Towards the Development of Crisis Communication Plans for Events

The aim of this article is to put forward generic considerations event organizers may adapt to develop a holistic crisis communication plan. Communication plans for crisis management are particularly important when hosting events but are vastly underresearched. Drawing on eight crisis communication plans and using a reflective approach based on the team’s experience with event management, this study identifies key components for developing an adaptable crisis communication plan for events. The article highlights the role of stakeholders in collaborative activities and puts forward six generic considerations: 1) Allocating resources to respond to a crisis, 2) Plan consistent and clear event communications, 3) Predesign templates to avoid confusion, 4) Identify designated stakeholders, 5) Implement procedures in response to crisis triggers, 6) Review and report on the event. The article clarifies associated procedures that event organizers need to account for within their crisis communication plans for prevents, during, and postevents.