Before I left on my last business trip to the United Arab Emirates and Hong Kong, I asked Global Traveler‘s publisher and CEO, Fran Gallagher, if the team could send in a copy of their passports to have on record in case it gets lost during a trip. I don’t know why I felt compelled to have everyone send in their passport copies. As luck would have it, my passport was stolen in Hong Kong.

It happened at the airport after I arrived on Feb. 4. I cleared customs and bought my airport express ticket at the automated ticket booth. I put the ticket in my passport, which was in my passport holder, threw the holder in my bag (which was open, I let my guard down) and walked the 15-second walk to the train platform. After I got on and the train started moving, I realized my passport was gone.

As this was on Saturday, the embassy was closed. I worked with staffers at the hotel, Langham Place, who were extremely helpful and made a stressful situation seamless for me. We filed all the necessary police reports that day. The next day, Sunday, I went back to the airport to check with the police at the airport, as I knew exactly the time and place it happened. The were of no help.

I proceeded to call the emergency number at the embassy. They made an 8:30 a.m. Monday appointment and had an emergency passport issued right away, which I picked up at the end of the day. Luckily, no business meetings were jeopardized, and my schedule didn’t have to change.

Because I had the copy of my passport, the embassy could move the paperwork through much more quickly and easily than if I didn’t. The staff at the embassy were absolutely wonderful and helpful. It made me proud to carry a U.S. passport.

Long story short, make sure a loved one or colleague has a scanned copy of your passport they can email to you in an emergency. Or carry a copy with you!

— Alex Young, vice president and associate publisher