With U.S. Cities on High Alert, Events Ramp Up Security

Cities across the U.S. are seeing increasing police presence as a result of the war in the Middle East and multiple acts of violence that are being investigated as domestic terrorism.

An attempted bomb attack in New York City last Saturday during a protest outside the mayor’s residence is being investigated by the NYPD and the FBI as an "act of ISIS-inspired terrorism."

In Austin, where South by Southwest Festival (SXSW) kicked off on March 12, three people were killed by a shooter who was seen wearing a “Property of Allah” sweatshirt and a shirt with an Iranian flag underneath.

This was followed later in the week by a driver running his truck into a synagogue and preschool in West Bloomfield Township, Mich., and a deadly shooting on the campus of Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Va. by a convicted ISIS supporter.

During a press conference on Monday, New York City Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch expressed concern about more possible violence. "We have been on a heightened state of alert in New York City since the start of hostilities in Iran, and we remain in that posture today," she said.

The Austin Police Department said it will have an increased police presence around the SXSW festival, and the show’s organizers released a statement to reassure fans. “We have planned, coordinated, and trained with local, state, and federal agencies to support a safe and secure event for all who attend,” it read. 

As a result of the Austin incident, law enforcement in nearby San Antonio is on heightened alert for upcoming large gatherings, including St. Patrick’s Day celebrations and Experience Fiesta San Antonio April 16–26. In a statement, the San Antonio Police Department said it has increased patrols at high-traffic attractions such as Six Flags Fiesta Texas and SeaWorld San Antonio.

Meeting Professionals International will bring its flagship World Education Congress to the city June 2–4.

Attendee Safety a Priority

Some large companies are also re-evaluating their security plans for upcoming meetings and including additional measures.  

“A lot of our Fortune 100 clients are more concerned now than ever before because of everything that’s going on,” said Steve Goodman, managing director at Etherio. 

For an upcoming event in Las Vegas for a Fortune 100 client, which is expected to draw 3,000 attendees from across the Americas, the company decided to hire extra security. This additional team will supplement the in-house staff to "keep an eye on things" and strictly control access, ensuring that only those with name tags enter the meeting space or exhibit hall. Furthermore, staff were instructed not to bring backpacks or briefcases into the venue.

“There's no question that the situation in the Middle East is weighing on them,” he said. “Security is on everyone's mind. Anyone who says it’s not is probably not being totally candid.”

Mary-Jo Lake, principal consultant-events & alliances at ground transportation company Blueprint Worldwide, said she is seeing a noticeable increase in security‑related requests for upcoming programs in major U.S. cities. "Clients are requesting enhanced airport greeter services, formal crisis‑management plans with secondary and tertiary route mapping, and there’s also an increased push for flexible cancellation terms to manage potential disruptions."

Skift Meetings reached out to CVBs in New York, Chicago, Boston, and Las Vegas, all of whom emphasized that they are communicating with local, state, and federal law enforcement to access the latest intelligence and mitigate any potential threats.

Kent Moyer, CEO of The World Protection Group, who is leading security efforts at the 2026 Academy Awards on March 15, recommends that planners of business events who are considering stepping up their security start with a comprehensive risk and vulnerability assessment. “Effective protection is not about simply placing security bodies at a location,” he said, “but should be based on the level of threat and the specific vulnerabilities associated with the location and event.”