Brett Mitchell, Overland Park (Kan.) Convention Center; Larry Arnaudet, ESCA; Brad Mayne, IAVM, and Neil McMullin, Fern Exposition and Event Services, introduced EMSSI to the attendees at the International Convention Center Conference in Pasadena Oct. 28, emphasizing this is an industry-wide initiative to adopt safety and security standards for Safety Act certification. (VT Photo)
Driven by a need to address overall security for convention centers, three prominent industry groups have formed the Exhibitions and Meetings Safety and Security Initiative (EMSSI).
“Stadiums have security initiatives. Arenas have security initiatives. It is important that those in the convention center business, where so much activity takes place, have their own initiatives to address the growing threats of not just terrorism but also the ‘lone wolf’ activities that we have seen occur more frequently in the country,” said Brad Mayne, president and chief executive officer of the International Association of Venue Managers (IAVM).
Mayne, along with his peers David DuBois with the International Association of Exhibitions and Events (IAEE) and Larry Arnaudet with the Exhibition Services & Contractors Association (ESCA), all Dallas-area based associations, spearheaded the drive behind the EMSSI.
“Our primary need behind the formation of EMSSI is in response to the enhanced and current security threats in the United States,” DuBois said. “Our convention centers are considered safe but we must proactively work to identify and support additional smart practices and guidelines that enhance our safety and security efforts.”
Mayne cited recent terroristic acts that involved not just convention centers but other targets such as nightclubs, theaters, shopping malls and even the workplace. But with so many entrances to so many of the massive convention centers, there is always the looming threat at these particular venues where the public gathers for trade shows, exhibitions and meetings.
“We have to be vigilant and prepared,” he said. “This is an initiative that already has several supporting organizations behind it. We are aligning our security guidelines with federal programs and the Department of Homeland Security. It can’t be just one organization. It will take all of us to carry this through to ensure the safety and security of not just those who work at these venues but the guests who enter.”
Mayne said that the initiative is on a fast track and that it will hopefully be completed by March 2017.
The genesis for EMSSI began in July with the formation of an Industry Security Council (ISC) comprised of industry professionals including meeting planners, show organizers, security professionals and convention center executives. Some of the supporting organizations already on board in addition to IAVM, IAEE and ESCA include Meeting Professionals International, American Society of Association Executives, American College of Emergency Physicians, Destination Marketing Association International, American Society of Industrial Security, Security Industry Association, Meetings Mean Business Coalition, U.S. Travel Association, Freeman, GES and many more.
“Several of our venues are coming on board as well,” Mayne said. “We have the George R. Brown (Cnvention Center, Houston), Kay Bailey Hutchison (Convention Center, Dallas) and Colorado Convention Center and will be adding to the group.”
“We will definitely add organizations to our list of supporting groups,” added DuBois. “Their support and communications efforts are critical to the success of this initiative. We have also established a $250,000 fundraising goal that will enable us to fund the important work that has and will continue to take place by very passionate industry professionals.”
All anyone needs to know about the economic impact of convention centers is revealed by a Convention Industry Council (CIC) report estimating that meetings, exhibitions and business travel have an impact of $283 billion, generate $44.9 billion in taxes and represents 2.3 million jobs to America. Growth has been strong over the past seven years and the trend and forecast shows it to remain strong.
The public launch took place on Oct. 10-12 at IMEX America in Las Vegas, where over 10,000 attendees representing the incentive travel, meetings and events industry gathered. Mayne said that the information shared by himself, DuBois and Arnaudet was well received by the audience, which included Bruce Davidson, director of the U.S. Office of SAFETY Act Implementation. Ray Bloom, IMEX Group Chairman, said that there is no greater issue facing the industry and to start the process of agreeing to a comprehensive set of nationally recognized event security guidelines and standards is an extremely important and valuable step for everyone.
“We have established four sub-committees that will meet by phone over the next several weeks,” DuBois said. “They will deliberate and make suggestions for industry guidelines/smart practices recommendations. Those recommendations will be reviewed by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security Safety Act Office and will be incorporated into our industry supported application to the USDHS Safety Act Accreditation/Certification program.”
The four sub-committees are the Physical Security/Site Assessment, Methodology, Insurance/Legal and Cyber Security. The next meeting of the ISC takes place during IAEE’s Expo! Expo! 2016 annual meeting Dec. 6-8 in Anaheim, Calif.
Mayne is excited about the creation of a portal that will allow venues and organizations the ability to see, review and implement the upcoming best practices and protocols. It is another layer of security that is vital to any venue.
“We really are pushing this initiative along while at the same time going through due diligence and working with the various entities,” he said. “This will be something new for our members that can be utilized on an ongoing basis and help ‘harden’ venues when it comes to security.”
“Our entire industry will benefit through this initiative as our convention centers will become that much more safe and secure,” DuBois said. “That is the most important result of all this hard work. Our smart practices/guidelines will be shared to everyone and will also help to protect the many meetings and exhibitions that take place in hotels, stadiums, arenas and theaters.”
Interviewed for this article: Brad Mayne, (972) 538-1021; David DuBois, (972) 687-9204