tidy Handheld Garment Steamer “best overall” and included half a dozen others for travelers with specific preferences.
• Travel Medical Kit – The MyMedic Mini First Aid Kit is a top pick by Global Rescue’s CEO Dan Richards. The kit comes with the things you will need for day-to-day minor injuries, diarrhea, headache, cuts, burns and more, all packed into a small, sleek and compact carrying case. Add azithromycin (antibiotic) and zofran (prevents nausea) for extra protection.
• TSA-Approved Multi-Tool Wallet – The Nite-Ize wallet is also a multi-tool, and it’s TSA-friendly. “I’ve used this for years and it always clears TSA security. The tools I use most are the bottle opener, scraper, and screwdriver. I won’t travel without it,” said Bill McIntyre, Global Rescue communications director. The lightweight wallet includes a seven-in-one multi-tool including: bottle opener, scraper, three wrench sizes, flathead screwdriver, phillips screwdriver/tape cutter and metric + standard ruler.
• Water Bottle With Built-in Filters – The Salomon Soft Flask XA filters bacteria and protozoa from natural water sources, so you can drink easily and safely without needing to carry huge volumes of water. Shrinking as you drink to limit water bounce, the flask lets you know exactly how much you have left. It features a wide 42mm cap that is built into the bottle cap.
• Travel Protection Membership – Give the gift of peace of mind to the traveler in your life. A Global Rescue membership ensures your loved one is not alone when they board that plane, train or ship. In fact, they are traveling with a virtual team of experts — a paramedic, a translator, a logistics expert, an intelligence analyst and a security advisor. It’s like having a protective detail on standby, prepared to help when you need medical or security advice or a field rescue.

The Global Rescue Companies are the world’s leading provider of medical, security, evacuation and travel risk management services to enterprises, governments and individuals. Founded in 2004, Global Rescue has exclusive relationships with the Johns Hopkins Emergency Medicine Division of Special Operations and Elite Medical Group. Global Rescue provides best-in-class services that identify, monitor and respond to client medical and security crises. Global Rescue has provided medical and security support to its clients, including Fortune 500 companies, governments and academic institutions, during every globally significant crisis of the last decade. For more information, visit www.globalrescue.com.

For more information, contact Bill McIntyre at bmcintyre@globalrescue.com or +1 202.560.1195.

(Lebanon, N.H. – November 13, 2023) The world’s most experienced travelers revealed diverse behaviors when it comes to technology designed to improve airport check-ins, security processing and obtaining COVID-19 booster vaccinations, according to the Global Rescue Traveler Sentiment and Safety Survey.

More than half (58%) of survey respondents have already received an updated COVID-19 vaccination or plan to get one, which is consistent with the recommendation of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the World Health Organization’s Strategic Advisory Group of Experts on Immunization. However, almost a third (29%) of respondents haven’t received a COVID-19 vaccination booster and do not plan to in the future. The remaining respondents (13%) are uncertain whether they will get a booster shot or not.

Vaccinated and unvaccinated travelers are equally as likely to travel internationally and domestically during the holidays between November 2023 and January 2024, according to the survey. “Travelers feel safe planning and taking trips and vacations regardless of their vaccination status,” said Dan Richards, CEO of The Global Rescue Companies, the world’s leading provider of medical, security, evacuation and travel risk management services, and a member of the U.S. Travel and Tourism Advisory Board at the U.S. Department of Commerce. “Confidence in institutions recommending the vaccine and boosters has declined dramatically. We expect vaccine booster acceptance to continue to fall among travelers,” Richards said.

The U.S. Government has discontinued issuing new proof of COVID-19 vaccination cards. A few countries still require unvaccinated travelers to present negative COVID test results before entry, but most are designated by the U.S. Department of State as Level 4 – Do Not Travel regions, including Libya, Mali, Niger, South Sudan and Central African Republic.

The threat of other diseases also isn’t appearing to impact traveler behavior. When the Nipah virus, which has a fatality rate between 40% and 75% according to the CDC, broke out in India almost no survey respondents reported delaying, postponing or canceling a trip to the country or anywhere else.

Air travel in 2023 is predicted to be up by nearly a third (29%) compared to pre-pandemic levels, according to a report by Statista, and international travel may close out the year up by as much as 50%, according to the International Air Transport Association.

To help ease crowding and accelerate traveler processing, the U.S. TSA introduced the Credential Authentication Technology (CAT) system in 2019. More than two thousand CAT systems have been installed in more than 200 airports. Based on survey results, travelers have mixed reports about the system.

Nearly seven-out-of-10 respondents (69%) have not used the TSA Credential Authentication Technology, a fourth (23%) do not know if they have used it, and less than a tenth (8%) said they have used the system. Of those who used the system, about half (49%) said it sped up the security clearance process, 40% didn’t notice a difference, and the rest reported it took as long or longer than the previous system.

Installation of travel hub kiosks at airports and other transportation centers is designed to move travelers through the check-in and ticketing process faster. More than half of respondents (53%) have used the kiosks but nearly as many (47%) have not. Most (61%) said the kiosks sped up the check-in process, but 18% reported they would prefer to check in with a live agent. A minority (3%) said the kiosks were too complicated.

Contact Bill McIntyre at bmcintyre@globalrescue.com or 202.560.1195 (phone/text) for more information.

About the Global Rescue Traveler Sentiment and Safety Survey

Global Rescue, the leading travel risk and crisis response provider, surveyed more than 2,300 of its current and former members from October 5-12, 2023. The respondents revealed a variety of behaviors, attitudes and preferences regarding current and future travel.

About Global Rescue

The Global Rescue Companies are the world’s leading provider of medical, security, evacuation and travel risk management services to enterprises, governments and individuals. Founded in 2004, Global Rescue has exclusive relationships with the Johns Hopkins Emergency Medicine Division of Special Operations and Elite Medical Group. Global Rescue provides best-in-class services that identify, monitor and respond to client medical and security crises. Global Rescue has provided medical and security support to its clients, including Fortune 500 companies, governments and academic institutions, during every globally significant crisis of the last two decades. For more information, visit www.globalrescue.com.

(Lebanon, N.H. – November 6, 2023) Despite war and violent conflicts in Eastern Europe and the Middle East, close to half of the survey respondents (45%) said they would travel both internationally and domestically for the winter holidays between November 2023 and the end of January 2024, according to the Global Rescue Fall Traveler Sentiment and Safety Survey. Nearly a third (29%) said they would travel domestically only, 11% would travel internationally only and 16% had no travel plans during that time.

“We’re seeing an understandable increase in traveler concern worldwide, but it is the most pronounced in the Middle East,” said Dan Richards, CEO of The Global Rescue Companies, the world’s leading provider of medical, security, evacuation and travel risk management services, and a member of the U.S. Travel and Tourism Advisory Board at the U.S. Department of Commerce. “Nevertheless, international trip takers continue to gain comfort with wartime travel. We’ve seen this traveler behavior since the war in Ukraine and we’re seeing it today following the attack on Israel,” he said.

Travel uncertainty generally increases traveler demand for emergency medical and security services. “We’ve seen a 33% increase in traveler purchases of security services since the armed conflict between Israel and Palestinian terrorist groups started,” Richards said.

While COVID fears have plummeted, travelers are keeping up with vaccinations recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the World Health Organization’s Strategic Advisory Group of Experts on Immunization, according to the survey.

More than half (58%) of the world’s most experienced travelers surveyed have already received an updated COVID-19 vaccination or plan to do so. Less than a third (29%) haven’t and do not plan to while 14% are uncertain whether they will or not. News reports of the Nipah virus outbreak in India did not prompt any survey respondents to delay, cancel or postpone a trip to the region or anywhere else.

To speed up travel hub security lines, the U.S. TSA introduced the Credential Authentication Technology (CAT). Unfortunately, fewer than a tenth (9%) have used the system. The majority of respondents (91%) either have not used TSA’s CAT or do not know if they have used it. Of those who used the system, about half (49%) said it sped up the security clearance process, but the balance did not notice a difference or reported it took as long as or longer than the previous system.

Experts expect airport check-in kiosks to increase. Survey respondents appreciate the timesaving attributes of the kiosks, but others prefer personal interaction. More than half (53%) of respondents use travel hub check-in kiosks, but 47% do not. Most (61%) use the kiosks because they speed up the check-in process but 18% of them would prefer to check in with a live agent. An equal percentage (18%) reported that live agents are often unavailable and must use the check-in kiosks.

Contact Bill McIntyre at bmcintyre@globalrescue.com or 202.560.1195 (phone/text) for more information.

About the Global Rescue Traveler Sentiment and Safety Survey

Global Rescue, the leading travel risk and crisis response provider, surveyed more than 2,300 of its current and former members from October 5-12, 2023. The respondents revealed a variety of behaviors, attitudes and preferences regarding current and future travel.

About Global Rescue

The Global Rescue Companies are the world’s leading provider of medical, security, evacuation and travel risk management services to enterprises, governments and individuals. Founded in 2004, Global Rescue has exclusive relationships with the Johns Hopkins Emergency Medicine Division of Special Operations and Elite Medical Group. Global Rescue provides best-in-class services that identify, monitor and respond to client medical and security crises. Global Rescue has provided medical and security support to its clients, including Fortune 500 companies, governments and academic institutions, during every globally significant crisis of the last two decades. For more information, visit www.globalrescue.com.

(Lebanon, N.H. – October 31, 2023) As the threat of an escalation in violent conflict remains fluid following the surprise attack on Israel by Palestinian terrorist groups led by Hamas, international travelers in or adjacent to the region should prepare for the possibility of a hasty departure.

“Travelers should register with their embassy, ensure all documents like passports and visas are in order, make certain financial resources are available to book unscheduled, urgent travel, keep a low profile, and consider packing an accessible go bag,” said Harding Bush, a former Navy SEAL and senior manager for security operations at Global Rescue.

“Whether you are traveling to a potentially dangerous region or already in one, preparing a go bag packed with key items will increase your likelihood of survival when it is necessary to immediately relocate to a safer area or depart the region at less than a moment’s notice,” Bush said.

A go bag is full of things you’ll want with you in an emergency when you have to drop everything and make a run for it,” Bush said. It’s small and light, like a knapsack, so you can grab it and go quickly and easily. It contains essentials for fire, food, water, signaling, navigation, first aid and temporary shelter.

Following are the top-21 items to pack in your go bag (in alphabetical order):

