| As if Trade Show and Exhibit Professionals did not | | | | - When leaving your booth areas, secure sensitive |
| have enough to concern themselves with, proper | | | | equipment and personal items. Criminals populate |
| preparation begins with the planning stages and | | | | congregated areas, are in our midst and are as well |
| concludes with the closing bell. Remember that your | | | | dressed as the next exhibitor. Opportunities create |
| security and safety planning and execution | | | | criminal misconduct. |
| considerations are not factors that should be | | | | - Because exhibit halls tend to attract people, men |
| overlooked or taken lightly. Having them included in | | | | should not carry wallets in their back pockets and |
| your welcome packages will increase exhibitor's value | | | | women should not leave their purses unattended. |
| of the venue, the organizers and the potential | | | | When working exhibits carry only what you need for |
| customers. "An ounce of prevention is worth a point of | | | | the day. Opportunity criminals know that suitcases, |
| cure." | | | | pocketbooks and other valuables are placed on the |
| Merely planning for the sales lead and having the best | | | | floor under the counters. Place items behind you, out of |
| exhibit that attracts the most number of clients are | | | | sight. If possible, ensure there is always a co-worker at |
| primary goals all exhibitors should strive to achieve. | | | | your booth. |
| However, being conscious of the critical issues | | | | - Carrying laptops is both fashionable and essential to |
| affecting the lead and the success of the exhibit takes | | | | ones daily activities. Yet, laptops are the most sought |
| constant care. Here are some suggestions to help | | | | after piece of technology. Why not install anti-theft |
| make your efforts worthwhile and all it takes is a little | | | | software or Bio-stiks to deny access incident to a |
| planning or having the experts plan the security | | | | theft or loss. |
| process with you and your potential customers in mind. | | | | - In certain communities incidents of thefts of a |
| - When you plan your event or determine that you will | | | | particular auto ranks extremely attractive, drivers of |
| participate in an event, know that location and distance | | | | targeted vehicles should be warned. Welcome |
| has a relevance to the personal safety of you and | | | | packets should contain a handy reference sheet of |
| your staff and the security of your property. Do not | | | | Dos and Don'ts. This and most security concerns can |
| assume that because the venue is providing security | | | | be addressed with the security survey conducted by |
| that the worries are over. The perceptions harbored | | | | your workplace security expert and information |
| by your prospects are a real concern to your success. | | | | provided by local police. Large exhibits attract auto |
| Hire someone to be your eyes and ears. | | | | thieves. |
| - Planning without a security survey of your target | | | | - When traveling in public areas do not assume the |
| location and situation could expose you to safety and | | | | person walking behind you is a trusted exhibitor or |
| security concerns you may assume are not barriers to | | | | attendee, especially when walking in stairwells or |
| a successful event. However, your prospective | | | | entering empty rooms or bathrooms. Do so with the |
| attendee might and not attend. | | | | utmost in care. If you are greeted, respond in kind. Do |
| - Airline travel is a challenge at best these days. Will | | | | not give any inkling of intimidation. |
| the level of security restrict travel individuals who might | | | | - When entering bathrooms early in the morning upon |
| be at risk and will the location have an impact on the | | | | arrival or late at night, check empty stalls, they are not |
| decision. | | | | always empty and scan rooms before entering alone. |
| - Travel arrangements are sensitive concerns to | | | | - Access control should require the displaying of a daily |
| foreign travelers and women in general. Appropriate | | | | badge by all, which distinguishes exhibitor from |
| arrangements at airports can be made by having | | | | attendees. These badges should be issued to all |
| greeters to coordinate travel to venue and alerting | | | | attendees until the closure of the event. |
| travelers of the unique criminal potentials most | | | | - Display Badges should require issuance to those who |
| travelers are not aware of. | | | | present a valid photo identification card or driver's |
| - Exhibit halls are attractive locations to terrorists | | | | license, which is entered into a database. |
