Since 1980, Tom Clayton has secured the release of hundreds of kidnapping victims. Today, he is regarded as the best hostage negotiator in the business, and his security company, Clayton Consulting, as one of the best of its kind in the world. Next week, Clayton will be in Boston to give a talk on the growing risks of international travel. He spoke with the Phoenix from his office in San Diego.

Q: Has this business changed much since you got involved in it?

A: The crime of kidnapping seems to be like other crimes — it goes in waves. Right now, we’re in the middle of a wave of kidnappings worldwide. Ten years ago, a dozen or so countries were a problem, now there aren’t that many places where kidnapping isn’t a problem. It’s keeping us very busy.

Q: How many employees do you have?

A: We don’t talk numbers, because most of our people are overseas, and we don’t like to spotlight them. Let’s just say we cover the entire world.

Q: How many negotiations have you handled personally?

A: I don’t know, 300, 400, something like that. One of these days, I’ll retire and go back and count them. I can tell you that we have two going on right now.

Q: What skills do you need to be a good hostage negotiator?

A: Language, area knowledge. We don’t send someone to India today, Africa tomorrow. Every negotiator must be thoroughly imbued with the language, the culture, the customs of the area he’s in.

Q: And you have to walk a fine line between being firm but not antagonistic.

A: You have to know your business. If you’re in salary negotiation or you’re buying a house, you know the people you’re talking to, what they want, the bottom line. And you know the best thing is for both parties to end up relatively satisfied. You want to be a bit more satisfied, but the other side has to be satisfied too, or you’ll never see your victim again.

Q: It’s surprising to hear you compare this to buying a house. I imagine your average kidnapper is a bit more mercurial than the average real-estate agent.

A: The kidnapper may put on an act, threaten and scream, say he’s going to kill the victim or cut off the victim’s head or an arm or something. But I’ve never lost a client, I’ve never lost a head or an arm. They have something I want, and I have something they want. One has to assume they are basically reasonable human beings who want money and know how to get it.

Q: Have you ever negotiated with the same person more than once?

A: Yes, many years ago, in Colombia. That was odd.

Q: Do you enjoy what you do?

A: It gets a bit tight once in a while. It’s a very dangerous situation to be kidnapped. A ransom negotiation might last a year, or even two. And once you’ve paid, it can take two to three months for the victim to be released. Those will be the longest two or three months of your life.

Q: And these are bad guys you’re talking to. Does it get scary?

A: It does. I’ve spent a lot of time in areas I didn’t want to be. I keep my head down. I know how to keep myself out of other people’s gun sights.

Q: What about the argument that we shouldn’t negotiate with kidnappers?

A: Let me tell you, if my son or my wife were kidnapped, I would pay the ransom. There’s the principle that if everyone refused to negotiate, there would be no more kidnappings. But if you refused and your son or your wife were killed, how do you know that the next person won’t pay? They probably would.

Q: What should I do if I get kidnapped?

A: Keep your mouth shut. Put up with it. If you give them any problems, they’ll kill you.

Clayton will be at the Downtown Club, 225 Franklin Street, in Boston, from noon until 2 p.m. on Wednesday, January 15. The cost of the event is $45, including lunch. Call (617) 720-3622 for details.