In these politically turbulent times, protesters are a possibility that meeting planners need to face.
It’s important to have a plan in place for how to deal with protesters, as well as safety and security at your meeting. Just ask the planners of the citywide Dreamforce convention, which descended on San Francisco this week. A 14-ft-tall, 800-pound cage was wheeled down the street as part of a rally against Salesforce signing a multi-million dollar contract to supply software to the US Customs and Border Protection agency, known for separating children from their parents seeking asylum. Then, the tweets shifted from the conference’s content to the blimp overhanging Moscone Center with #failsforce on the side, a marketing tactic of competitor CRM firm Freshworks.
Consider these suggestions for protecting your company from the impact of protesters and for dealing with protests that occur.
Look Beyond Your Company
There are many potential sparks for protests, from controversial keynote speakers to less obvious triggers. “It could be the type of organization or company involved in sponsoring the event or promoting it,” says Jeff Kear, owner of Planning Pod, an online event management platform based in Denver, Colo. “Even exhibitors buying booth space at your event might attract some protest or demonstration.” Source: Meeting Professionals International
Follow Social Media
One of the first steps a security firm takes is to monitor all social media connected to a meeting. At Prevue’s Duty of Care Summit in May, former US Secret Service Executive and current SVP of Executive Protection at T&M Protection Resources Joe Russo spoke of instances where his firm had intercepted potential threats from social media that could have been harmful to his clients’ meetings.
Control the Narrative
Just because people start waving signs on the street, that doesn’t mean you have to rush out and hold a press conference. However, it’s advisable to have trained public relations spokespersons available to comment. Source: PR Daily
Have a Crisis Management Plan
A crisis management plan should address specific actions that would be taken in the event of a protest. It also ensures that key audiences are kept informed.
