had the right bandwidth and infrastructure to host small hybrid events .
We ’ re seeing small groups as the first to come back . So , to be able to have a group in person and to be able to live stream , or have a virtual component to reach more folks , and to know that the hotels that they were considering had available bandwidth and infrastructure was first .
We also launched this hybrid chapter with five different case studies , an IT checklist , hybrid glossary of terms . It ’ s really providing those resources for the planners , so when they do start to plan in-person events with this digital component , they understand the questions they should be asking .
We even have some of our hotels that have built presentation studios . The customers can go in and either do pre-recording of their content , or they can do live streaming from these presentation stages .
H : What does “ hybrid-ready ” really mean ?
Knowlen : We took a look at what a typical bandwidth use was at the property , and then what additional bandwidth they would need to support a small event with 20 or less attendees . Our IT team did that assessment with our partners to identify them as hybrid-ready . They also had to agree to a multi-site offer . So , our Hilton worldwide sales team could negotiate the terms of a multi-site agreement if someone wanted to have a consecutive event at multiple properties .
Ronk : Hybrid is the name of the game , especially as people are having these regional group meetings , and we want to tie them all together to have a national meeting , or a global meeting .
Another area that I might add , is applications hotels are putting out to keep them safe and secure and COVID-ready . It includes Apps that hotels have for handsfree viewing of activities , restaurant menus , spa menus , etc .
You can order room service on an APP now , or some of the hotels , you can actually open your door with the APP . So , I think that ’ s been pretty remarkable how quickly that the Apps have been integrated into our industry . I know they were kind of starting , but now they ’ ve really taken off .
Surette : We have to tell our [ sales ] teams , you can ’ t hand off hybrid to the AV team and everybody else anymore . You have to be knowledgeable in the space . The days of ‘ date , rates and space ’ and hopefully you ’ re going to book is over . You need to be a consultant on technology , safety and cleanliness , restrictions – all of that . It ’ s forced us all to take it up a notch for our sellers because the customer is going to expect that , and we need to help guide them through it .
H : Do you see a future use of vaccine passports in meeting spaces ?
Surette : We talked with our legal team and our operations team and asked where does that onus sit ? Is it the requirement of the hotel , the county , the planner ? Where
WE ’ RE DIVING DEEPER INTO THE PLANNING PROCESS AT THE SOURCING AND CONTRACTING PHASE THAN WE EVER HAVE BEFORE . WE ’ RE HAVING TO CREATE PLAN A , PLAN B , AND PLAN C WITH OUR CUSTOMERS , AS THE LOCAL REGULATIONS CONTINUOUSLY CHANGE .
BRANDI RONK
May / June 2021 hotelsmag . com 93