1. 1. Air Filtration Mask – An N95 mask is a respirator and, if worn correctly, will filter out the small respirable particles found in smoke.
   2. Aluminum Cup and Water Bottle – Need to boil water? An aluminum cup will come in handy. Include a tough, lightweight plastic water bottle, like Nalgene bottle, for water.
   3. Clothing – Rain or warm weather gear based on your location.
   4. Communication Device(s) – Most everyone has a cell phone. Consider a two-way satellite communication device, if permitted in the region you are visiting. Add in extra charging batteries. Remember, those devices may fail due to loss of charge or jamming. What’s left? A mirror and the loudest whistle you can find will alert search and rescue to your location. Add a small notebook with pencils.
   5. Duct Tape – Duct tape can be used to stabilize a limb, patch a leaky tent, keep food bags closed, or twist into rope. Experts recommend bringing about 20 feet and wrapping it around your water bottle to minimize its size.
   6. Emergency Blanket – Space blankets made of lightweight Mylar might be easier to pack and can double as a reflective device.
   7. Emergency Cash and Backup Credit Cards – Keep a sufficient amount of emergency cash in both local currency and a widely accepted international currency. ATMs and banking systems may be inaccessible during or after an emergency. Additionally, carry backup credit or debit cards in case your primary card gets lost, stolen or compromised.
   8. Emergency Contact Information – Carry a list of emergency contact numbers, including local authorities, embassy or consulate contact details, and the phone numbers of your loved ones back home. In the event of a disaster, communication networks may be disrupted, so having these numbers readily available can help you seek assistance and inform your family about your well-being.
   9. First Aid Kit – A stripped down first aid kit would include essentials: a Sam splint, some Ace bandages and gauze pads of various sizes, a tourniquet and a compression device that could be a lifesaver when you need to stop the flow of blood. Remember to include adhesive bandages, antibiotic ointment like Neosporin, lip balm like Chapstick and similar things for the smaller injuries that could get worse if left untreated.
   10. Gloves – Consider your location and choose the most appropriate type of glove. Work gloves in case you have to move debris. Gloves should combine warmth, waterproofing, dexterity, durability and usability. Having an extra pair is always a good idea.
   11. Hygiene Items – If space is limited, stash away some biodegradable face and body wipes. It will go a long way to help you keep your sanity if rescue is a day or so away. Second priority: a toothbrush and a small tube of toothpaste.
   12. High-calorie Food – Pack high-calorie food with a blend of protein, fat and carbs. Energy bars are a good choice like RX Bars or LARABARs. Bouillon cubes — either veggie or meat stock — have a two-year shelf life. You’ll be able to stay hydrated, have a small amount of nourishment, and the warmth of broth is a morale booster.
   13. Light – A small, powerful flashlight with extra batteries. A headlamp is better since it leaves your hands free.
   14. Lighter, Matches, Fire Starters – Fire for warmth, signaling and boiling water is essential. Pack multiple fire-making devices and store them in a waterproof bag.
   15. Multi-Tools – You may have a multi-tool, like a Swiss Army knife or a Leatherman, but do you have a mealtime multi-tool? An eating utensil — used for cooking, eating or other useful purposes — should include a knife, fork, spoon, can opener or bottle opener.
   16. Navigation Tools – No matter how well you know the area or terrain, mistakes can be made. Never leave shelter without navigation tools, including a GPS unit with cellular or satellite coverage, a map and a compass.
   17. Paracord – Paracord (also known as 550 cord) is a must-have. It is versatile, lightweight and cheap. The uses are endless. Add 50 feet to your survival kit.
   18. Rx and Over-The-Counter Medications – Include the over-the-counter medications you take regularly. Add a small supply of pain relievers, antacids or decongestants to your first aid kit.
   19. Valid Identification and Travel Documents – Ensure you have your passport, identification and any necessary travel documents readily accessible. These documents are essential for identification, possible evacuation, and re-entry into your home country. Keep them in a waterproof and secure location, such as a sealed plastic bag within your travel bag.
   20. Water – The American Red Cross recommends one gallon per person, per day. No one could carry that much with them, so you’ll want to have water treatment supplies to purify and filter water. You can boil water, use chlorine and iodine, or a UV light purifier.
   21. Zip Lock Bags – Resealable sliding channel storage bags, like Ziploc bags, are a great way to keep items waterproof. Make sure the brand has a sturdy zipper and thicker plastic.

These items are in addition to the standard travel essentials like appropriate clothing, toiletries and personal items. “It’s also crucial to stay informed about the local emergency procedures and listen to instructions from local authorities during an international emergency. Taking these precautions will enhance your safety and preparedness when traveling internationally,” Bush said.

ContactBill McIntyre at bmcintyre@globalrescue.com or 202.560.1195 (phone/text) for more information.

About Global Rescue

The Global Rescue Companies are the world’s leading provider of medical, security, evacuation and travel risk management services to enterprises, governments and individuals. Founded in 2004, Global Rescue has exclusive relationships with the Johns Hopkins Emergency Medicine Division of Special Operations and Elite Medical Group. Global Rescue provides best-in-class services that identify, monitor and respond to client medical and security crises. Global Rescue has provided medical and security support to its clients, including Fortune 500 companies, governments and academic institutions, during every globally significant crisis of the last two decades. For more information, visit www.globalrescue.com.

(Lebanon, N.H. – October 30, 2023) – People are traveling boldly during the post-pandemic travel rebound, taking multiple trips in 2023 and demonstrating a growing desire for authentic experiences in an increasingly globalized and connected world. It’s why the theme of the 2023 Global Rescue Photo and Video Contest is Travel Boldly.

“Before the pandemic, people were more content with traditional tourist activities,” said Michael Holmes, Global Rescue’s head of marketing. “Cruising the Seine River in Paris, skiing in the Rockies or the Alps, or even soaking up the sun in Aruba, were usually go-to vacation activities. But now, activities that were not on most tourists’ radar are increasingly competing with traditional tourism pursuits.”

Global Rescue is celebrating the travel rebound through the spirit and strength of the images of travelers in a post-pandemic world. More than $50,000.00 in prizes will be distributed to the winners.

Complete information is available here (https://www.globalrescue.com/landing-pages/photo-contest-2023/).

The Global Rescue 2023 Photo and Video Contest is open to all through November 10, 2023. There are five categories available to enter. A winner will be selected for each category as well as a grand prize winner:

• Urban Exploration – A photo showcasing how you spend time in a city.
• On The Edge – Images of a traveler living life to the fullest, taking part in an activity or experience that is, perhaps, slightly outside of their comfort zone.
• Family – Photos showing family coming together through travel and the sense of togetherness, shared memories, and the willingness to navigate new adventures as a unit.
• Bleisure – Travel images that combine business and leisure which create a more well-rounded and enjoyable travel experience by blending work and leisure seamlessly.
• Video – Unveil the spirit of Traveling Boldly through captivating video content that vividly portrays world exploration in all of its forms.

Entries accepted until 11:59 PM (EST) November 10, 2023. Winners will be announced by November 30th.

Global Rescue 2023 Photo and Video Contest judges include:

• Alessandra Amodio, is an American fine art photographer based in New York City where she is Digital Photo Editor at Travel + Leisure. She has worked at Departures Magazine, Newsweek Magazine, The Knot World Wide (XO Group) and Kate Ryan Inc.
• Mark Edward Harris, a photographer who has visited and photographed in more than 100 countries. His work has appeared in Vanity Fair, LIFE, Time, Newsweek, Conde Nast Traveler, National Geographic Traveler, Forbes, AFAR, Vogue Brazil, Elle Canada, Esquire Japan, Harper’s Bazaar, Italian GQ, Marie Claire, The New York Times, The Washington Post, The London Times Travel Magazine and The Los Angeles Times Sunday Magazine.
• Anna Haines, is an award-winning photographer and freelance writer whose work has appeared in numerous publications, including Forbes, Vogue, Insider, AFAR, Lonely Planet, Buzzfeed, Refinery29, TRAVEL+LEISURE, and Eater. She is a graduate of the International Center of Photography’s Visual Journalism program and notable photography clients have included Alain Ducasse and the Rockefeller Foundation.
• Geoffrey Morrison, is a travel writer and photographer whose work has appeared in CNET, Wirecutter, The New York Times, the Wall Street Journal and Forbes.
• Chelsea Bakos-Kallgren, Global Rescue’s graphic designer. Previous to her work at Global Rescue, her design talents shaped the brands of Simon Pearce, CBRE Group, National Park Service, Shire Digital and Cloudbank Inc. She’s won numerous awards for design: print, digital and best in show.

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Contact Bill McIntyre at bmcintyre@globalrescue.com or 202.560.1195 (phone/text) for more information.

About Global Rescue

The Global Rescue Companies are the world’s leading provider of medical, security, evacuation and travel risk management services to enterprises, governments and individuals. Founded in 2004, Global Rescue has exclusive relationships with the Johns Hopkins Emergency Medicine Division of Special Operations and Elite Medical Group. Global Rescue provides best-in-class services that identify, monitor and respond to client medical and security crises. Global Rescue has provided medical and security support to its clients, including Fortune 500 companies, governments and academic institutions, during every globally significant crisis of the last two decades. For more information, visit www.globalrescue.com.

(Lebanon, NH – October 25, 2023) – Travel Weekly, the most influential B2B travel industry news resource, awarded Global Rescue, the world’s leading provider of medical, security, evacuation and travel risk management services, four 2023 Magellan Awards for its travel solutions.

“Travel has come roaring back, and it’s clear that providers, like Global Rescue, are responding to travelers’ evolving desires for safer, more authentic and immersive travel experiences for leisure, bleisure or business travel,” said Arnie Weissmann, editor in chief of Travel Weekly. “We had a record-breaking number of entries this year, and the creativity and innovative approaches wowed the judges. The winners’ collective desire to exceed consumers’ expectations was never more evident.”

• The Global Rescue Medical and Security Mobile App (GRID 2.0) won a Gold Magellan Award for Overall Health & Safety Innovations for the second year in a row. “In an emergency, the GRID 2.0 app puts its members in immediate contact with the medical teams and military special operations veterans who staff Global Rescue’s global operations centers. It was used to coordinate evacuations of travelers from war-torn Ukraine, civil unrest in Sudan, help students and faculty get out of Russia, and provide security advisory for foreign news correspondents working for several major U.S. news outlets,” said Michael Holmes, marketing vice president at Global Rescue.

• Global Rescue won a Gold Magellan Award for its Marketing/Client Newsletter communications program. “Global Rescue provides not only field rescue and medical evacuation but also advisory and travel assistance services. As a method of distributing up-to-date and relevant information, Global Rescue packages information in monthly newsletters to both current and lapsed members as well as specialty groups like the high-altitude climbing and trekking community,” Holmes said. Individuals can subscribe to the Global Rescue newsletter here.

• A Silver Magellan was awarded to Global Rescue for its High-Altitude Evacuation Package in the Marketing with a Purpose category. “High-altitude field rescue and evacuation have always been central to Global Rescue’s services. But with the rapid growth and participation of mountaineering, trekking and other high-altitude activities, we expanded our capabilities through the High-Altitude Evacuation Package to provide emergency services in more regions, committing to longer deployments of our medical operations personnel, and extending our in-field rescue operational durations,” noted Dan Richards, CEO of The Global Rescue Companies.

• Global Rescue won a Silver Magellan Award for its Social Media Revamp for the Travel Rebound campaign. “In 2023, we refreshed the Global Rescue social media voice and re-imagined how we use imagery. The results were overwhelmingly positive with double, triple and quadruple percentage increases for engagement across our social platforms,” said Josie Daigle, social media associate manager for Global Rescue.

“It is gratifying to be honored for so many Global Rescue initiatives that support and inspire people to travel boldly and take in all that the world has to offer while enjoying the peace of mind that comes from knowing we will rescue you from the point of illness or injury whenever and wherever you need it,” Holmes said.

Travel Weekly annual Magellan Awards honor outstanding creativity, design, marketing and services for travel advisors, travel agencies, public relations and advertising agencies and industry suppliers. Travel Weekly is the most influential provider of news, research, opinion and analysis to the North American travel trade marketplace. It reaches a broad industry audience in print, online and with face-to-face events throughout the year. Travel Weekly is a part of Northstar Travel Group, the leading B-to-B media company providing information and marketing solutions for the global travel industry.

About Global Rescue

Global Rescue is the world’s leading provider of medical, security, evacuation and travel risk management services to enterprises, governments and individuals. Founded in 2004, Global Rescue has exclusive relationships with the Johns Hopkins Emergency Medicine Division of Special Operations and Elite Medical Group. Global Rescue provides best-in-class services that identify, monitor and respond to client medical and security crises. Global Rescue has provided medical and security support to its clients, including Fortune 500 companies, governments and academic institutions, during every globally significant crisis of the last two decades. For more information, visit www.globalrescue.com.

San Juan, Puerto Rico – October 23, 2023 – The ongoing armed conflict between Israel and Palestinian terrorist groups led by Hamas is driving a spike in traveler purchases of security extraction services since the attack on October 7th, 2023.

“We’ve seen a 33% increase in traveler purchases of security services since the attack compared to the same period before the strike,” said Dan Richards, CEO of The Global Rescue Companies, the world’s leading provider of medical, security, evacuation and travel risk management services, and a member of the U.S. Travel and Tourism Advisory Board at the U.S. Department of Commerce.

“Terrorism and war in a country drives down traveler confidence in the entire region as travelers grapple with a dramatically different risk environment. We’re also seeing an increase in traveler concern worldwide, but it is the most pronounced in the Middle East,” he added.

Global Rescue continues to orchestrate operations to bring member tourists and others to safety.
“We’re doing everything we can in a tough and evolving situation,” Richards said. “Our security operations teams already have successfully helped more than 68 members to safety and we will continue to assist those who contact us in need of help.”

Contact Bill McIntyre at bmcintyre@globalrescue.com or 202.560.1195 (phone/text) for more information.

About Global Rescue
Global Rescue is the world’s leading provider of medical, security, evacuation and travel risk management services to enterprises, governments and individuals. Founded in 2004, Global Rescue has exclusive relationships with the Johns Hopkins Emergency Medicine Division of Special Operations and Elite Medical Group. Global Rescue provides best-in-class services that identify, monitor and respond to client medical and security crises. Global Rescue has provided medical and security support to its clients, including Fortune 500 companies, governments and academic institutions, during every globally significant crisis of the last two decades. For more information, visit www.globalrescue.com.

