Before the luxurious accommodations, the experience, the F&B and all the rest, the safety of attendees is front and center. Although these other event aspects can happen without security, if attendees’ safety is in question, it’s questionable if things will. Here are several stories from the last year that covered the many security checkpoints that follow attendees from the airport to their hotel room.
Flight Safety Under Scrutiny
As more travelers began to take to the skies post-pandemic, and following several skyborne incidents, air safety became more of a concern. Looking for answers, we spoke with Sheldon H. Jacobson, professor of computer science at the University of Illinois and aviation security analytics researcher, about the risks associated with traveling at 30,000 ft.
A Security Flaw in Millions of Hotel Keycard Locks Has Been Found. What Does that Mean for Planners?
At a private event in Las Vegas, a group of researchers found a hacking technique called Unsaflok, allowing hackers to open several models of Saflok RFID-based keycards, putting meeting planners and their attendees potentially at risk. Although the hack was discovered in 2022, researchers hadn’t come out with the news until this year.
Alan Kleinfeld, senior director of meetings and safety at Arrive Management Group, shared a few tips about what meeting profs could do, which can apply to this specific scenario and event safety in general.
Risk Management: Events are Risky Business
Through all the contingency planning, it’s important to keep in mind that not all risks are equal. Caspian Agency CEO Heather Mason suggests weighting risk, a process of understanding the concepts of frequency and impact of incidents. The process of weighting risks can have a positive impact on your planning budget.
Event Crisis Communication Templates Worth Copying
What do you do when crisis strikes pre-event? Do you have a plan in place?
Mark Catuogno, director of global events, MC Event Consulting, who also holds a master’s degree in emergency and disaster management and homeland security from American Military University, shares what he’s learned about how best to handle events in uncertain times, from the planning and internal communication to best practices for event cancellation documentation and methods to contact attendees.
What to Expect When Booking A-List Event Speakers
Gathering people in a 9,000-square-foot ballroom comes with risks. Introducing an A-list speaker to said event ups the risk ante a little. When booking a high-level name for your event, there are several security-related questions and concerns to keep in mind.
