As Event Risks Expand, Industry Revives Security Coalition 

The shooting at the 2026 White House Correspondents’ Dinner has reignited conversations about event security across the meetings industry.

The incident, which unfolded at one of the nation's most heavily protected gatherings, points to a reality facing every event organizer: No meeting is immune from security threats.

Now, a coalition of industry associations is working to revive and expand a security initiative designed to help convention centers, trade shows, and meeting organizers better prepare for a widening range of risks. 

The effort builds on work that began more than a decade ago when the International Association of Venue Managers (IAVM), the International Association of Exhibitions and Events (IAEE), and the Exhibition Services and Contractors Association (ESCA) launched the Exhibition and Meetings Safety and Security Initiative (EMSSI). 

Among its most practical tools was a threat-assessment framework that enabled convention centers, show organizers, and planners to evaluate risks months prior to an event and determine appropriate mitigation strategies.

"At its peak, EMSSI had around 60 supporting organizations and successfully raised significant funds to support its mission," said Julie Kagy, executive director, ESCA. "However, the initiative lost momentum during the Covid-19 pandemic as organizations shifted their focus to survival, and venues were largely vacant."

Now, industry leaders say the objective is not simply to restart the previous effort, but to rebuild it around a broader understanding of event risk.

Expanding the Security Mandate

Rather than simply relaunching EMSSI, the group plans to establish a new structure that includes workplace safety standards, engineering requirements, exhibitor safety guidelines, access control procedures, registration vetting, and front-of-house security operations.

The goal is to reduce fragmentation across the industry, where venues, contractors, and organizers often operate under separate safety protocols that do not always align. 

"The industry recognizes that threats can originate both inside and outside event spaces," said Kagy. "Security is a shared responsibility. Venues, show organizers, and the official service providers who build and operate these events all have a role to play in keeping them safe."

The initiative also aims to encourage more consistent standards and closer coordination across stakeholders, rather than parallel and sometimes inconsistent safety frameworks. 

The first meeting of the newly formed committee is expected within the next two weeks. Laure Chachere, senior vice president of customer experience at Freeman, is expected to serve as chair.

Her initial work will focus on reviewing existing committee activity, collecting charters, and identifying where efforts can be aligned.

Parallel Efforts Continue

IAVM has continued developing its own safety and security initiatives since EMSSI went inactive.

These include the Academy for Venue Safety & Security (AVSS), an intensive education program focused on current risks, emerging threats, and best practices in venue and event security.

The organization is also expanding its education portfolio by offering an Introduction to Safety & Security micro-credential and partnering with Advantage Training to deliver crowd management programming for venue personnel.

“We believe the future of venue safety and security will depend on strong collaboration across venues, event organizers, public safety agencies, technology providers, and industry associations,” said Trevor Mitchell, president and CEO of IAVM. “Addressing those challenges requires a shared commitment to preparedness, information sharing, and continuous professional development.”