HOTEL BUSINESS REVIEW

September FOCUS: Hotel Group Meetings

 
September, 2021

Hotel Group Meetings: Spirit of Innovation


Naturally, the Hotel Group Meeting business has been rocked during the Covid-19 pandemic, and the effects may be felt for years to come. But according to planners, there is pent-up demand for hotels to resume this area of their business and savvy hoteliers are being exceptionally creative in making that possible. The key is successfully implementing all recommended safety guidelines. For example, in addition to social and physical distancing, some planners are utilizing assigned seating as a way to keep people from using multiple seats and tables throughout an event. Some planners have also initiated a color-coded bracelet system that indicates the wearer's confidence level about being physically approached. Hybrid meetings are also increasingly popular, where some attendees join in person and others are looped in virtually. Other hotels have instituted a "bubble" approach, dedicating an entire wing to smaller groups, essentially walling them off from any health risks outside their area. The September Hotel Business Review will report on what some hotels are doing to address these concerns so that the group meeting business can safely resume. 



This month's feature articles...

John Welty

Many guests will remember the start of hotel sustainability programs as the little placards in hotel rooms asking guests to reuse towels if possible, to help conserve water. In many cases investments in more environmentally friendly operations have gone well beyond the impact of laundry on the hotel's carbon footprint. However, like all good deeds, there can be unintended consequences. READ MORE

Merrick Dresnin

Hospitality went from a crisis of near business destruction due to the pandemic to a new crisis of chronic understaffing and record numbers of guests. Ask anyone why we cannot take care of these guests, and they answer we just do not have enough people. I have a different view of our problem. While we may not have as many people as we would like, we are not understaffed! READ MORE

Coming up in March 1970...