(Lebanon, NH – October 7, 2023) The deadly attack by Hamas on Israel has surprised officials, residents, religious pilgrims and tourists, trapping many in a violent conflict that has already escalated.

Global Rescue, the world’s leading medical and security evacuation and travel risk company, is orchestrating operations to bring member tourists and others to safety.

“We’re doing everything we can in a tough and evolving situation,” said Dan Richards, CEO of The Global Rescue Companies. “Our security operations teams are working to secure the safety of our members but the situation remains fluid.”

Contact Michael Holmes at mholmes@globalrescue.com or +1 (603) 783-6268 to schedule an interview with Global Rescue CEO Dan Richards.

(Lebanon, N.H. – September 26, 2023) Global Rescue, the world’s leading provider of medical, security, evacuation and travel risk management services, announced the release of GRIDSM 2.0, The Global Rescue Intelligence Delivery System. “GRID 2.0 is revolutionizing business travel safety,” said Dave Leopold, Global Rescue director of enterprise sales.  

GRID 2.0 is the only integrated travel risk, asset tracking, intelligence delivery and crisis response platform available in the world today. It is designed to minimize traveler risk when the unexpected happens and get business travelers to safety.   

During a preliminary launch in recent months, the GRID 2.0 system was used to coordinate evacuations of travelers from war-torn Ukraine and Sudan’s violent conflict, help students and faculty get out of Russia, and provide security advisory for foreign news correspondents working for several major U.S. news outlets.   

“GRID 2.0 helps keep track of people. It makes the needle bigger and the haystack smaller,” said Harding Bush, former Navy SEAL and Global Rescue security operations manager.   

“I rely on GRID to keep our worldwide workforce safe. With real-time tracking and emergency alerts, GRID gives me the visibility and response capabilities to protect our travelers anytime, anywhere. This innovative platform is essential for globally minded organizations like ours,” said Eric Cioè-Peña, MD, MPH, FACEP, vice president of global health center for Northwell Health. 

GRID 2.0 features five specific traveler safety attributes that make it a ‘must-have’ app for the health and safety of business travelers.    

1. Instant Communication: The updated traveler-tracking feature allows users to share links directly from the portal with colleagues to enhance safety and peace of mind.   
2. Smart Alerts: An augmented algorithm computes travel data visualization and determines which travelers are impacted by events at destinations and informs them through alert notifications.    
3. Visualize the World: state-of-the-art integrated map functionality enables users to visualize real-time traveler data dynamically and interactively.    
4. Enhanced Experience: Enhanced user experience (UX) and user interface (UI) upgrades improve seamless dissemination of information.   
5. Global Insights: The redesigned control center provides near-to-real-time global event updates customized to the needs of travelers who potentially may be impacted.    

“Beyond all its capabilities, we built GRID 2.0 as an extension of our best-in-class medical, security, evacuation and travel risk management services. GRID 2.0 isn’t just software; it’s an indispensable companion app to everything Global Rescue offers in worldwide travel protection services,” Leopold said. 

“This one-of-a-kind system includes innovative traveler safety features, advanced traveler-tracking capabilities, and an enhanced user interface to keep business travelers safe, informed and connected,” Leopold said. “GRID 2.0 provides travelers with real-time background, analysis, and advice about what to do in the event of an emergency in the country they are visiting.”  

Most business travelers lack immediate access to travel intelligence information or communication capabilities that may be lifesaving in the event of a medical or security emergency.   

GRID 2.0 changes that.   

The GRID 2.0 system distributes Event Notifications and Alerts for civil unrest, disease-related developments, safety issues, transportation disruptions, communications blackouts, and natural disasters including floods, hurricanes, earthquakes, and volcanic activity.   

In an emergency, the GRID 2.0 app puts its members in immediate contact with the medical teams and military special operations veterans who staff Global Rescue’s Global Operations Centers.    

GRID 2.0 Connects Users With Business Chief Security Administrators 

The GRID 2.0 system is comprised of two parts to reduce traveler risk. The Individual Traveler Mobile App and the Desktop Administrator Control Center work together to help individuals, organizations, companies and universities protect, track and communicate with remote travelers, employees and students.    

Travelers using the GRID 2.0 Individual Traveler Mobile App can research medical and security risks by destination, obtain automatic Destination Reports, receive active security alerts including analysis and advice, connect for GPS “check-ins” with real-time location tracking, and stay in touch with in-app communications both internally and with Global Rescue.    

Administrators managing the GRID 2.0 Desktop Administrator Control Center receive comprehensive situational awareness of global risks 24/7/365, monitor real-time global threats and analysis with Event Alerts, audit a dynamic global risk map to identify regions of increased risk, manage communications using the in-app messaging that allows direct contact with individual or group GRID 2.0 Mobile App users.   

“The GRID mobile app places critical medical, security and other essential travel intelligence at fingertips of my traveling workforce, and the GRID Administrator Control Center gives us access to global risks 24/7/365 so we can monitor and respond for the safety of our business travelers,” said Sherri Hersh, senior manager, International Accreditation, ABET. 

GRID 2.0 mobile application is designed for ease of use and includes six essential user functions:   

1. Emergency Function: During an emergency, tap and hold the Emergency button at the top of the landing page for three seconds. This will automatically send a message to the Global Rescue’s Operations Center, which will start working on your case immediately. You can choose to add details if appropriate.    
2. Alerts Function: The Alerts Function allows you to view Event Alerts that meet the specific criteria you’ve selected via the online GRID 2.0 platform for unique Alert Profiles.   
3. Check-In: If you choose to check in, tap the “check-in” button on the landing page, and then the “check-in” button on the next page. You can include a message if you would like. By checking in, you are sending your GPS coordinates to Global Rescue and your company.   
4. Events: The Events Function shows all Event Alerts that Global Rescue’s in-house Intelligence team publishes. The titles of the Event Alerts are visible on the first page, along with the risk rating of the country affected. You can select any of the Event Alerts that interest you and read a summary and analysis of the situation and advice on what actions to take if affected.   
5. Destination Reports: The Destination reports cover everything from currency and common scams to travel health and personal security advice in 215 countries and principalities worldwide.   
6. Contact Global Rescue: Global Rescue is available 24/7/365 for questions or concerns. Get real-time access to doctors, paramedics, nurses and intelligence experts.   

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Contact Bill McIntyre at bmcintyre@globalrescue.com or 202.560.1195 (phone/text) for more information.   

About Global Rescue    

The Global Rescue Companies are the world’s leading provider of medical, security, evacuation and travel risk management services to enterprises, governments and individuals. Founded in 2004, Global Rescue has exclusive relationships with the Johns Hopkins Emergency Medicine Division of Special Operations and Elite Medical Group. Global Rescue provides best-in-class services that identify, monitor and respond to client medical and security crises. Global Rescue has provided medical and security support to its clients, including Fortune 500 companies, governments and academic institutions, during every globally significant crisis of the last two decades. For more information, visit www.globalrescue.com. 

(Lebanon, N.H. – September 22, 2023) – Global Rescue, the world’s leading provider of medical, security, evacuation and travel risk management services, welcomes the posthumous awarding of the Congressional Gold Medal to its former team member, Glen Doherty. H.R. 310 honors all four Americans who were killed in the attack on the U.S. Consulate in Benghazi, Libya in September 2012.

Glen Doherty, a former Global Rescue Operations Specialist and U.S. Navy SEAL, was killed in the Benghazi terror attacks while working for the U.S. Department of State.

“Prior to his death, Glen was an outstanding member of the Global Rescue team for several years and a joy to work with. We are privileged to keep his lasting memory alive,” said Dan Richards, CEO of the The Global Rescue Companies.  “We will continue to honor his memory by supporting the Glen Doherty Memorial Foundation (GDMF) and the important work being done for veterans” Richards added.

“It is an honor and a privilege to salute the Doherty family for Glen’s deserved and overdue recognition for his service and sacrifice, especially on the eve of the GDMF Road Race taking place September 24, 2023 at Winchester Town Hall, Winchester, MA. The Annual Glen Doherty Memorial 5K/10K Road Race is a fundraising event to help U.S. special operations veterans transition to civilian life.

The GDMF provides scholarships for current or former special operation professionals and their families to be used for traditional education, vocational and non-traditional training. “Our mission helps special operations professionals transition out of the military and back into civilian life by means of education and vocational scholarships,” said Kate Quigley, Glen’s sister and GDMF President.

The Congressional Gold Medal is the highest civilian award in the United States. Posthumous recipients include Doherty, Tyrone Woods, J. Christopher Stevens, and Sean Smith, in recognition of their contributions to the Nation.

“Doherty and Woods were former Navy SEALs who served as security personnel in Libya. As the attack in Benghazi unfolded, they bravely attempted to defend American property and protect United States diplomatic personnel. In so doing, they selflessly sacrificed their own lives,” according to the text of the law. Stevens was the U.S. Ambassador to Libya at the time, Smith was an officer in the Foreign Service.

About Global Rescue

Global Rescue is the world’s leading provider of medical, security, evacuation and travel risk management services to enterprises, governments and individuals. Global Rescue has provided medical and security support to its clients, including Fortune 500 companies, governments and academic institutions, during every globally significant crisis since 2004.

About the Glen Doherty Memorial Foundation

The Glen Doherty Memorial Foundation mission is to ease the transition from military life and work to that of a civilian by helping fund educational costs for Special Operation individuals and their children. GDMF is a 501(c)(3) charity organization dedicated to honoring and preserving the memory of Glen Doherty and all those who have paid the ultimate sacrifice in defending our nation in the Global War on Terror.

Contact Bill McIntyre at bmcintyre@globalrescue.com or 202.560.1195 (phone/text).

(Lebanon, N.H. – August 16, 2023) Loud, rude conduct and disrespectful or entitled behavior by tourists while visiting another country are the leading characteristics that infuriate the world’s most experienced travelers, according to the summer 2023 Global Rescue Traveler Sentiment and Safety Survey.

“Global tourism is on track to rise by 30% in 2023 as travelers make up for lost time due to the pandemic-related travel restrictions. Unfortunately, a few travelers may have forgotten their manners in their post-pandemic travel exuberance. If so, then I hope they remember them soon,” said Dan Richards, CEO of The Global Rescue Companies and a member of the U.S. Travel and Tourism Advisory Board at the U.S. Department of Commerce.

An important part of travel is the responsibility each traveler bears at every destination. Are you dressed inoffensively? Is your behavior appropriate for the region? How you present yourself in foreign localities reflects on your homeland, but it also stirs reactions from the local population that could be helpful or provocative.

According to the survey, the worst tourist conduct observed by other global travelers was being too loud (27%). In second place, 26% of respondents reported that travelers’ unwillingness to try local cuisine or follow local social customs was the most infuriating behavior. The third most disappointing trait (18%) was the expectation that destination residents speak the same language as the traveler. Fewer than 10% of respondents said tourists who wear revealing, offensive or shabby clothing were the most exasperating.

“When you’re visiting a new country, it’s essential to respect the local culture and customs. Behaving like a tourist can be seen as disrespectful and offensive to locals. Travelers should do the research to know and understand the little things about the customs and culture of your destination,” said Harding Bush, a senior manager for security operations at Global Rescue.

Looking and acting like a tourist can produce assumptions that you are inexperienced, naive, lacking cultural awareness, and wealthy. “Standing out as a tourist can make you appear vulnerable and an easy target for scams, pickpockets and other types of crime. By blending in you reduce the risk of local criminals or scam artists spotting you as a foreign traveler and targeting you for fraudulent schemes or petty crimes,” Bush said.

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Contact Bill McIntyre at bmcintyre@globalrescue.com or 202.560.1195 (phone/text) for more information.

About the Global Rescue Traveler Sentiment and Safety Survey

Global Rescue, the leading travel risk and crisis response provider, conducted a survey of more than 2,300 of its current and former members from July 11-15, 2023. The respondents exposed a range of behaviors, attitudes and preferences regarding international and domestic travel.

