Exhibition venue security evolves for denser and more complex events

As exhibition venues host more simultaneous events and manage heavier visitor flows, security operations are becoming more integrated, data-driven and operationally focused.
 
For physical security systems integrators and consultants, this shift matters because large venues increasingly need security architectures that combine personnel, emergency response, central command, video surveillance, access control, screening and post-event analysis.
 
That is the picture outlined by

. His comments provide insight into how major exhibition venues are adapting security strategies to higher densities and growing operational complexity.

Security is becoming an integrated operating model 

At large exhibition grounds, security now extends well beyond guards and cameras. It is becoming a broader operating model that brings together multiple safety and security functions in one environment.
 
"Our security infrastructure has many facets: it includes our security personnel, a medical station with all the medical equipment needed for emergency care, and a fire and police station that is permanently staffed by up to four officers," Donis said.
 
These elements are coordinated through the Operation & Security Centre, or OSC, which serves as a central hub on the site. "This is also where the central control center is located, which is staffed 24 hours a day, 365 days a year," he said.
 
For integrators, this highlights an important trend in large venue security. End users increasingly want unified operational environments that support continuous monitoring, faster coordination and a clearer command structure during both routine operations and major events.
 
Donis said the setup is unusual within the trade fair sector. "The OSC is unique in the trade fair industry. The permanently staffed police station is also only available at our exhibition center in Germany," he said.

Simultaneous events are raising the bar 

A key challenge for exhibition venues is not just the size of a single event, but the number of events taking place at the same time. Overlapping audiences can create more complex access patterns and put additional pressure on entrances, circulation zones and hall connections.
 
"We are increasingly challenged by the growing number of events taking place simultaneously," Donis said. "We therefore have to pay close attention to how we can best manage the flow of people on our premises and adapt our security infrastructure to this challenge."
 
This has clear implications for system design. Integrators working with convention centers and public venues may need to think beyond static deployments and consider how surveillance, access control and staffing can support shifting occupancy conditions across the site during different times of day.

Standardized planning supports event-specific security

Although venues face recurring challenges, each exhibition still requires its own risk-based plan. Donis said Messe Frankfurt uses a standard process to build event-level security concepts.
 
"All events held on the grounds and in the buildings of Messe Frankfurt are subject to a standardized process in order to derive an individual security concept for each event," he said.
 
For consultants, this points to the value of repeatable workflows that still allow customization. A structured process can help operators apply baseline measures consistently while adapting staffing, controls and monitoring to the characteristics of
each event.
 
The core technologies remain familiar. "Video surveillance and access controls are used throughout our site," Donis said.
 
The key issue for the channel is not simply installing these systems, but ensuring they support wider operational goals such as people flow management, incident response and event review.

Event data is shaping future deployments 

One notable point from the interview is the use of operational data to improve future events. Instead of treating each exhibition as a separate assignment, the venue analyzes results to refine upcoming deployments.
 
"We then use the data from the events to create an analysis in order to optimize our security measures for the next event," Donis said.
 
This reflects a broader direction in physical security. End users increasingly expect systems to support planning as well as live monitoring. Historical data on visitor volumes, bottlenecks and access activity can help determine staffing levels, entry configurations and likely pressure points for later events.
 
For integrators and consultants, that creates opportunities to position security systems as tools for operational improvement, not just protection.

Layered security is expanding

Donis also pointed to the addition of another protective layer at the venue. "In addition to the above measures, we have also been using metal detectors since last year to achieve the highest possible level of security," he said.
 
For the market, this reinforces the move toward layered security strategies at public venues. Video surveillance, access control, personnel deployment and physical screening are increasingly being used together rather than as separate measures.
 
This also creates practical integration considerations. Screening systems must fit into entrance operations without creating unacceptable delays, making throughput and layout planning just as important as the detection technology itself.

Peak-load handling depends on planning and staffing

Major exhibitions often create sharp surges in traffic at specific entrances or times. Donis said historical event data plays a central role in preparing for these demand spikes.
 
"We use visitor numbers and data from the previous event to get an accurate picture of the upcoming event," he said. "In the past, we have built our security infrastructure on this visitor data, for example for individual exhibition days and times."
 
That planning appears to have helped the venue manage busy periods effectively. "We were able to cope with peak loads without any problems by deploying sufficient staff and access controls at our entrances and access gates," Donis said.
 
For consultants, this is a reminder that even in technology-rich environments, successful security scaling still depends on operational readiness. Hardware matters, but so do staffing levels, deployment timing and the ability to align controls with actual traffic patterns.

Cybersecurity remains part of the wider picture

While the interview focused mainly on physical operations, Donis also stressed the role of cybersecurity and data protection in the venue’s wider system environment.
 
"Cyber security at Messe Frankfurt is handled by experienced IT colleagues. We are also very well positioned in this area," he said.
 
He added that for the venue’s core system landscape, "we rely on a German manufacturer, SAP, which guarantees German and European standards for IT security and data protection."
 
For physical security professionals, this underlines the need for closer coordination with IT teams, especially in large venues where security platforms increasingly intersect with broader digital infrastructure and compliance requirements.

AI and OSINT may define the next phase

Looking ahead, Donis expects more use of artificial intelligence and open source intelligence tools in exhibition security.
 
"In future, there will be more AI, for example to manage visitor flows in the best possible way, detect anomalies at an early stage or enable image recognition," he said.
 
He added, "The use of open source intelligence (OSINT) tools will become more important. These are tools for the systematic collection and evaluation of publicly available information so that large amounts of data and information can be analyzed quickly."
 
For integrators and consultants, these comments point to the next stage of venue security. AI is being viewed not only as an analytics feature, but as a practical tool for crowd management, early anomaly detection and faster operational decision-making. OSINT, meanwhile, suggests that venue security may increasingly draw on intelligence sources beyond on-site systems.
 
The overall direction is clear. Exhibition venue security is becoming more integrated, more analytical and more focused on managing dynamic visitor flows across complex sites. For the channel, that means growing demand for systems that support coordinated operations rather than isolated functions.