Event security has become a top concern for
meeting planners, as incidents of gun violence and natural disasters --
not to mention everyday dangers ranging from car accidents to allergic
reactions to food -- seem to take place all the time. Organizers of
events can no longer afford to tell themselves that a breach of security
or other mishap is unlikely to happen at their convention or gathering.
A meeting plan that honestly assesses potential risks for events is now
table stakes for any gathering.
To help planners understand how best to navigate this new reality, we sat down with Bruce McIndoe, president and founder of WorldAware, which helps organizations identify and manage risks they are likely to face. In this episode of Eventful: The Podcast for Meeting Professionals,
McIndoe touches on a number of issues event planners should keep in
mind when it comes to the dangers facing their gatherings, including:
- Why monitoring social media is now a component of protecting your meetings
- Why it's vital to ask about every scenario and situation: "What could go wrong?"
- Why you can't count on signage alone to dissuade bad behavior
- How to develop a "risk profile" for your organization and event