About Global Rescue

The Global Rescue Companies are the world’s leading provider of medical, security, evacuation and travel risk management services to enterprises, governments and individuals. Founded in 2004, Global Rescue has exclusive relationships with the Johns Hopkins Emergency Medicine Division of Special Operations and Elite Medical Group. Global Rescue provides best-in-class services that identify, monitor and respond to client medical and security crises. Global Rescue has provided medical and security support to its clients, including Fortune 500 companies, governments and academic institutions, during every globally significant crisis of the last two decades. For more information, visit www.globalrescue.com.

(Lebanon, N.H. – August 15, 2023) The Global Rescue security operations team supported several members during the Maui wildfire, including helping a California family get to safety during the deadly disaster in Lahaina, Hawaii. “The wildfire was spreading rapidly due to high winds and power was lost throughout the region,” said Adam Bardwell, a security operations manager for Global Rescue, a corporate travel risk and crisis management firm.

The member and his family safely reached Kapalua Airport where communication service remained temporarily intact, but the flights were stalled due to the dangerous conditions. The member contacted Global Rescue security operations seeking potentially life-saving advice.

“Due to the uncertainty on the ground, the Global Rescue security operations team relayed a rapid action plan with multiple escape contingencies that included evacuation options via land, sea, and air. We advised the member to drive immediately to Kahului Airport along route 340 if it remained open and clear, and board a flight off Maui to the island of Oahu,” Bardwell said.

At that point, communications were cut off but not before the member received Global Rescue’s list of alternate evacuation options which included an air evacuation from a small airfield via a chartered aircraft if Route 340 to the Kahului Airport was impassable and a boat transport capable of landing on the Maui shore to evacuate personnel and then returning to a nearby fishing vessel at sea. Helicopter transport out of the area was unavailable due to high winds that had grounded rotary wing aircraft. “If all airlift plans were unsuccessful, Global Rescue had pre-arranged for a zodiac boat transport capable of launching off Maui from the beach to a fishing vessel at sea,” Bardwell said.

Inadequate communications services on Maui during the disaster hindered overall safety and contributed to confusion. Thousands of people on Maui lost cellphone service because of the wildfires and, combined with the loss of 911 emergency services and officials failing to activate the state’s outdoor siren warning system, exacerbated.

Bardwell suggests travelers carry a satellite messaging system. “If you’re going to a place that has limited exits and limited cellphone service, the satellite communicator is absolutely necessary,” said Bardwell. “It doesn’t matter where you are, you have to be able to make the call for help.”

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About Global Rescue   

The Global Rescue Companies are the world’s leading provider of medical, security, evacuation and travel risk management services to enterprises, governments and individuals. Founded in 2004, Global Rescue has exclusive relationships with the Johns Hopkins Emergency Medicine Division of Special Operations and Elite Medical Group. Global Rescue provides best-in-class services that identify, monitor and respond to client medical and security crises. Global Rescue has provided medical and security support to its clients, including Fortune 500 companies, governments and academic institutions, during every globally significant crisis of the last two decades. For more information, visit www.globalrescue.com.

(Lebanon, N.H. – August 7, 2023) Incidents of misbehaving airline passengers remain high, according to the International Air Transport Association. Some aviation experts say many customers have most likely lost patience with airlines over widespread delays and cancellations in recent years. The world’s most experienced travelers overwhelmingly (51%) advised that individuals stranded overnight at the airport should rest, relax and try to sleep, according to the summer 2023 Global Rescue Traveler Sentiment and Safety Survey. Seventeen percent of respondents added that the next best thing to do when stranded overnight at the airport is to take a lively walk for a few minutes every hour.

According to the U.S. Department of Transportation airlines cancelled 1.7% of domestic U.S. flights over the first three months of 2023. While that is much lower than the 2.7% flight cancellation rate for all of 2022, it still leaves nearly 30,000 aircraft on the tarmac due to cancellation.

“Global tourism is on track to rise by 30% in 2023 as travelers make up for lost time due to pandemic-related travel restrictions,” said Dan Richards, CEO of The Global Rescue Companies and a member of the U.S. Travel and Tourism Advisory Board at the U.S. Department of Commerce. “Unfortunately, recurring flight delays and cancellations are disrupting highly anticipated post-pandemic trip plans. It’s understandably frustrating travelers, but I hope a combination of traveler patience and travel industry recovery combine to return global tourism to normal levels.”

Nearly half of the survey respondents (48%) reported the most important thing they would do if their flight was cancelled, no hotels were available, and they had to spend the night at the airport would be to check for airport lounges or sleeping pods that they could rent for the night or a few hours.

“I was at the Charles de Gaulle Airport in Paris facing a flight delay. No one knew how long it would be. I found a sleeping pod to use,” said Meghan Mahoney, a Global Rescue director and avid international traveler. The pod had a bed, desk and chair, and a noise cancellation system. “It was totally private so I could nap in comfort or work. And since I was still at the airport, I could regularly check flight status. The pod was worth every penny for the several hours I needed,” she said.

Sixteen percent said obtaining snacks and water before the airport shops close was essential while 11% believed fully charging their electronic devices was most important along with carrying an in-ear or over-ear headset to cancel out external noise or play calming music. Maintaining situational awareness is essential for personal safety and flight updates. “As a solo female traveler, I never cover more than one ear with a headphone so I can remain audibly aware of my surroundings,” said Josie Daigle, the Global Rescue social media manager.

Contact Bill McIntyre at bmcintyre@globalrescue.com or 202.560.1195 (phone/text) for more information.

About the Global Rescue Traveler Sentiment and Safety Survey

Global Rescue, the leading travel risk and crisis response provider, conducted a survey of more than 2,300 of its current and former members from July 11-15, 2023. The respondents exposed a range of behaviors, attitudes and preferences regarding international and domestic travel.

About Global Rescue

The Global Rescue Companies are the world’s leading provider of medical, security, evacuation and travel risk management services to enterprises, governments and individuals. Founded in 2004, Global Rescue has exclusive relationships with the Johns Hopkins Emergency Medicine Division of Special Operations and Elite Medical Group. Global Rescue provides best-in-class services that identify, monitor and respond to client medical and security crises. Global Rescue has provided medical and security support to its clients, including Fortune 500 companies, governments and academic institutions, during every globally significant crisis of the last two decades. For more information, visit www.globalrescue.com.

(Lebanon, N.H. – July 31, 2023) Traveler fears are dwindling at the same time many are hoping to plan trips to countries currently listed by the U.S. Department of State as Level 3 – Reconsider Travel. As the travel rebound continues, traveler worries are shifting dramatically, and their appetite for exploring the world is increasing,” said Dan Richards, CEO of The Global Rescue Companies. 

Traveler concerns about civil unrest and terrorism decreased by half in the last six months, withering from 14% to 7% since January 2023, according to the results of the summer 2023 Global Rescue Traveler Sentiment and Safety Survey. Apprehension about COVID exposure and infection while traveling has dramatically dropped at a rate of 88%, down to 4% compared to 33% in August 2022.  

Nearly half (48%) of the world’s most experienced travelers claim their greatest anxiety is having an injury or accident followed by trip cancellation (13%). Yet, despite that, travelers are increasingly interested in visiting new destinations outside of the traditional ones.  

Before the pandemic, people were more content with traditional tourist attractions. Viewing the Mona Lisa in the Louvre and taking a River Seine cruise in Paris, visiting India’s Taj Mahal, or soaking up the sun on the Guanabara Bay, Rio De Janeiro, during Carnival, were historically go-to vacation activities. But now, tourists have a growing enthusiasm for places beyond the traditional, some of which are risky. 

The U.S. Department of State issues a travel advisory for every country and rates them on a risk scale from 1 to 4. A country with a Level 4 designation carries a “Do Not Travel” advisory due to greater likelihood of life-threatening risks. A Level 1 travel advisory is the lowest level for safety and security and advises travelers to exercise normal precautions. Travelers going to countries with a Level 2 advisory are encouraged to exercise increased caution due to heightened risks to safety and security.  

The countries listed by U.S. officials as Level 3 are the destinations where government officials advise people to reconsider and avoid travel due to serious risks to safety and security. Among the list of 20 countries with a Level 3 travel advisory, Egypt, Colombia, China and Hong Kong are the top four destinations the world’s most experienced travelers want to visit. Nigeria, El Salvador, Cote d’Ivoire and Niger were the least desirous places, according to the survey. 

“The desire and willingness to travel to less touristy destinations are how many travelers will avoid the crowds associated with the post-pandemic travel rebound,” Richards said. “Before COVID, people were content with traditional tourist destinations. But now, places that are less accessible and a little more risky are gaining interest.” 

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Contact Bill McIntyre at bmcintyre@globalrescue.com or 202.560.1195 (phone/text) for more information.  

About the Global Rescue Traveler Sentiment and Safety Survey   

Global Rescue, the leading travel risk and crisis response provider, conducted a survey of more than 2,300 of its current and former members from July 11-15, 2023. The respondents exposed a range of behaviors, attitudes and preferences regarding international and domestic travel.  

About Global Rescue   

The Global Rescue Companies are the world’s leading provider of medical, security, evacuation and travel risk management services to enterprises, governments and individuals. Founded in 2004, Global Rescue has exclusive relationships with the Johns Hopkins Emergency Medicine Division of Special Operations and Elite Medical Group. Global Rescue provides best-in-class services that identify, monitor and respond to client medical and security crises. Global Rescue has provided medical and security support to its clients, including Fortune 500 companies, governments and academic institutions, during every globally significant crisis of the last two decades. For more information, visit www.globalrescue.com. 

(Lebanon, N.H. – July 26, 2023) Travelers are planning multiple trips in 2023, according to the summer 2023 Global Rescue Travelers Sentiment and Safety Survey. “Half of the world’s most experienced travelers are planning four or more trips this year, and they’re using credit card reward points to help pay for them,” said Dan Richards, CEO of The Global Rescue Companies and a member of the U.S. Travel and Tourism Advisory Board at the U.S. Department of Commerce.

A fifth of respondents are planning six or more trips in 2023, another 31% will take four-to-five leisure trips, and 41% said they would take two-to-three vacations. Only seven percent said they would take a single trip and one percent reported they would not take any leisure trips in 2023.

With inflation and the rising cost of travel, it’s no surprise that most respondents (64%) reported using credit card reward programs to offset leisure trips and vacation expenses.

Travelers are catching up on lost trip opportunities due to the pandemic. Demand for adventure tourism has shot up since COVID-19 with African safaris, hiking trips, camping excursions and motorcycle tours experiencing the fastest growth. But, there’s a limit to the risks travelers are willing to take, according to the survey.

The overwhelming majority of respondents (75%) would decline space tourism, even if they could afford the half-a-million-dollar cost for a few minutes of weightlessness. When it comes to undersea adventure tourism, 65% of respondents said they would take part in snorkeling or scuba diving tours of reefs, underwater caves, marine life and shipwrecks. Only 5% would stay at an undersea hotel or dine at an underwater restaurant. Less than 2% would sign up for a deep-sea tour in a submarine.

“Travelers are demonstrating a growing desire for authentic experiences in an increasingly globalized and connected world,” Richards said. “While pent-up demand is playing a role in the adventure travel boom, we don’t expect to see it subside anytime soon.”

As more people return to travel and plan multiple trips, most (61%) are traveling with a guide, an outfitter or an expedition organization in 2023. “Respondents consistently indicated they include on-the-ground experts on their trips to reap the benefits of their local language skills, cultural knowledge, touring efficiency and overall safety,” said Matt Aubin, associate director of Global Rescue partner and channel programs.

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Contact Bill McIntyre at bmcintyre@globalrescue.com or 202.560.1195 (phone/text) for more information.

About the Global Rescue Traveler Sentiment and Safety Survey

Global Rescue, the leading travel risk and crisis response provider, conducted a survey of more than 2,300 of its current and former members from July 11-15, 2023. The respondents exposed a range of behaviors, attitudes and preferences regarding international and domestic travel.

About Global Rescue

The Global Rescue Companies are the world’s leading provider of medical, security, evacuation and travel risk management services to enterprises, governments and individuals. Founded in 2004, Global Rescue has exclusive relationships with the Johns Hopkins Emergency Medicine Division of Special Operations and Elite Medical Group. Global Rescue provides best-in-class services that identify, monitor and respond to client medical and security crises. Global Rescue has provided medical and security support to its clients, including Fortune 500 companies, governments and academic institutions, during every globally significant crisis of the last two decades. For more information, visit www.globalrescue.com.

