"I was just curious: What does a planner do to qualify a security company when hiring them for a meeting? The reason I ask is that I was working in a different capacity last week, and seemed to be rubbing elbows with folks who work as armed security and private personal security, and I was very confused on what qualified them. Many of them lacked decision-making skills and I wondered: How does one know what criteria to apply when hiring a security company that will best suit the needs of the conference? Does a blue jacket with an emblem and slacks do it? Does an affordable price do it? Do you do it because the program's insurance underwriter requires it? What are the determining factors in contracting a security company?"
Karl Nybergh, CMP, Conference Resources & Solutions, Inc., Miami, FL
"Excellent question, Karl! It is one of the areas of meetings that still needs much work. A jacket with an emblem is not what does it for me. I want references not just for the company, but for the individuals who will work the show. I want to know how the company that hires these workers has qualified and checked them. Security is an industry that often hires people at lower wages than they should, and consequently prices themselves out of the market to get people who can do these jobs well. Too many of us have had guards at shows who fall asleep on the overnight shifts or just don't pay attention.
"Why is this still such a difficult part of the industry?"
Joan L. Eisenstodt,Chief Strategist, Eisenstodt Associates, LLC, Washington D.C.
"Back in the days when I hired security I always hired off-duty police, no matter what U.S. or Canadian city I was working in, although this might be more difficult in the present-day atmosphere, as police all over the U.S. are pretty maxed out in their working hours. At the time I did this, the off-duty police cost more, but they had training in how to handle people, they had arrest powers, and they could carry arms (in Washington D.C., where I am located, until recently private security were not licensed to carry arms). I always believed that the extra cost was offset by the advantages.
"One time we lost a television set from a booth when I had this type of security. The sergeant in charge made the guards on shift pay for the set, as he felt it was their fault that it was stolen. They did, and did so without complaint too.
"Off-duty police are still a good idea if you can hire them."
Walter Holtsmaster, Managing Director, International Destinations Inc.,
Washington D.C.
"The first strategy is to clearly specify in the RFP what needs to be protected and when. Those specifications should also be based on a thorough risk assessment. Consider the task objectives: Are they there for prevention, intervention, observation, and/or inspection? Consider the context: Concert security is so different from conference security as to be considered an alternate universe, and personal protection is completely different from guarding property.
"Then the assessment criteria should include the security company's experience with the type of event and objectives. Also look into their personnel selection criteria (including reference and background checks), their training programs, their staffing and supervisor ratio, their operations, and their administrative practices (including insurance coverage, wages and benefits, and contracts).
"This is a procurement issue like any other product or service the event organizer is purchasing."
Julia Rutherford Silvers, CSEP
Author of Professional Event Coordination (Wiley, 2004) and Risk Management for Meetings & Events (Elsevier/Butterworth-Heinemann, 2006),
Albuquerque, NM