It's a scenario familiar to any business traveler. Your airline flight was delayed, the cab line at the airport was endless and check-in was a mess. Jet lag has struck. It's very late, you're tired and you have a breakfast meeting with a key client at 6:30 AM. You grab your key, avoid the bellman and head to your room to collapse into bed. Stop. Take the next 5 minutes to perform these safety, security and cleanliness checks and prepare for the next day. These "how to's" will save you time the next morning, they could even save your life some day.

   1. When you enter your room prop the door open, turn on the lights, check the closets, bathroom, under the bed and behind the drapes. Mistakes do happen and sometimes someone else has been assigned to your room. This happens more frequently in suites with adjoining bedrooms that can be sold as separate rooms. Or there could be a thief. In any case, don't close the door until you are sure the room is empty.

    2. Check that the connecting doors, windows and sliding doors are locked. In general, avoid first floor rooms with sliding doors.

    3. Once you lock the door and attach the safety chain, check the diagram on the back to review the nearest exits and mentally plan your escape route. Look out the door to check that the exit signs are illuminated. If the lights are out, be helpful and contact the front desk to let them know. The few seconds that it takes to review the exit information can save your life in the event of a fire, earthquake or other emergency. Just do it. FYI, most fire engine ladders can only reach up to the 6th floor.

    4. Be sure that the heat or air-conditioner, lights, phone, radio and television are working. Turn on the shower and sink to check the water pressure and temperature. If they aren't working, switch rooms now. It's not worth waiting for someone to fix the problem, especially late at night.

    5. Turn back the bed and lift up the pillows. Are the sheets clean and fresh? A colleague learned this lesson the hard way after waking up one morning with strange cornpads attached to her legs. After reading that sentence I bet you'll always check from now on, right?

    6. Is the bathroom clean? Are the towels fresh? Is there soap? Is there toilet paper? You'll need them tomorrow morning so be sure they are there now.

    7. Check the hair dryer, if they have one; or yours, if you brought one. Plug it in and turn it on. You don't want to be stuck with wet hair 15 minutes before a big presentation. If this does happen and you are driving (or cabbing) to your meeting -- roll the windows down and turn the fan up. Your hair may be tousled, but it least it won't drip on the client.

    8. Check any other appliances that you use; iron, electric razor, etc.; to be sure they are working. If you are a true frequent traveler, you probably avoid clothes that need to be ironed or fussed over. Hang up whatever you need to be ready for the next morning. Except for linen, wrinkles are not fashionable.

    9. Travel across time zones can disrupt anyone's internal body clock and cause jet lag. Set your wind-up or battery-operated alarm clock -- and be sure it is set to the correct local time.Use the wake-up call and hotel alarm as back-up.

    10. Before you fall asleep, place your wallet or purse, room key and glasses on the night table; put some shoes and a robe or other cover-up near the night table. In the unlikely event of an emergency, you'll need to get out of your room quickly. In case it is a false alarm, you'll want to get back to your room and get back to sleep. You'll need your key, or you'll spend a lot of time wandering around the lobby in your underwear waiting to get a new one. I also travel with a small plastic flashlight attached to my key chain. It has come in handy on several occasions.

    No matter how exhausted you are, take the time to perform these checks. Even the best hotels have housekeeping errors and front desk mistakes. Business travel is stressful enough - take control of the things that can help you get a good night's sleep.