(Lebanon, N.H. – June 6, 2023) Travelers are casting off on cruise ships in record numbers, surpassing 2019 levels and breaking sales records. Part of the comeback is due to revenge travel, but smaller ship sizes and access to new, remote destinations are important factors attracting passengers.

“Cruises are back on the travel list. Forty percent of respondents have already taken a cruise since the pandemic started or, if they haven’t, they plan to in 2023,” said Michael Holmes, vice president of marketing for Global Rescue, the leading provider of medical, security, evacuation and travel risk management services.

Smaller cruise ships are rising in popularity. Industry experts expect the number of smaller cruise ships to double by 2030, according to reports. The Global Rescue Spring 2023 Traveler Sentiment and Safety Survey revealed that people taking cruises prefer smaller ships when it comes to vessel size.

Half of cruising respondents (50%) will set sail in small ship cruisers that have a capacity of fewer than 800 passengers. Only 11% of respondents who plan to take cruises this year selected mega-ships with a capacity greater than 3,500 passengers. Seventeen percent of cruising respondents prefer small-midsized ships (800 to 1,499 passengers), followed by a fifth of cruise enthusiasts (20%) who favor midsized ships (1,500 to 2,500 passengers), while an equal percentage choose large ships (2,500 to 3,500 passengers).

“Smaller cruise ships are easier to maneuver and have greater port access compared to mega-cruise ships. The smaller capacity ships open up river cruising, visiting tucked-away harbors, exotic locales, pristine beaches and remote places or ports where larger ships can’t reach,” Holmes said.

The Global Rescue survey revealed that the cruise destination preferences among the world’s most experienced travelers include tropical cruises (21%), glacier excursions (14%) and fjord journeys (12%). River, transocean, fall foliage and Panama Canal voyages rounded out the top seven types of cruises travelers have planned for 2023.

Survey respondents are shrugging off the impacts of inflation and predictions of a possible recession. According to the Global Rescue survey, nearly half of the respondents (45%) are planning to absorb the higher travel costs without skimping.

As travelers return to cruising, their concerns are changing, too. Traveler fears of COVID have plummeted, according to the Global Rescue survey. The greatest anxiety among the world’s most experienced travelers who cruise is having an injury or illness unrelated to COVID.

“While confidence to cruise has returned, travelers must remember that access to medical help for an illness or injury during travel at sea is limited. Health safety resources on board a cruise ship are similar to a health center – but it’s not a hospital,” said Jeff Weinstein, a paramedic and an associate manager of medical operations for Global Rescue.

Serious medical emergencies aboard cruise ships that are beyond the capabilities of the onboard medical team require transportation of the individual to a higher-quality medical facility – either by making port or calling a helicopter for an airborne rescue.

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Contact Bill McIntyre at bmcintyre@globalrescue.com or 202.560.1195 (phone/text) for more information.

About the Global Rescue Traveler Sentiment and Safety Survey

Global Rescue, the leading travel risk and crisis response provider, conducted a survey of more than 1,700 of its current and former members between April 25-30, 2023. The respondents exposed a range of behaviors, attitudes and preferences regarding international and domestic travel.

About Global Rescue

The Global Rescue Companies are the world’s leading provider of medical, security, evacuation and travel risk management services to enterprises, governments and individuals. Founded in 2004, Global Rescue has exclusive relationships with the Johns Hopkins Emergency Medicine Division of Special Operations and Elite Medical Group. Global Rescue provides best-in-class services that identify, monitor and respond to client medical and security crises. Global Rescue has provided medical and security support to its clients, including Fortune 500 companies, governments and academic institutions, during every globally significant crisis of the last two decades. For more information, visit www.globalrescue.com.

(Lebanon, N.H. – May 31, 2023) Travelers returning to trips following the pandemic are taking longer vacations, making plans on their own and taking new lessons with them. According to the Global Rescue Spring 2023 Traveler Sentiment and Safety Survey, one out of four of the world’s most experienced travelers will take longer trips in 2023 than in the past. Less than 10% of respondents said they would take shorter trips while the majority (65%) said their trips will be about the same as in the past, neither shorter nor longer.  
 

“Travelers are making up for lost time due to the pandemic. Despite higher prices and flight disruptions, people are not only scheduling trips for 2023 but many are planning longer ones,” said Dan Richards, CEO of The Global Rescue Companies, the leading provider of medical, security, evacuation and travel risk management services, and a member of the U.S. Travel and Tourism Advisory Board at the U.S. Department of Commerce. 
 

Travelers revealed their biggest bungles and lessons learned when traveling. More than a third of respondents (35.18%) said overpacking was their biggest travel mistake. Overpacking is a persistent traveler mistake, but the improvement has been substantial since COVID-19. In February 2020, immediately before the pandemic, three-out-of-four respondents said overpacking was the biggest mistake travelers make.  
 

Harding Bush, senior manager of operations at Global Rescue, advises travelers to “pack light, and buy what you need there.” Pat Pendergast, The Fly Shop’s director of international travel, suggests travelers “make a list of all the items you packed but never used and then use that list to guide how you pack for future trips.” 
 

Failing to plan free time in a travel itinerary is the second biggest mistake among travelers, although, like overpacking, improvement since the pandemic is striking. According to the survey results, 28% of respondents said not planning and scheduling free time was their second biggest mistake. Three years ago, before the pandemic, 40% of respondents admitted to creating ambitious itineraries that did not include free time.  
 

The third biggest mistake listed among travelers is assuming that the laws of your country travel with you. Eleven percent noted this as a lesson all travelers should know. “The laws of your home country don’t travel with you. That’s why knowing the local laws of the destination(s) is critical before traveling,” Richards said. 
 

As more people return to travel, most of them are relying on a mix of resources to plan their itineraries. Less than a fifth of respondents (17%) use a travel agent. Only three percent use full-service, one-stop online resources – like Kayak, Expedia and Travelocity – for flights, hotels and auto rentals. Nearly a third of respondents (31%) use multiple online resources for each part of a trip. The majority of travelers (46%) do it by themselves with a mix of direct phone calls, online resources and email. 
 

“Travelers are increasingly looking for travel customization at every level from the moment they leave home until they return. At the same time, the pandemic pushed people to become more reliant on online services. The combination of those two factors has driven travelers to do more self-guided travel planning,” Richards said. 

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Contact Bill McIntyre at bmcintyre@globalrescue.com or 202.560.1195 (phone/text) for more information. 
 

About the Global Rescue Traveler Sentiment and Safety Survey  
 

Global Rescue, the leading travel risk and crisis response provider, conducted a survey of more than 1,700 of its current and former members between April 25-30, 2023. The respondents exposed a range of behaviors, attitudes and preferences regarding international and domestic travel. 
 

About Global Rescue  
 

The Global Rescue Companies are the world’s leading provider of medical, security, evacuation and travel risk management services to enterprises, governments and individuals. Founded in 2004, Global Rescue has exclusive relationships with the Johns Hopkins Emergency Medicine Division of Special Operations and Elite Medical Group. Global Rescue provides best-in-class services that identify, monitor and respond to client medical and security crises. Global Rescue has provided medical and security support to its clients, including Fortune 500 companies, governments and academic institutions, during every globally significant crisis of the last two decades. For more information, visit www.globalrescue.com. 

(Lebanon, N.H. – May 23, 2023) Business travel is predicted to surge and bleisure travel has taken off, according to the Global Rescue Spring 2023 Travelers Sentiment and Safety Survey. Seventy percent of business travelers responding say their work-related travel will match or exceed pre-pandemic levels in 2023. The majority of business travelers taking the survey (65%) will include bleisure travel, adding extra days to their business trip for personal or leisure activities.  

More than half of responding business travelers (55%) will travel both domestically and internationally for business compared to a year ago when nearly three-out-of-four respondents (72%) had not traveled abroad for business or did not have plans to do so.  

“The business traveler mindset has changed, and employer attitudes have shifted, too. Face-to-face meetings are more effective at establishing and maintaining relationships than virtual meetings. It’s no surprise that domestic and international work-related travel is rising along with bleisure travel,” said Dan Richards, CEO of The Global Rescue Companies, the world’s leading provider of medical, security, evacuation and travel risk management services. 

As business travel increases, so do the challenges facing employers, especially following the pandemic and the rise of remote work. “The biggest management challenge in this evolving environment will be how duty of care plays a role in protecting a location-independent workforce. They have to ask themselves if a set of rules or policies designed to maintain their health, safety and well-being while working is in place,” Richards said. 

The overwhelming majority of business travelers surveyed (72%) say they do not have or do not know if they have a duty of care policy in place. The majority of the 28% of business travelers who say they have duty of care provisions in place have trouble listing what the plan includes. More than half say their policy includes pre-trip destination planning and health alerts. However, fewer than half say security, travel tracking and alerts were available during the trip. 

“Corporate leaders carry a duty of care responsibility to their employees, to take care of them and avoid exposing them to any unnecessary or undue risk. As more workers become location-independent and include bleisure in their business travel trips, the more the firm’s duty of care policies must evolve,” Richards said.  

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Contact Bill McIntyre at bmcintyre@globalrescue.com or 202.560.1195 (phone/text) for more information. 

About the Global Rescue Traveler Sentiment and Safety Survey  

Global Rescue, the leading travel risk and crisis response provider, conducted a survey of more than 1,700 of its current and former members between April 25-30, 2023. The respondents exposed a range of behaviors, attitudes and preferences regarding international and domestic travel. 

About Global Rescue  

The Global Rescue Companies are the world’s leading provider of medical, security, evacuation and travel risk management services to enterprises, governments and individuals. Founded in 2004, Global Rescue has exclusive relationships with the Johns Hopkins Emergency Medicine Division of Special Operations and Elite Medical Group. Global Rescue provides best-in-class services that identify, monitor and respond to client medical and security crises. Global Rescue has provided medical and security support to its clients, including Fortune 500 companies, governments and academic institutions, during every globally significant crisis of the last two decades. For more information, visit www.globalrescue.com. 

LEBANON, N.H. (May 5, 2023) – Kristin Harila, the Norwegian XC skier-turned-mountaineer extraordinaire and Global Rescue Mountain Advisory Council member became the fastest woman to climb all 14 mountains above 8000 meters this week after summiting Cho Oyu. Harila topped the previous record set by Spanish climber Edurne Pasaban in 2010.

“Congratulations to Harila and her ongoing achievements in mountaineering. Her record-breaking history of hard work, perseverance, sacrifice, talent and love of mountaineering is an example for all of us. She is an extraordinarily gifted, focused and spirited athlete and will undoubtedly continue to set new records and bring about fresh innovations to a fast-growing sport,” said Dan Richards, the CEO of The Global Rescue Companies, which has provided Harila with field rescue and medical evacuation protection since 2021.

Harila has a bigger record-breaking plan on her mind. In the spring of 2022, she set out to climb all 14 of the world’s 8,000 meter (26,247 feet) and higher peaks in less than 189 days – and breaking the record held by Nims Purja, a Global Rescue Mountain Advisory Council member. Harila was six months in and two summits away from making history when the Chinese government’s strict zero-COVID policy forced her to stop.

Undaunted, Harila set out in April 2023 for her second attempt to break the speed record. This time she started her attempt in Tibet to mitigate the risk of a repeat of last year’s issues with the Chinese government. Her recent Cho Oyu summit and her April 26th summit of Shishapangma complete Harila’s climbs in Tibet, an autonomous region of China. Harila will now attempt to climb the remaining 12 mountains before the end of October 2023.

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For more information contact Bill McIntyre at bmcintyre@globalrescue.com or +1 (202) 560.1195.

About Global Rescue   
The Global Rescue Companies are the world’s leading provider of medical, security, evacuation and travel risk management services to enterprises, governments and individuals. Founded in 2004, Global Rescue has exclusive relationships with the Johns Hopkins Emergency Medicine Division of Special Operations and Elite Medical Group. Global Rescue provides best-in-class services that identify, monitor and respond to client medical and security crises. Global Rescue has provided medical and security support to its clients, including Fortune 500 companies, governments and academic institutions, during every globally significant crisis of the last two decades. For more information, visit www.globalrescue.com.

(Lebanon, N.H. – May 3, 2023) Despite forecasts of a declining economy and a potential slide into a full-blown recession, travelers overwhelmingly are keeping their itineraries for international and domestic trips this year, according to the recent Global Rescue Spring 2023Travelers Sentiment and Safety Survey of the world’s most experienced travelers.

