I was in the car on my way to work on the morning of September 11, 2001, when the first plane hit. The radio announcers speculated it was a horrible accident. Then the second plane hit, and we knew. Terrorism. The US was under attack.
When I arrived at the office, colleagues were huddled around computers, scanning for updates. A TV was on in a meeting room, replaying the unthinkable. Calls came in from my partners in the UK, expressing concern. I frantically tried to find my aunt, a Delta flight attendant, with no idea where she was flying that day. I was on the phone with my mother when she gasped. The first Tower fell.
The memories are still vivid. And they are personal.
- A friend’s brother was one of the heroes aboardFlight 93who helped bring the plane down in Pennsylvania.
- A friend’s sister's boyfriend was among those lost with the team atCantor Fitzgerald.
- A military officer who worked at the Pentagon had once been a student of my dad’s in ROTC.
- One of my teammates (later in my career) watched in horror from Brooklyn, with her children in the car, as the Towers collapsed.
The grief is personal. The resilience is remarkable. And the remembering matters.
For the event industry, 9/11 was also a defining reset. Hospitality and logistics alone were no longer enough. Security, risk management, and contingency planning became embedded in the way we gather. Visible security was no longer optional. It was expected.
Then, in 2020, COVID-19 forced another reset. This time, the focus shifted to health safety. Sanitation stations, vaccine verification, and hybrid access became part of every plan. Attendees expected psychological safety as much as physical safety.
Both moments share lessons that still guide us today:
- Fear reshapes expectations.After 9/11, fear of terrorism. After COVID, fear of illness. Both demanded rebuilding trust in gathering.
- Insurance and liability matter.Terrorism coverage after 2001, communicable disease exclusions after 2020, both forced a deeper understanding of risk.
- Technology accelerates in crisis.Live streaming gained traction after 9/11. Virtual-first became mainstream after COVID. Each crisis sped adoption by years.
- We never fully go back.Events haven’t been “security-light” since 2001, nor will they be “health-blind” after 2020.
And yet, we’re reminded often that safety is never finished. Recent tragedies, from school shootings to incidents at community and corporate gatherings, show us that vigilance in our planning must continue.
Great events create memories that last a lifetime. And part of that legacy is ensuring those memories are built on safety, trust, and care.
On this anniversary, I honor those we lost, those who still grieve, and those who carry the weight of that day.We will never forget.
👉 How do you see the next chapter of event safety shaping the way we gather?
#IgniteEventMagic #WendyPorterEvents
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👋 Hi, I’m Wendy Porter — Fractional Head of Events + Event Strategist.
I help brands design unforgettable events that deliver ROI, drive pipeline, and ignite lasting impact.
💎 Creator of the Ruby Ribbon Experience Strategy™ powered by the THREAD Framework™
📅 Book a call: bit.ly/4jOMaOb