| because IED Explosive devices (Improvised Explosive | | | | - When arriving to the facility parking lot, take care to |
| Devices) can be easily carried, placed and left. What | | | | observe the area as you drive in. Scan casually to |
| protective measures are exhibit coordinators taking as | | | | notice any strange behavior or activity. |
| countermeasures? Do you know the security plan or is | | | | - Do not wait to place valuables in the trunk after |
| it left to Mr. Assumption? | | | | parking; by that time you take the risk, you will have |
| - The location of medical facilities approximate to the | | | | alerted the opportunity criminal to your behavior. Most |
| exhibit facilities is critical when there are special medical | | | | criminals observe such behavior as telltale signs and |
| situations. Such minor details should not be overlooked | | | | await the arrival of unsuspecting victims. Store your |
| in the welcome packet. | | | | valuables in the hotel safe or in the trunk prior to |
| - Police departments want to help. Make them aware | | | | departure and arrival to your destination. |
| of the exhibition's location, duration and the existence | | | | - When traveling in a car, avoid pulling in nose first into |
| of special situations, needs or persons of interest, | | | | a parking if you can help it. Park with the front-end of |
| knowing this tidbit might increase participation. | | | | your vehicle out ALWAYS unless otherwise posted. |
| - Special medical situations should be presented to the | | | | Escape and Survival is your personal goal. Accidents |
| local medical center in the case of a blood type need | | | | do happen. |
| or emergency medical procedure. Such critical need | | | | - When arriving or departing at dusk or sunrise, do not |
| situations should be coordinated early on for swift | | | | enter a lonely facility alone. If security is not visible or |
| evacuation or response by first responders. | | | | you do not see, anyone you know do not enter alone. |
| - Exhibitors, employees and participants should be | | | | Certainly, do not enter the exhibit area alone. |
| informed to wear identification markings for routine | | | | - Remember that if you are planning to attract a |
| security and in case of an emergency, which should | | | | certain prospect, their attendance might be affected |
| include contact information. | | | | by the care and concern you dedicate to the security |
| - Exhibit information should address tourist boundaries | | | | process. Do not leave anything to chance. Abductions, |
| in affect to protect unsuspecting exhibitors, employees | | | | robberies, car thefts and theft of personal belongings |
| and attendees from wandering into perilous situations. | | | | and computers are security concerns for attendees. |
| - While at the exhibit venue, knowing emergency | | | | Attendees at exhibit halls are appealing victims for |
| evacuation procedures is useful. All too often security | | | | Identity Theft. Secure your credit card transactions, if |
| becomes the sole responsibility of the security guard | | | | you can pay by check or cash. |
| provider. Security is everyone's responsibility. Include | | | | - Coordinate security needs of key personnel in |
| such information in the welcome packet to include a | | | | advance. If you promote an event at limited or |
| briefing to all by operations on how to evacuate, | | | | restricted, ensure you abide by the notice. Those who |
| where to rally, recovery and security procedures. | | | | attend do so expecting a certain level of care and will |
| Emergency evacuations are optimal opportunities | | | | expect a security conscious environment. |
| when thefts occur and control becomes a major | | | | - And finally yet importantly is accountability. In case of |
| factor. This is not the time to practice Crisis | | | | a theft, police would like to know what was stolen. |
| Communications! | | | | Having a Checklist of all your personal and exhibit |
| - Ensure there are trained personnel in Crisis | | | | property will aid police in the recovery of the property |
| Communication if there is no local security or police | | | | in the event of an arrest or Lost and Found. |
| coordination. The worst fear is the exposure a victim | | | | - Checklist should also be used to close down your |
| suffers in a crisis when no one informs them or | | | | exhibit areas at the end of the exhibit. |
| instructs them on what to do or expect. | | | | At the end of the day, the level of care and safety |
| Communicating with the emergency responders is | | | | exhibitors provide exhibitors, employees, guests and |
| vitally important. This is en entire presentation worth | | | | visitor will determine the level of exposure if negligence |
| hearing. | | | | is the charge. |