More than three-quarters (76%) of travelers said predictions of a recession have not caused them to cancel or postpone international travel in 2023. Only four percent of respondents stated that expectations of an economic recession compelled them to call off or reschedule an upcoming trip abroad.

Travelers are skirting economic projections from financial professionals signaling the U.S. economy is headed for a recession. “Whether travelers disbelieve an economic slowdown is looming or adopted a post-pandemic determination to travel while they can, they are brushing aside recession hesitation and keeping their plans to travel internationally,” said Dan Richards, CEO of The Global Rescue Companies, the world’s leading provider of medical, security, evacuation and travel risk management services, and a member of the U.S. Travel and Tourism Advisory Board at the U.S. Department of Commerce.

Adventure trips (35%) are the leading kind of travel respondents are planning for 2023, followed by fishing trips (29%), beach getaways (27%) and hiking excursions (24%). Two-thirds (66%) of respondents revealed they plan to travel to destinations where they have never been. Africa led all destinations chosen by respondents, followed by Italy, Alaska, Spain and Iceland.

Traveler concerns about trip disruption continue to shift away from pandemic-related worries. Having an injury or illness (47%) is the overwhelming fear among respondents followed distantly by civil unrest (13%), trip cancellation (11%), and losing important things like a passport, wallet or purse (9%).

Most will travel as a couple (45%) while another quarter (26%) will journey with family or a group of friends. Solo travelers comprise 23% of those making an international trip.

Since the pandemic, the travel landscape has shifted. “Whether you’re taking a trip alone or with others obtaining additional precautions – like emergency medical and security evacuation protection – are essential,” Richards said.

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Contact Bill McIntyre at bmcintyre@globalrescue.com or 202.560.1195 (phone/text) for more information.

About the Global Rescue Traveler Sentiment and Safety Survey 

Global Rescue, the leading travel risk and crisis response provider, conducted a survey of more than 1,600 of its current and former members between April 25-30, 2023. The respondents exposed a range of behaviors, attitudes and preferences regarding international and domestic travel.

About Global Rescue 

The Global Rescue Companies are the world’s leading provider of medical, security, evacuation and travel risk management services to enterprises, governments and individuals. Founded in 2004, Global Rescue has exclusive relationships with the Johns Hopkins Emergency Medicine Division of Special Operations and Elite Medical Group. Global Rescue provides best-in-class services that identify, monitor and respond to client medical and security crises. Global Rescue has provided medical and security support to its clients, including Fortune 500 companies, governments and academic institutions, during every globally significant crisis of the last two decades. For more information, visit www.globalrescue.com.

Lebanon, NH – April 24, 2023 – Former Navy SEALs and other military special forces veterans are actively assisting and coordinating extractions for travelers caught in war-torn Sudan. Security operations experts for Global Rescue, the leading security and medical evacuation and travel risk management services company, are in direct contact with stranded travelers.  

Global Rescue coordinated the maritime extraction of several people to Egypt, a 600-mile journey along the Red Sea. “We moved quickly to advise people in Port Sudan to depart the country immediately. We successfully extracted multiple western tourists from the region, who were initially reluctant to leave. They were advised to depart at once, before the fighting spread to Port Sudan- at which time movement would be nearly impossible,” said Harding Bush, former Navy SEAL and the senior manager of security operations for Global Rescue.  

Highlights: 

• Global Rescue members were on a fishing vacation off the coast of the Port of Sudan when violent civil conflict broke out prompting them to contact Global Rescue Operations. 
• Expert Global Rescue security personnel informed the members of the dangerous circumstances, yet they were reluctant to grasp the gravity of the situation and wanted to continue their fishing adventure. 
• Global Recue intelligence and security experts reiterated the widespread violence, its likelihood to escalate, the closed airports and restricted airspace, the narrowing window to escape the country overland, and strongly advised the members to leave immediately. 
• The members agreed but then admitted that their passports were not with them and were, instead, held by the charter company in Port Sudan. Knowing it was imperative to retrieve the members’ passports before they could leave Sudan and gain entry to another country, Global Rescue operations experts utilized local, Sudanese resources onboard the fishing boat to return to the port, disembark, recover the passports and safely return the passports to the members. 
• Global Rescue security and intelligence experts planned and advised the execution of a 600-mile maritime extraction of the members to Egypt along the Red Sea. Global Rescue, working with a partner, secured a different, larger sea vessel capable of making the journey.  

“People in Sudan were advised to shelter-in –place as street fighting and attacks on the airport are preventing the use of overland and aviation departures. We’re tracking their movements and providing immediate security advisory services throughout the ordeal,” said Dan Richards, CEO of Global Rescue and a member of the U.S. Travel and Tourism Advisory Board at the U.S. Department of Commerce.    

Travelers in the region for leisure and business were suddenly trapped when widespread fighting erupted between warring factions and quickly spread to the capital city and the airport, shutting down flights in and out. Bush and his Global Rescue team of former military special forces veterans are experts in medical and security operations. They are providing extensive logistic, rescue, extraction and advisory services and guidance where needed for people trapped in areas where fighting is present and other areas of Sudan. 

“The two rival Sudanese armies are driving the country toward a full-blown civil war. Sudan and adjacent regions are unpredictable and potentially more dangerous. While the U.S. and European embassies are evacuating staff, American and European business and leisure travelers are at tremendous risk of being left behind if they do not have access to professional assistance,” Richards said.   

When Russia invaded Ukraine, travelers quickly learned they needed to add emergency evacuation plans that include the ability to extract clients from a country if conditions become dangerous. “We see similar scenarios playing out in Sudan,” Richards said. 

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Contact Bill McIntyre at bmcintyre@globalrescue.com or 202.560.1195 (phone/text) for more information.   

About Global Rescue   

Global Rescue is the world’s leading provider of medical, security, evacuation and travel risk management services to enterprises, governments and individuals. Founded in 2004, Global Rescue has exclusive relationships with the Johns Hopkins Emergency Medicine Division of Special Operations and Elite Medical Group. Global Rescue provides best-in-class services that identify, monitor and respond to client medical and security crises. Global Rescue has provided medical and security support to its clients, including Fortune 500 companies, governments and academic institutions, during every globally significant crisis of the last two decades. For more information, visit www.globalrescue.com.  

Lebanon, N.H. – April 6, 2023 – The full impact of a deadly avalanche striking a Himalayan mountain pass in northeast India this week is unknown but rescue operations for climbers and trekkers affected by the snow slide continue. “Avalanches are one of the deadliest things that can happen on a mountain, and they’re one of the greatest risks a climber or trekker can face,” said Dan Richards, CEO of Global Rescue. “Preparing for them is a key element of the Global Rescue operations team activity before every deployment to the Himalayas.”   

Global Rescue, the world’s leading provider of field rescue and medical evacuation services, has medical and rescue experts for on-the-ground rescue operations in Nepal – nearly 300 mi/476 km from the site of this recent avalance. . 

Rescue operations after a major snow slide are inherently more dangerous since the chance of further avalanches is elevated, according to Dan Stretch, a Global Rescue operations manager who is based in Nepal during the Mount Everest climbing season and has coordinated hundreds of evacuations and crisis response operations.  

“Additional avalanche risk is a factor. We have to determine the safety for a ground or airborne rescue that will take place where we know the snow and ice are unstable. Avalanches can make the terrain around climbers and trekkers less accessible to rescuers. We receive reports from local expedition groups. Beacon technology helps recover climbers trapped in the snow. Everyone works together,” Stretch said.  

Avalanche forecasting provides up-to-date avalanche conditions, but it’s not as reliable as weather predictions. Climbers communicate with their expedition provider to make them aware of the avalanche risk during a climb. Ascents and descents are attempted during the time of day when avalanche risk is lowest. Whenever possible, mountaineers typically carry an avalanche transceiver, probe and shovel when they start their expedition,” Stretch said. 

In October 2022, a massive avalanche swept down Mount Manaslu, striking the mountain’s base camp. Fortunately, there were no fatalities. Later that day, another avalanche on the same mountain tragically took the life of a Nepali guide. A few days later, a deadly avalanche struck a group of mountaineers training on Mount Draupadi ka Danda II.   

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Contact Bill McIntyre at bmcintyre@globalrescue.com or 202.560.1195 (phone/text) for more information.       

About Global Rescue        

Global Rescue is the world’s leading provider of medical, security, evacuation and travel risk management services to enterprises, governments and individuals. Founded in 2004, Global Rescue has exclusive relationships with the Johns Hopkins Emergency Medicine Division of Special Operations and Elite Medical Group. Global Rescue provides best-in-class services that identify, monitor and respond to client medical and security crises. Global Rescue has provided medical and security support to its clients, including Fortune 500 companies, governments and academic institutions, during every globally significant crisis of the last two decades. For more information, visit www.globalrescue.com.       

Lebanon, NH – March 21, 2023 – Despite growing fears of civil unrest, millions of people are expected to visit Jerusalem this year as part of a religious pilgrimage or religious tourism to the Holy Land. The biggest risk of traveling to Jerusalem during the spring holidays is the sheer number of people.  

“Like any other place teeming with people, crowds can make it challenging to move around the city. There’s no avoiding large gatherings. They’re just part of the deal. Avoid them when you can, embrace them when you can’t, with caution,” said Kent Webber, senior manager, Intelligence Products & Services at Global Rescue. “Crowds also increase the risk of pickpocketing, car theft, identity theft, and other crimes.”  

One of the oldest and holiest cities in the world, Jerusalem attracts roughly 1.5 million Jews, Muslims, and Christians combined each spring, whose pilgrimage during the Passover, Ramadan, and Easter holidays, accounts for a 55% increase in the city’s year-round population of 970,000 residents.   

Travelers flocking to the Western Wall, the Church of the Holy Sepulchr, the Dome of the Rock, Temple Mount, or elsewhere throughout the city during these religious holidays should follow five guidelines to minimize risk.  

First, visit popular attractions during off-peak hours to thwart would-be pickpockets. Harding Bush, senior manager of Security Operations at Global Rescue, advises travelers to wear clothing with zippered pockets or pockets on the inside, like a vest or a sport coat, that make it difficult to snatch a wallet. Also, leave that expensive watch back home. To foil identity thieves, travelers should hide things with their names, phone numbers and addresses on them. No exposed luggage tags.  

Next, monitor local activities. Exploring one of the most deeply divided and contested areas in the world during the spring holidays heightens tensions. “Violence can occur in Israel, the West Bank and Gaza without warning,” according to the U.S. Department of State. Escalating violence in Jerusalem and the West Bank has been reported in recent weeks. Travelers should register with their country’s embassy and sign up for alerts and advisories. American citizens in Israel, for example, should join the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to receive emails and text messages from the United States Embassy in the event of emergencies in the area.  

Third, expect traffic and plan around it. Expect delays and, perhaps, the inability to access certain areas. Hiring a local professional driver will help streamline your adventures and get you around some of the congestion. “Driving a vehicle in a foreign country is a high-risk activity. Always hire a local driver who knows the area. Being unaware or confused by directions can bring you to a vulnerable location or make you an obvious target for attack,” said Bush.  

Fourth, stores and markets may not be fully operational, or open at all, during the holidays. Ask the staff at the hotel for a list and a map of these services and make sure they’re open. Local knowledge is the key here.   

Finally, visitors should be respectful of these traditions and avoid behavior that may be seen as discourteous or, worse, profane. The influx of travelers in the city during this period is there for religious pilgrimage or faith-based tourism and their customs and practices abound.   

Israel is a reasonably safe place to travel, and it receives a “moderate” security risk rating owing to the persistent possibilities of a terrorist attack and ongoing political violence. 

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Contact Bill McIntyre at bmcintyre@globalrescue.com or 202.560.1195 (phone/text) for more information.  

About Global Rescue 

Global Rescue is the world’s leading provider of medical, security, evacuation and travel risk management services to enterprises, governments and individuals. Founded in 2004, Global Rescue has exclusive relationships with the Johns Hopkins Emergency Medicine Division of Special Operations and Elite Medical Group. Global Rescue provides best-in-class services that identify, monitor and respond to client medical and security crises. Global Rescue has provided medical and security support to its clients, including Fortune 500 companies, governments and academic institutions, during every globally significant crisis of the last two decades. For more information, visit www.globalrescue.com.        

