{"id":606,"date":"2024-04-10T22:20:11","date_gmt":"2024-04-10T22:20:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/mastertheevent.com\/?p=606"},"modified":"2024-04-10T22:20:12","modified_gmt":"2024-04-10T22:20:12","slug":"event-planning-in-the-age-of-terrorism-are-you-prepared","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mastertheevent.com\/event-planning-in-the-age-of-terrorism-are-you-prepared\/","title":{"rendered":"Event Planning in the Age of Terrorism, Are You Prepared?"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_65 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<label for=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-662df69ebfa77\" class=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-label\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/label><input type=\"checkbox\"  id=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-662df69ebfa77\" checked aria-label=\"Toggle\" \/><nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/mastertheevent.com\/event-planning-in-the-age-of-terrorism-are-you-prepared\/#The_Terrorist_Attacks_of_911_Had_a_Huge_Impact_on_Event_Planning\" title=\"The Terrorist&nbsp;Attacks of 9\/11&nbsp;Had a Huge Impact on Event Planning\">The Terrorist&nbsp;Attacks of 9\/11&nbsp;Had a Huge Impact on Event Planning<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/mastertheevent.com\/event-planning-in-the-age-of-terrorism-are-you-prepared\/#An_Event_Planning_Checklist_Must_Include_Emergency_Preparedness\" title=\"An Event Planning Checklist Must Include Emergency Preparedness\">An Event Planning Checklist Must Include Emergency Preparedness<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/mastertheevent.com\/event-planning-in-the-age-of-terrorism-are-you-prepared\/#Some_of_the_topics_on_the_website_include\" title=\"Some of the topics on the website include:\">Some of the topics on the website include:<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/mastertheevent.com\/event-planning-in-the-age-of-terrorism-are-you-prepared\/#Event_Planning_and_Emergency_Preparedness_Did_the_Boston_Bombings_Reflect_a_Change\" title=\"Event Planning and Emergency Preparedness, Did the Boston Bombings Reflect a Change?\">Event Planning and Emergency Preparedness, Did the Boston Bombings Reflect a Change?<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/mastertheevent.com\/event-planning-in-the-age-of-terrorism-are-you-prepared\/#Additional_resources\" title=\"Additional resources:\">Additional resources:<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n\n<p>In light of last week\u2019s Boston bombings, I began to reflect on how the event planning industry has changed since 9\/11. Unfortunately we live in an age where terrorist attacks are an ongoing threat. Emergency preparedness, it seems, is becoming a \u201cmust include\u201d component to an&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/web.archive.org\/web\/20210120190015\/http:\/\/mastertheevent.com\/event-planning-checklist\/\">event planning checklist<\/a>. Any meeting or event planner that is not prepared to react to a terrorism threat is, quite frankly, leaving their group vulnerable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"The_Terrorist_Attacks_of_911_Had_a_Huge_Impact_on_Event_Planning\"><\/span>The Terrorist&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/web.archive.org\/web\/20210120190015\/http:\/\/maps.google.com\/maps?ll=40.713,-74.0135&amp;spn=0.05,0.05&amp;q=40.713,-74.0135%20(September%2011%20attacks)&amp;t=h\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Attacks of 9\/11<\/a>&nbsp;Had a Huge Impact on Event Planning<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Back in September of 2001 I was part of a full service&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/web.archive.org\/web\/20210120190015\/http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Destination_management_company\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Destination Management Company<\/a>&nbsp;(DMC). Anyone involved with event planning knows that September can be a very busy month for our industry. Like everybody, I remember exactly what I was doing when I heard the awful news on that fateful Tuesday morning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>We had a group that was just getting underway (they were from Chicago). Of course in those days, we all had the false security that terrorist attacks didn\u2019t happen on North American soil. Needless to say, it became obvious to us that this group\u2019s activities, and the meeting itself, would not be proceeding. But, as air travel was shut down for days, the task for us was to get this group back to Chicago. Because of our supplier contacts in Toronto, we were able to secure coaches to transfer the attendees home. My company kept in contact with our local CVB, Tourism Toronto, as well as Canadian and American border officials. This coordination, albeit in the middle of chaos like we\u2019ve never seen before, enabled us to get this group home within a couple of days.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>My advice to any event or meeting planner working with a DMC would be to ask, upfront, what are their emergency plans. If they don\u2019t have one, don\u2019t use them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"An_Event_Planning_Checklist_Must_Include_Emergency_Preparedness\"><\/span>An Event Planning Checklist Must Include Emergency Preparedness<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Like many businesses, my company\u2019s revenues were devastated after 9\/11. After all, that was the goal of the terrorists. According to a study group that was put together by New York City officials shortly after 9\/11, some of the economic losses hit the event planning industry hard. For example:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul><li>over 138,000 jobs were lost in the airline industry<\/li><li>roughly 15,000 jobs in the travel industry (hotels and service companies) were lost<\/li><li>hotels, restaurants and theaters in the greater New York area lost an estimated $2.3 billion because of 9\/11<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Since 9\/11, the Department of Homeland Security has issued guidelines on how to prepare for an emergency situation. On their website,&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/web.archive.org\/web\/20210120190015\/http:\/\/www.nationalterroralert.com\/default\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">The National Terror Alert Response Center<\/a>, are excellent tips on how to prepare for a terrorist attack as well as many other types of emergencies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Some_of_the_topics_on_the_website_include\"><\/span>Some of the topics on the website include:<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul><li>creating an emergency communications plan<\/li><li>having a disaster supply kit<\/li><li>an evacuation plan<\/li><li>what to do if disaster strikes (and you are not injured)<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Event_Planning_and_Emergency_Preparedness_Did_the_Boston_Bombings_Reflect_a_Change\"><\/span>Event Planning and Emergency Preparedness, Did the Boston Bombings Reflect a Change?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>What we did see during the reaction to the Boston bombings was a city prepared. From the emergency services personnel, to the good Samaritan citizens, Boston reacted in a way that made us proud. While a tragic loss of life did occur, the citizens stood strong, the businesses pitched in where necessary, and best of all they brought the hunt for the culprits to a quick, successful close.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>While there\u2019s no doubt there was economic loss to the area, what\u2019s nice to see is that people got back to their normal lives quickly. While we will always remember those that did lose their lives from this horrible crime, the best that we can do to honor those lost souls would be to stand up and fight the fear.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Additional_resources\"><\/span>Additional resources:<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul><li>Department of Homeland Security (for US groups)<\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/web.archive.org\/web\/20210120190015\/http:\/\/www.publicsafety.gc.ca\/index-eng.aspx\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Public Safety Canada<\/a>&nbsp;(for Canadians)<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Unfortunately we have not seen the last of terrorist attacks. But we have learned that the best way to deal with terrorism is to not allow the fear and therefore major economic losses that these criminals are trying to achieve. It is vital that your event planning checklist includes a contingency plan for an emergency. Plan for it and then pray that it never happens.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>In light of last week\u2019s Boston bombings, I began to reflect on how the event planning industry has changed since 9\/11. Unfortunately we live in an age where terrorist attacks<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/mastertheevent.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/606"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/mastertheevent.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/mastertheevent.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mastertheevent.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mastertheevent.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=606"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/mastertheevent.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/606\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":607,"href":"https:\/\/mastertheevent.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/606\/revisions\/607"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/mastertheevent.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=606"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mastertheevent.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=606"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mastertheevent.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=606"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}