Tradeshow Security: Is a Police Presence Desirable?
Gary Tufel -- Tradeshow Week, 9/20/2004
Security at convention centers, which are designed to facilitate easy access for vast numbers of people, presents particular challenges. To meet this challenge, several major facilities, including those in Anaheim, Las Vegas, New York and Orlando, have assigned police officers to work with facility staff or from on-site police stations.
How important is this to show managers? And is it a factor in making a choice about where to hold a show? Contributing Editor Gary Tufel asked a few of them.
"Because of heightened security concerns post-9/11, it's becoming necessary for a trained security presence to be found in convention centers. Large gatherings of demographically segmented people can certainly be a target for terror, and become more so every day. Those buildings that are proactively concerned with the safety of the events they house, and the visitors that they host, are those that are more likely to attract our business."
Gary Shaw, Director, meeting services, American Society for Clinical Pathology
"Our main security objectives are to control access to the showfloor and conference sessions and to ensure that participants do not have to be worried about their personal safety or property loss. On-site police officers would certainly elevate security levels, but for most events we don't typically need to pay a rate that is often double. Major exceptions include events where there have been protests against industry practices or individual exhibitors, events that have products that have a high likelihood of theft and events where there have been concerns with labor actions.
"Is security a factor in where a show is held? After you get through strategically analyzing venues as to the industry's concentration, whether it's the right destination and whether they have the right dates and date sequences, whether there's an on-site police force becomes a secondary issue."
Bob Stewart, Senior marketing executive, Primedia Exhibitions
"Security is a critical aspect when producing a show. A facility that has an on-site police presence or police station is a long-overdue idea. Would that be a deciding factor for us when selecting a facility? Probably not, but it helps the cause."
Eric Udler, President, FSI
"If I am selecting a site for a show, I want to be assured that their security is buttoned up, but most important is knowing that they have contingency plans in place in the event they are needed.
"Psychologically, I think a large number of on-site uniformed police are a negative; I'd prefer to have sufficient building security people present in plain clothes and liaison to our show security. I want our shows to have a safe, secure, warm and friendly atmosphere to the best extent possible without sacrificing anything from a security standpoint."
Diane Stone, Incoming COO, World Shoe Assn.
"Security is always a concern, and having a police presence in a facility is a definite advantage, but I doubt that it would impact the decision on whether to use one facility over another. It certainly has not played a part in any facility choice I have ever been involved in."
David Audrain, CEM, COO and executive vice president, ConvExx Show Management
"There is something about a uniformed officer that elevates the perception of security at our shows, whether it's valid or not. The increased level of security that comes with travel these days (from airports to hotels) already puts our exhibitors and attendees a little more on edge. The presence of uniformed security has served to take some of that edge off, as well as show our people that we take their safety seriously.
"Our shows are so sensitive to the markets we're in that, while on-site police presence is an added value, I can't ascribe it too much weight when making site selections. It is a factor, but not one that tips the scales."
Lee Arevian, Group show director, VNU Expositions
"The presence of on-site police officers at convention centers seems like an idea which is past due, considering that centers become small cities in their own right during major conventions. At AABB, we ask many more questions about security than we once did, but as yet we have not required on-site police. However, the presence of trained and professional police officers would be a huge bonus, since we are responsible for the welfare of thousands of people during our meeting.
"I can easily foresee a time when in-house police could become a determining factor as to where we meet, given our increased concerns with security."
Vicki Hawarden, Director of meetings and programs, AABB
"Security is an important issue. The safety and well-being of our attendees, exhibitors and staff continue to be priorities. Facilities that have an on-site police presence can make planning for possible situations much easier to deal with.
"As show producers, it is our job to be prepared when security and safety situations arise, so having an on-site police presence would be a plus. At Hanley Wood, every show manager produces an emergency management planning guide that details the steps on how to plan and manage these situations. Facilities now, more than ever, are willing to assist with these plans."
Tom Cindric, Show director, World of Concrete and World of Concrete Mexico, Hanley Wood Exhibitions
"Having a police presence at America's convention centers would go a long way in providing a sense of security, but it would not be the only way ... nor would it necessarily be the right way to provide for real security. America is a country founded on freedom, and the world's terrorists are desirous of taking away those freedoms. As members of the tradeshow industry, we must strive to do our part to work to protect our venues, our customers and the future of our industry."
Jeff Price, President, Cygnus Expositions