LEBANON, N.H. (March 11, 2023) – U.S. Alpine Ski Team athlete Mikaela Shiffrin secured her 87th World Cup in Sweden today becoming the winningest alpine skier in history. Shiffrin’s win broke the tie of 86 wins set by Ingemar Stenmark in 1989.  

“Congratulations to the Greatest Of All Time, Mikaela Shiffrin. Her history of hard work, perseverance, learning, studying, sacrifice, talent and love of skiing is an example for all of us. She is an exceptionally gifted, focused and indomitable athlete in a highly competitive global sport. Winning her 87th World Cup race and surpassing all other skiers is an astonishing achievement,” said Dan Richards, the CEO of Global Rescue, which has provided travel risk management and crisis support since 2006 for the U.S. Ski & Snowboard teams. 

Shiffrin’s win elevates her past Stenmark’s record of 86 World Cup wins. 

“It is truly magnificent to be able to watch Mikaela Shiffrin write her name into history,” said U.S. Ski & Snowboard President & CEO Sophie Goldschmidt. “She is the definition of a champion, both inside and out, and the Stifel U.S. Alpine Ski Team couldn’t be happier to celebrate this massive achievement with her. We can’t wait to watch Mikaela win even more in the future!”  

Shiffrin credited her team, family and friends for her success and for helping her remain strong, focused, and positive and having the right goals. “It’s been incredible to be part of that. I’m just really thankful.”  

She added that she still has a strong desire to compete. “It’s not over yet, which is even more ridiculous! I still had the same feeling at the start of this run that I have every race—I shouldn’t feel pressure, but somehow I feel something in my heartbeat. That’s the anticipation we want to feel as ski racers and I have it—it’s stronger than ever. I’m just getting started.”. 

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For more information contact Bill McIntyre at bmcintyre@globalrescue.com or +1 (202) 560.1195.  

About Global Rescue   

Global Rescue is the world’s leading provider of medical, security, evacuation and travel risk management services to enterprises, governments and individuals. Founded in 2004, Global Rescue has exclusive relationships with the Johns Hopkins Emergency Medicine Division of Special Operations and Elite Medical Group. Global Rescue provides best-in-class services that identify, monitor and respond to client medical and security crises. Global Rescue has provided medical and security support to its clients, including Fortune 500 companies, governments and academic institutions, during every globally significant crisis of the last two decades. For more information, visit www.globalrescue.com.  

Lebanon, N.H. – March 6, 2023 – One-out-of-four international travelers needs hospitalization or medical attention during travel but nearly half of them do not obtain a pre-travel health screening, and fewer do any research about the quality of medical care at their destination beforehand, according to the Global Rescue Winter 2023 Traveler Sentiment and Safety Survey. 

According to the Merck Manuals, when it comes to foreign travel, about 1 in 30 people traveling abroad require emergency care. That percentage is higher among the world’s most experienced travelers. According to the survey, one out of four (24%) revealed that they needed hospitalization or medical attention during travel.  

Unfortunately, only about a third (38%) of surveyed travelers researched the quality of medical care at their destination before traveling abroad. The balance (62%) did not do any research in advance. 

“In today’s travel landscape, you may not want to travel to any destination where the level of medical care isn’t up to your standards unless you have medical evacuation services. It puts you, your health and your trip at risk,” said Dan Richards, CEO of Global Rescue.  

“Hospital layouts differ. The medication might not look the same. Some hospitals use IVs with glass bottles instead of plastic bags. Triage may be done differently than it is in the United States,” said Jeff Weinstein, medical operations associate manager at Global Rescue.  

“Travelers should obtain destination reports covering everything from travel health and personal security advice to currency and common scams before taking a trip, especially to a foreign country,” Richards added.  

More than half (54%) of the world’s most experienced travelers surveyed by Global Rescue said they obtain a pre-travel health consultation with a physician to discuss their itinerary, pre-existing conditions, a medications list and any health concerns they may have to decrease medical risks during travel.  

That’s nearly two times better than the average, according to Mass General Brigham that reported 30 million travelers visited limited-resource countries overseas, but only 25 to 30% sought medical advice before they went.  

“Certain health conditions and medications can increase your health risks during travel and these risks will vary by destination, activities and mode of travel,” Weinstein said.  

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Contact Bill McIntyre at bmcintyre@globalrescue.com or 202.560.1195 (phone/text) for more information.       

About the Global Rescue Traveler Sentiment and Safety Survey        

Global Rescue, the leading travel risk and crisis response provider, conducted a survey of more than 2,000 of its current and former members between January 30 and February 4, 2023. The respondents exposed a range of behaviors, attitudes and preferences regarding international and domestic travel.      

About Global Rescue        

Global Rescue is the world’s leading provider of medical, security, evacuation and travel risk management services to enterprises, governments and individuals. Founded in 2004, Global Rescue has exclusive relationships with the Johns Hopkins Emergency Medicine Division of Special Operations and Elite Medical Group. Global Rescue provides best-in-class services that identify, monitor and respond to client medical and security crises. Global Rescue has provided medical and security support to its clients, including Fortune 500 companies, governments and academic institutions, during every globally significant crisis of the last two decades. For more information, visit www.globalrescue.com.       

The world’s most experienced travelers expose how to manage inflation, potential airline disruptions and a very busy forecast for global tourism in 2023 

Lebanon, N.H. – February 27, 2023 – Global tourism is expected to rise by 30% in 2023, according to reports and the world’s most experienced travelers have revealed their secrets, and mistakes, on how to manage the upcoming busy travel year, crowded destinations, higher costs and potential travel disruptions.  

The majority of travelers (41%) are planning trips further in advance to lock in reservations and prices, according to the Global Rescue Winter 2023 Traveler Sentiment and Safety Survey. Another 18% said they plan to travel during off-peak seasons. Thirteen percent said they will seek undiscovered destinations or locales that are off-the-beaten path, 11% said they would avoid traveling on weekends and holidays to avoid crowds, and nearly 5% revealed they would skip international travel and take trips domestically only. About 1-in-10 said they would not do anything differently. 

The predicted rise in travel coincides with higher travel-related costs. Nearly half of the surveyed travelers (45%) are planning to absorb the higher travel costs without skimping. The other half will look for less expensive destinations (13%), reserve less costly lodging (8%), shorten trips (6%), find destinations that have an advantageous currency exchange with their home country currency (5%), do less shopping (5%), dine out less (4%) and do more bleisure travel combining work-related travel with leisure trips (3%).    

Recurring news about airline staff shortages, disrupted flights, and jumps in cancellations are forcing travelers to protect their trips. More Americans are cautious after a spike in flight cancellations at the end of 2022, according to a Reuters report.   

“As travel returns to pre-pandemic levels, more travelers than ever believe emergency rescue and evacuation services are essential, whether it’s due to COVID, a natural disaster, civil unrest or simply to help assist with more complicated travel logistics. Travel protection for emergency medical services and evacuation is no longer optional; it’s obligatory,” said Dan Richards, CEO of Global Rescue, the world’s leading provider of medical, security, evacuation and travel risk management services and a member of the U.S. Travel and Tourism Advisory Board at the U.S. Department of Commerce. 

Scheduling nonstop flights (35%) whenever possible is the leading way survey respondents will manage potential flight disruptions and staff shortages followed by purchasing travel protection (30%) for delayed or canceled flights, lost luggage, and trip cancellation, according to the Global Rescue survey. Eleven percent of travelers said they will avoid checking luggage and opt for carry-on baggage and 7% said they would travel during off-peak days and times. 

As travelers plan trips for 2023, respondents revealed a shift in the types of travel they want compared to responses from spring 2022. The biggest change is a 40% dip in respondents who are planning to travel to visit family and friends. Another change is the 21% decline in surveyed travelers who are preparing for outdoor adventure trips. 

Despite the shift, outdoor adventure travel led all types of international travel planning followed by a bucket list trip (26%), a culture exploration trip (24%), visiting friends and family, a dream trip (15%) and a wellness trip (5%). A fifth of respondents reported the international trips planned for 2023 were work-related or bleisure.  

The survey revealed 7-out-of-10 of the world’s most experienced travelers are members of a Trusted Traveler Program, like TSA PreCheck or Global Entry, compared to only 22% of American flyers, according to a survey reported in Yahoo! Finance. 

As travel returns following the easing of pandemic restrictions, many travelers are readjusting to travel. According to the Global Rescue survey, even the most well-traveled individuals make mistakes following a travel layoff. Survey respondents admitted that over-packing (28%) was the biggest travel mistake since returning to travel, distantly followed by overly ambitious travel itineraries (9%).  

Travel mistakes like forgetting an international plug adapter, failing to change your phone data plan, drinking unsafe water or forgetting to notify your bank you would be out of the country each accounted for 4% or fewer responses. Letting your passport or Trusted Traveler Program membership expire, tipping inappropriately, forgetting your prescription medicine, or medical security protection each accounted for fewer than 2% of responses.  

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Contact Bill McIntyre at bmcintyre@globalrescue.com or 202.560.1195 (phone/text) for more information.      

About the Global Rescue Traveler Sentiment and Safety Survey       

Global Rescue, the leading travel risk and crisis response provider, conducted a survey of more than 2,000 of its current and former members between January 30 and February 4, 2023. The respondents exposed a range of behaviors, attitudes and preferences regarding international and domestic travel.     

About Global Rescue       

Global Rescue is the world’s leading provider of medical, security, evacuation and travel risk management services to enterprises, governments and individuals. Founded in 2004, Global Rescue has exclusive relationships with the Johns Hopkins Emergency Medicine Division of Special Operations and Elite Medical Group. Global Rescue provides best-in-class services that identify, monitor and respond to client medical and security crises. Global Rescue has provided medical and security support to its clients, including Fortune 500 companies, governments and academic institutions, during every globally significant crisis of the last two decades. For more information, visit www.globalrescue.com.      

Lebanon, N.H. – February 13, 2023 – Traveler fears of COVID continue to plummet while concerns over civil unrest increase. The Global Rescue Winter 2023 Traveler Safety and Sentiment Survey revealed the greatest anxiety among the world’s most experienced travelers about international travel is having an injury or illness unrelated to COVID. The survey further uncovered a major shift in traveler worries about civil unrest and terrorism in international destinations. 

Since August 2022, apprehension about COVID dramatically dropped at a rate of 61%, down to 13% compared to 33% in late summer, according to the results of the quarterly surveys. While COVID fears continue to plunge, other traveler reservations are rising. Traveler concerns about civil unrest and terrorism nearly doubled in the last six months, jumping to 14% in the latest survey from 8% in late summer 2022. 

Today, more than a third of travelers (37%) said their biggest fear is suffering a non-COVID illness or injury, followed by civil unrest (14%), trip cancellation (12%), being robbed (4%), natural disasters (3%) and nuclear attack (less than 1%).   

When it comes to traveling internationally there are other concerns travelers have that, while less severe than illness or injury, are nevertheless worrisome, especially as travel returns to pre-pandemic levels but staffing shortages within the travel industry persist. Nearly a quarter (23%) of survey respondents said hotel and lodging safety was most important, while 10% worry about car service and taxi safety. Some want to know if the destination is safe for families (15%) or women (11%) to travel. Ten percent want to know if they’ll need physical protection. Identity theft and cyber security remain important concerns with 9% of respondents. Less than 3% worry about automobile rental safety or environmental safety. 

“Traveler confidence is skyrocketing and they are mitigating their worries by safeguarding their trips and safety with more protections,” said Dan Richards, CEO of Global Rescue. “Whether it’s flight disruptions, war, natural disaster, or a pandemic, the new normal for travelers includes travel protection for emergency medical services and evacuation. Travel protection services are no longer a take-it-or-leave-it option. We are forecasting significant increases in demand for travel protection services,” Richards said.   

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Contact Bill McIntyre at bmcintyre@globalrescue.com or 202.560.1195 (phone/text) for more information.     

About the Global Rescue Traveler Sentiment and Safety Survey      

Global Rescue, the leading travel risk and crisis response provider, conducted a survey of more than 2,000 of its current and former members between January 30 and February 4, 2023. The respondents exposed a range of behaviors, attitudes and preferences regarding international and domestic travel.    

