Playing it safe at IIFA

A three-tier security blanket is awaiting the stars to be present at this year’s International Indian Film Academy (IIFA) to be held at Macao’s The Venetian Resort. It’s one of the costliest resorts of the world which also boasts of having a plush casino in it.

Stephen Weaver, president Asia region, Las Vegas Sands Corp. says, “We have one of the tightest security covers in world with different layers to it. First we have hired ex-police personnel to keep a hawk-eye over situations. Secondly, we have security advisors with us and we always get intelligence reports since the who’s who of the world travel to our casino hotel. The third level of security is that of continuous surveillance as every inch of our hotel is covered with camera. We don’t miss anyone’s movement or anything that’s alarming.”

The who’s who from tinsel-town from Amitabh, Abhishek and Aishwarya Rai-Bachchan to Preity Zinta, Akshay Kumar, Shilpa Shetty, Kareena Kapoor, Katrina Kaif, Priyanka Chopra, Vivek Oberoi, Riteish Deshmukh and many other stars are expected to turn up for this year’s edition to be held from June 11-13.

“The threat to life is more these days and with celebrities and big names being present for the occasion, we need to be hundred percent prepared. We realise that there has been a rise in terrorist activities and we can tell you confidently that we are indeed prepared for hosting the event. As of now we don’t have any intelligence report on any terror threat to IIFA but that doesn’t mean we are taking things easy,” Stephen says.
He adds that the authorities of Macao are also providing additional security to the hotel. 

“Providing additional security is being looked into by the government and the stars can also bring in their own security if they want too. We know that some stars in India have more security than the others and they might want to feel more comfortable with their own personnel around them,” he ends.