Hosting luxury events from Toronto to Alberta, with high-profile guests, can either be an organizer’s dream job or a nightmare. As this entails extra measures for security and planning; every detail has to be accounted for and double-checked. In every event, safety should always be prioritized, especially when it’s a large gathering and people can slip in and out unnoticed.
However, for a luxury event that is focused on bringing the most upscale and opulent arrangements and features to their party, allocating the budget for security may be overlooked. However, that should not be the case. Instead, guest security should be on the top of the list and given more attention to prevent any mishap or fatal mistake.
Event Security Tips
Risks and hazards will always be present and inevitable at any event. As an organizer, it is your job to minimize the likelihood of these potential catastrophes by imposing strict security measures and protocols. You can start doing that by following these tips:
1. List Down Security Risks
Every party will have its distinct risks and hazards; depending on the location, time, weather, and persons involved. A birthday party would have lower risks than a gathering at the President’s office. For a luxury event, whatever these factors may be, the risks will always be doubled as some of your high-profile guests might be targeted by unfriendly characters.
Furthermore, most of these expensive gatherings will usually be hosted in exotic locations, which may experience difficulty in logistics when there is a need for evacuation.
As the host, it is your responsibility to consider all these questions and look at the security measures from all angles. List down all the possible risks and consult with your security team. This way you can be prepared for any risk that may interrupt your party and avoid accidents.
2. Keep Your Security Visible
Security measures are put into place to prevent threats. To do that, you have to take pre-emptive steps that will scan these “agitators” first who could potentially cause problems.
So, you have to make your security measures visible, not only to make the guests feel safer but also to warn any potential unruly party that you are prepared to handle them.
For luxury events, where high-profile guests may carry some firearms, it’s best to put up a metal detector at the entrance to find them right away. Depending on the policies placed by your client, you may collect the firearms for safekeeping or have these guests privately dogged by your security team. And, to increase your guests’ confidence in you, make sure to hire personnel that have Ontario security licenses (depending on the province your security team is based) to guarantee legitimacy and capability.
3. Establish Checkpoints
Security checkpoints at a luxury event are often frowned upon as they may agitate or insult some of your high-profile guests. However, if you do this discreetly, you’ll be able to host a safer and more secure event. To do this effectively, avoid frisking or visibly checking your guests.
Instead, try using unassuming detecting devices that can alert you of any dangerous weapons and have a guest list ready to ensure no intruder can enter. The best locations for checkpoints are usually 30 meters away from the main entrance so that when an unexpected guest tries to barge in, you can stop them before they get too close.
4. Create an ID System
Tracking every movement of your guests and employees can be difficult in an event. This is especially challenging in a high-profile event as you may focus more on other aspects.
As the main organizer, for you to better track the behind-the-scenes activities and operations, you should require all your employees to wear an ID. This way you’ll know exactly the people interacting with your guests.
5. Prioritize Privacy
Hosting luxury events, with exclusive guest lists of celebrities and prominent people may seem like a huge plus for your company. However, if your clients would like to keep the details of their party private, you have to respect that.
Prioritizing their privacy is an integral factor of security, so make sure that you brief your employees first regarding the private nature of the event if your guests request it. If someone contacts you for private tours in Toronto, avoid publicly releasing the details as it may attract agitators.
6. Beware of Cyber-threats
Event security goes beyond physical risks. In today’s digital era, cyber-attacks among your high-profile guest are common, as some hackers might try to infiltrate your data system and procure some personal information on your clients. To prevent this from happening, you should hire a security team that is also an expert on these technical matters to keep your event and guest data protected.
The main premise of event security is preparedness and constant vigilance. Eradicating all the possible event threats is impossible to do. However, as an organizer of luxury occasions and handling prominent guests, you may minimize the risks by imposing preventative security measures. So, make sure that you don’t only focus on the glamour aspects of your event, but also on safety as well.