About Global Rescue      

Global Rescue is the world’s leading provider of medical, security, evacuation and travel risk management services to enterprises, governments and individuals. Founded in 2004, Global Rescue has exclusive relationships with the Johns Hopkins Emergency Medicine Division of Special Operations and Elite Medical Group. Global Rescue provides best-in-class services that identify, monitor and respond to client medical and security crises. Global Rescue has provided medical and security support to its clients, including Fortune 500 companies, governments and academic institutions, during every globally significant crisis of the last two decades. For more information, visit www.globalrescue.com.     

LEBANON, N.H. (Jan. 24, 2023) – U.S. Alpine Ski Team athlete Mikaela Shiffrin secured her 83rd FIS World Cup win in Italy to become the winningest female skier of all time. 

“Congratulations to the Greatest Of All Time, Mikaela Shiffrin. She is an incredibly talented, mentally resilient athlete in a highly competitive global sport. Winning her 83rd World Cup race is a spectacular achievement,” said Dan Richards, the CEO of Global Rescue, the company providing emergency and crisis support since 2006 for the U.S. Ski & Snowboard team in the event of illness or injury among any of the team members. 

Shiffrin’s win elevates her past the previous record holder, American skier Lindsey Vonn, and moves her within three victories of Ingemar Stenmark’s record of 86 World Cup wins. 

“Mikaela Shiffrin is now not only the best woman alpine skier of all time, but she is also a great person, teammate and role model for the sport of alpine skiing,” said Sophie Goldschmidt, CEO of U.S. Ski & Snowboard. “As an organization, we are so proud of her accomplishments and cannot wait to see how she further transforms the sport and the history books next.”  

Shiffrin admitted she was nervous before her run, but her anxiety washed away once it was time to go. “Everything went quiet and I just pushed as hard as I could at every turn. It’s still hard for me to believe that I have the mental focus again to be strong on the second run. It’s something I don’t take for granted.” 

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For more information contact Bill McIntyre at bmcintyre@globalrescue.com or +1 (202) 560.1195.  

About Global Rescue   

Global Rescue is the world’s leading provider of medical, security, evacuation and travel risk management services to enterprises, governments and individuals. Founded in 2004, Global Rescue has exclusive relationships with the Johns Hopkins Emergency Medicine Division of Special Operations and Elite Medical Group. Global Rescue provides best-in-class services that identify, monitor and respond to client medical and security crises. Global Rescue has provided medical and security support to its clients, including Fortune 500 companies, governments and academic institutions, during every globally significant crisis of the last two decades. For more information, visit www.globalrescue.com.  

Biden Administration pushes court to restore traveler mask mandate. 

Lebanon, NH – January 17, 2023 – Travel industry leaders strongly oppose the Biden Administration’s decision to fight to keep a mask mandate in place.  The 11th Circuit Court of Appeals will hear arguments on Tuesday from the Biden Justice Department on behalf of the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) to reinstate a mask mandate for air travel, after a federal judge in Florida struck down the mandate last April, according to news reports. 

“The decision by the Department of Justice to fight to reinstate the mask mandate is not medically indicated and it contradicts President Biden’s declaration in September that the pandemic is over,” said Dan Richards, CEO of Global Rescue, the world’s leading provider of medical, security, evacuation and travel risk management services and a member of the U.S. Travel and Tourism Advisory Board at the U.S. Department of Commerce. 

“It is a reckless, unnecessary action that will spread traveler fear and uncertainty further damaging an industry badly ravaged by the pandemic,” Richards said. 

The fight to keep mask mandates is not a popular one among travel industry groups. The U.S. Travel Association, for example, praised the elimination of the mask mandate. “The current decision to halt enforcement of the federal mask mandate effectively returns the choice of mask usage on planes and other forms of public transportation to travelers and travel industry workers, a further step toward endemic management of COVID,” Tori Emerson Barnes, the association’s executive vice president, said at the time. 

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About Global Rescue    

Global Rescue is the world’s leading provider of medical, security, evacuation and travel risk management services to enterprises, governments and individuals. Founded in 2004, Global Rescue has exclusive relationships with the Johns Hopkins Emergency Medicine Division of Special Operations and Elite Medical Group. Global Rescue provides best-in-class services that identify, monitor and respond to client medical and security crises. Global Rescue has provided medical and security support to its clients, including Fortune 500 companies, governments and academic institutions, during every globally significant crisis of the last two decades. For more information, visit www.globalrescue.com   

The World’s Most Experienced Travelers Name the Top 25 Travel Songs  

Lebanon, N.H. – January 14, 2023 – As travelers shrug off inflation and emerge from holiday travel disruptions, people are searching international trips in droves, according to a recent report. Global Rescue conducted a survey of the world’s most experienced travelers to identify a collection of the best travel songs to inspire trip-takers.   

“Travel confidence is exploding in a positive direction. TSA data reflects traveler volumes pushing past pre-pandemic levels for the first time in more than two years. Call it revenge travel or make-up travel, the comeback to international travel is surging,” said Dan Richards, CEO of Global Rescue, the world’s leading provider of medical, security, evacuation and travel risk management services and a member of the U.S. Travel and Tourism Advisory Board at the U.S. Department of Commerce.  

“People are gearing up for a return to travel after the pandemic pause. They are driving a significant rebound in travel activity and the Global Rescue survey revealed the Top 25 travel songs that inspire adventure, encourage exploration, and re-connect us with loved ones,” Richards said.     

Eddie Money’s “Two Tickets to Paradise” was identified as the favorite travel song followed by:   

• Dancing Queen by ABBA 
• Ain’t No Sunshine by Bill Withers 
• Caribbean Queen by Billie Ocean 
• Three Little Birds by Bob Marley 
• Saturday in the Park by Chicago 

• Teach Your Children by CSNY 
• Wagon Wheel by Darius Rucker 
• Already Gone by Eagles 
• Rocket Man by Elton John 
• Lose Yourself by Eminem 

• Autumn Leaves by Eric Clapton 
• Fly Me to the Moon by Frank Sinatra 
• I Got Your (I Feel Good) by James Brown 
• Don’t Stop Believin’ by Journey 
• Free Bird by Lynyrd Skynyrd 

• Nothing Else Matters by Metallica 
• Burn it to the Ground by Nickelback 
• I’m Leavin’ on a Jet Plane by Peter, Paul and Mary 
• Timber by Pitbull 
• Bohemian Rapsody by Queen 

• Born to Be Wild by Steppenwolf 
• Don’t You Worry About a Thing by Stevie Wonder 
• Burning Down the House by Talking Heads 
• Brown Eyed Girl by Van Morrison 

The complete collection of The Global Rescue Top Travel Songs is available on Spotify.  

About the Global Rescue Traveler Sentiment and Safety Survey   

Global Rescue, the leading travel risk and crisis response provider, conducted a survey of more than 1,000 of its current and former members between October 25 and 31, 2022. The respondents exposed a range of behaviors, attitudes and preferences regarding international and domestic travel.      

Contact Bill McIntyre at bmcintyre@globalrescue.com or 202.560.1195 (phone/text) for more information.  

About Global Rescue  

Global Rescue is the world’s leading provider of medical, security, evacuation and travel risk management services to enterprises, governments and individuals. Founded in 2004, Global Rescue has exclusive relationships with the Johns Hopkins Emergency Medicine Division of Special Operations and Elite Medical Group. Global Rescue provides best-in-class services that identify, monitor and respond to client medical and security crises. Global Rescue has provided medical and security support to its clients, including Fortune 500 companies, governments and academic institutions, during every globally significant crisis of the last two decades. For more information, visit www.globalrescue.com.  

Lebanon, NH – January 12, 2023 – U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo announced the re-appointment of Dan Richards, CEO of Global Rescue, the leading provider of medical, security, evacuation and travel risk management services to an additional two-year term on the U.S. Travel and Tourism Advisory Board (TTAB).

“[Richards’] experience will be important as the Board provides me with advice and counsel on issues and concerns that affect the U.S. travel and tourism industry. I appreciate your willingness to devote your time and efforts to the Board,” said Secretary Raimondo.

“I look forward to sharing my knowledge and recommendations with Secretary Raimondo and the Board to help the travel and tourism industry recover from the devastating impacts of the pandemic and work to shield the industry from future threats,” Richards said.

The board is comprised of 32 leaders from businesses and organizations in the domestic travel and tourism industry. Participating leadership includes Brian Chesky, the CEO of Airbnb, Bill Hornbuckle, the CEO of MGM Resorts and Matt Goldberg, the CEO of Trip Advisor, among others. Members advise the Secretary of Commerce on how government policies and programs affect the travel and tourism industry and offer counsel on current and emerging issues to support sustainable growth of the travel and tourism industry as our nation’s economic engine.

“Travel and tourism returned with force in 2022 as we opened up our country once again to visitors from around the globe,” said Secretary Raimondo. “The U.S. Travel and Tourism Advisory Board plays a vital role in providing expert recommendations and industry insight to optimize the American travel experience,” she said.

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Contact Bill McIntyre at bmcintyre@globalrescue.com  or 202.560.1195 (phone/text) for more information.

About Global Rescue

Global Rescue is the world’s leading provider of medical, security, evacuation and travel risk management services to enterprises, governments and individuals. Founded in 2004, Global Rescue has exclusive relationships with the Johns Hopkins Emergency Medicine Division of Special Operations and Elite Medical Group. Global Rescue provides best-in-class services that identify, monitor and respond to client medical and security crises. Global Rescue has provided medical and security support to its clients, including Fortune 500 companies, governments and academic institutions, during every globally significant crisis of the last two decades. For more information, visit www.globalrescue.com. 

Rescue and medical evacuation teams are standing by
to assist travelers who may need field rescue, medical evacuation or medical advisory.

Lebanon, NH – January 6, 2023 – Global Rescue operations experts are standing by to assist travelers who may need field rescue, medical evacuation or medical advisory due to the volcanic activity reported within Halemaʻumaʻu crater in Kīlauea’s summit caldera within Hawaii Volcanoes National Park.

According to the U.S. Geological Service Volcano Notification Service (USGS VNS), the Kīlauea volcano began erupting at approximately 4:34 p.m. HST on January 5, 2023, when the USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory detected a glow in Kīlauea summit webcam images indicating that the eruption had resumed.

“Global Rescue’s intelligence and operations teams are monitoring the event and will report unsafe sulfur dioxide levels in the area in case air quality decreases,” said Dan Richards, CEO of Global Rescue, the leading provider of medical, security, evacuation and travel risk management services. “Travelers are advised to monitor developments as conditions can change rapidly and with little notice.”

The opening phases of eruptions are dynamic, according to information from USGS. “Webcam imagery shows fissures at the base of Halemaʻumaʻu crater generating lava flows on the surface of the crater floor.”

The USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory elevate Kīlauea’s volcano alert level to WARNING and its aviation color code to RED as this eruption and associated hazards are evaluated.

“Flight disruptions or evacuations may be ordered if the situation escalates. Travelers should be prepared to utilize any means necessary to exit the affected region, including air, sea and land travel. Monitor local media, government alerts and airport notices to stay informed as the situation develops,” said Harding Bush, a former Navy SEAL and senior manager of security for Global Rescue.

“Travelers should check with the airlines and see if they are still able to fly to their destinations. Volcanic ash is a dangerous element of a volcanic eruption. The ash can damage aviation equipment, it’s very fine and can damage jet engines. Ground vehicle transportation may be affected, too, for the same reasons,” Bush said.

Volcanic ash near a flight path shuts down all aviation. In 2010 a volcano eruption in Iceland shut down air travel in Europe for a significant time.

“Travelers have learned that anything can happen during a trip, especially since the pandemic. Their mindset has made a tectonic shift, moving travel protection for emergency evacuation from ‘optional’ to ‘obligatory’. Travelers learned that emergency rescue and evacuation services are often essential, whether it’s due to COVID-19, a natural disaster, civil unrest or simply needing emergency help when you’re traveling,” Richards said.

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Contact Bill McIntyre at bmcintyre@globalrescue.com or 202.560.1195 (phone/text) for more information.

About Global Rescue

Global Rescue is the world’s leading provider of medical, security, evacuation and travel risk management services to enterprises, governments and individuals. Founded in 2004, Global Rescue has exclusive relationships with the Johns Hopkins Emergency Medicine Division of Special Operations and Elite Medical Group. Global Rescue provides best-in-class services that identify, monitor and respond to client medical and security crises. Global Rescue has provided medical and security support to its clients, including Fortune 500 companies, governments and academic institutions, during every globally significant crisis of the last two decades. For more information, visit www.globalrescue.com.