The security environment in the 21st century has become more chaotic because the risks have changed and this is what the business traveller faces today.

From transnational terrorism, to the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, to continual sectarian violence, there is greater personal risk in doing business.

Before the Jakarta bombing (last August), nobody questioned where they should or should not stay. Now they do.

The watershed was 9-11 and from a corporate perspective you can lose the CEO, colleagues, a department, and we are seeing a new level of fear now even though terrorism has been around for a long time.

Apart from safety and security, the outbreak of SARS last year added the health issue in the travel equation.

Companies fear liability and individuals themselves are concerned. Some have refused to travel to certain destinations, and some companies have pulled out of some locations.

But companies and business travellers should place terrorism and health concerns in perspective. In the region, we have not seen the kind of day-to-day risk as in Israel. Hopefully, we will not have to and it can certainly be avoided.

To find the balance between paranoia and overconfidence, companies must integrate security protocol into travel policies. All SOS clients have a security plan in place to a different degree.

To minimise exposure, pick low-profile hotels, choose certain floors, go straight from the lobby to your room, do not eat in restaurants near road access, etc.

If travellers have to be sent to high-risk places, send those who are fit and have no medical conditions.

Companies must have action-oriented plans, meaning they enable them by training their crisis management teams to test and adjust the plans.

From what we saw with the Jakarta bombing, where hotels and shopping centres increased their security, money will only be spent when security is compromised.

But education is the best way to overcome the paranoia and my advice is to know what to do you when you arrive and do it.