Events for the new era

Meetings are going to take a different form for some time to come – but hotels have been coming up with creative ways for physical and virtual attendees to get together

- HANNAH BRANDLER

While most meetings and events are on hold for the time being, the vaccine rollout means we may soon see the return of business gatherings, although they will look a little different from before. Hotels are devising innovative solutions for your next get-together. Here we round up some of the major programmes in place – from hybrid events that combine in-person and virtual participation, to measures such as temperature checks and testing procedures.

HILTON

Hilton has extended its cleaning protocols to its event operations, calling it Hilton Event Ready with Clean Stay. The programme includes meeting room seals and checklists, sanitising stations, a playbook offering guidance and resources for planning events (including testing provider details) and a physical distancing meal service.

Hilton also recently introduced a set of solutions to help event organisers plan hybrid meetings at participating hotels (see meetings.hilton.com/hybrid-solutions). In October 2020, it held its global sales hybrid event at Hilton McLean Tysons Corner in Virginia (pictured). The “hybrid ready” properties offer seamless connectivity, a planning playbook and expertise from dedicated staff. Select hotels will have “presentation stages” that are pre-built with technology for recording and broadcasting high-quality online events. This currently applies to Conrad Fort Lauderdale Beach in Florida, Hilton Atlanta, the Hilton Anatole in Dallas, Hilton Denver and LA’s Beverly Hilton and is set to be rolled out in other select US locations and across Europe, the Middle East and Africa by the end of the year. Properties equipped with such technology will accommodate between two and six on-site presenters and up to 50 in-person attendees.