At the Overland Park Convention Center, we handle events of all sizes.
From a small meeting with five guests to a bustling convention with thousands of attendees, a lot goes into ensuring that every one of your guests is safe and comfortable.
Security is more of a priority than ever, so you need an event venue with the resources you need.
We understand how important security is to event planners and guests, so we’ve developed this guide to help you better understand our options for conference security at OPCC. But first, we’d like to give you a quick rundown of who we are and what we do.
The Right Venue
Overland Park Convention Center is an acclaimed event space, perfect for hosting banquets, trade shows, conferences, and more.
We have all the amenities and resources you could ever need to make your dream event a reality. One of the reasons we love working in this industry is because it allows us to meet new people and host events that we’d never considered.
Our team at OPCC is always willing to adapt and try new things. So, even if you’re not sure that our convention center has what you’re looking for, you should still reach out to us. We may be able to work with you to bring your vision to life.
Accolades and Acclaim
Since opening in 2002, our venue has proudly hosted thousands of successful events spanning various types and sizes. Throughout the years, we’ve received an abundance of positive feedback about our services.
We’re always so flattered when people take the time to leave a positive review, so imagine our reaction when EXHIBITOR Magazine, an industry-leading publication, awarded us the Best Small Convention Center in North America.
EXHIBITOR has said many kind things about us over the years, and they’ve even named us one of the Top 25 Centers of Excellence in North America for five years in a row. These awards don’t make us complacent; they just make us want to work even harder for you.
A Dedicated Staff
We wouldn’t have received a single award without our staff. We only hire the best of the best at OPCC, and our team’s record speaks for itself.
Whether you’re looking for a qualified sales and marketing team, a highly trained A/V staff, or a seasoned food and beverage coordinator, we have the right people for the job.
Our team members are ready and willing to handle any challenge you throw at them. We want you to have the best experience possible, and we’ll do whatever it takes to make that happen.
Prevent Advisors
We firmly believe that self-evaluation leads to self-improvement. After all, we always strive to be the best we can possibly be.
So, we thought it would be prudent to see how we could improve conference security at OPCC. But it can be difficult to examine yourself from an unbiased perspective, so we had someone do it for us.
We engaged Prevent Advisors for their renowned expertise in security consulting services. Prevent Advisors combines the knowledge of counterterrorism experts, leaders in safety and security, and best-in-class venue operators to deliver world-class solutions to clients worldwide.
First, the Prevent Advisors team conducted a comprehensive assessment of our premises. They toured our venue, inspecting for potential security gaps and evaluating the effectiveness of our entrances. Their approach included attempting to forcefully gain access to any secure door or area within the building.
Following their assessment, we were provided personalized recommendations on how we could enhance venue safety, including measures to better secure our loading dock. As a result, we’ve implemented restricted access to the area, ensuring that no unwanted guests slip through the cracks.
Managing an event venue like OPCC comes with its complexities, making it challenging to ensure the security of everyone involved. However, with these new invaluable insights, we now have a clearer understanding of how to minimize security breaches and better prioritize the safety of all attendees.
Cyber Security
In the modern age, security services are about much more than simply keeping the doors locked. We want to ensure that all of our bases are covered, including on our website. With technology constantly evolving, hackers are becoming increasingly sophisticated, making it challenging to detect and prevent cyber threats.
Protecting our website and ensuring the security of private information is paramount to us. Recognizing the need for expert guidance, we turned to the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA).
CISA began working with us in September of 2023. Leveraging their advanced understanding of hackers’ methods, they conducted a thorough assessment of our system to identify vulnerabilities. This included testing our susceptibility to internet-based hacking attempts and performing a Cyber Hygiene Scan.
The Cyber Hygiene Scan, a weekly evaluation of our IP address, is aimed to detect any weaknesses in our defenses. While we received positive scores during these assessments, we were provided valuable feedback for improvements.
Armed with CISA’s recommendations, we are actively implementing measures to strengthen our defenses against hackers, ensuring the safety and security of the OPCC website for all users.
Our Security Team
Our conference security team at OPCC is highly skilled and fully equipped to handle all aspects of your event. Comprising a blend of dedicated full-time and part-time security personnel, our team is prepared to oversee the safety and security of your event and its attendees.
As we expand our team for corporate event security, we are committed to recruiting individuals who are adept at handling any security challenges that may arise during a bustling event.
The peace of mind of every attendee is important to us. When you entrust us with the security of your event, you can rest assured that we are prepared to address any unexpected emergencies swiftly and effectively. While you focus on planning the best event possible, let us handle the rest.
Security Options
At OPCC, we understand that every event is unique, and so are the security needs that come with it. That’s why we offer a variety of options to cater to your specific preferences and requirements.
We encourage you to be open about your security preferences. What are your priorities? What specific security measures do you prefer?
Let us know, and we can tailor our plan to align with your expectations. Our security team will be there from the beginning of your event to the very end, ensuring that you and your guests feel safe and comfortable. Rest assured, we’ll keep a watchful eye over your event every step of the way.
Additional Benefits
Conference security at OPCC can help you with all aspects of your event. While it’s beneficial to have security watching over your guests while they mingle over the buffet or socialize on the dancefloor, you can also make sure they enter and exit your event safely.
We also enlist the help of NPB Companies, a third-party security firm. NPB boasts an acclaimed team that provides security for a variety of events all over the greater Kansas City area.
NPB specializes in handling event move-in and move-out logistics and can oversee parking patrol to ensure seamless parking for attendees. Additionally, they assist in staff navigation and ensure the safe navigation of celebrity VIPs throughout the duration of the event.
Extra Security
Our security team is more than equipped to meet your needs, but what if you want a little extra help?
If you’re scheduling an event with over 1,000 people, we require an EMT to be on-site. Fortunately, we can provide this ourselves, as we have certified EMTs on staff as a part of our OPCC security team.
For an additional fee, OPCC can also staff the event with plainclothes Overland Park Police for increased peace of mind.
Safety Measures
If you do plan on holding a larger event, our building policy mandates that we take some additional precautions. For events with 1,000 people (or 500 people when food or beverage is served), we will staff your event with an EMT on-site.
When enough people get together, you run the risk of an accident. This risk only increases if you add alcoholic beverages to the mix.
While there is always a chance of a medical emergency, thanks to our on-site EMT, you can enjoy your party with the assurance that if something goes wrong, you have a professional on your side.
An Exit Plan
An important part of our plan for conference security at OPCC is the exit plan. No matter how much time we put into planning our every eventuality, there’s always the chance that something goes wrong.
We could be hit with a fire or a natural disaster. Luckily, we routinely prepare for these situations.
We prioritize the safety and well-being of our guests by maintaining a comprehensive emergency response plan.
In addition, our team undergoes monthly online testing to address a variety of situations that can arise during an event, including fires or natural disasters such as tornadoes or storms.
These tests are mandatory and help ensure that our staff is well-equipped to respond effectively to any emergency scenario, providing peace of mind to all who visit our venue.
Schedule Your Event With Us
You want an event venue that anticipates your needs. And while you’re planning your wedding or gala, the last thing you want to worry about is everything that could go wrong.
Fortunately, our conference security at OPCC is top-notch. So, leave it all to us, and you can get started organizing your event.
Wondering how you can get started? Take a look at our event planning tool. All you need to do is answer a few questions, and we can send you a personalized estimate for your event. Try it today.
