The consensus is that hybrid meetings are the medium-term future of corporate events, and one of the conditions for the gradual recovery of the MICE business in a still shaky health climate. " On the one hand, companies have learned to conduct their business remotely; on the other, they recognise the benefits of bringing their teams together physically. That's why I see a real future for these half virtual, half face-to-face solutionsfor connected meetings between several destinations without having to take a plane" explains Christine Wassell, Director of Meetings & Events at the Radisson Hotel...
The consensus is that hybrid meetings are the medium-term future of corporate events, and one of the conditions for the gradual recovery of the MICE business in a still shaky health climate. " On the one hand, companies have learned to conduct their business remotely; on the other, they recognise the benefits of bringing their teams together physically. That's why I see a real future for these half virtual, half face-to-face solutionsfor connected meetings between several destinations without having to take a plane" explains Christine Wassell, meetings & events director for the Radisson Hotel Group in the UK, Ireland and Western Europe, who notes that " In some markets, such as Northern Europe, demand for hybrid meetings is beginning to grow. "
One of the first hoteliers in the world, if not the first, to look at this issue, the Radisson group has officially presented its Hybrid Meetings. from September 2020. And the solution is now deployed in 52 hotelsThese include Frankfurt, Kuwait, London and Stockholm, as well as Paris, Lyon, Marseille and Nice in France. " Between 80 and 100 hotels should be equipped by the end of the year.says Christine Wassell.
Radisson's Hybrid Meetings rely on proven technologies with Logitech for everything to do with video and audio. Focus on videoconferencing. " Good sound and image were key for us, but so was a solution that was easy to use so that our customers could connect to remote participants with a single click." explains Christine Wassell. These hybrid meetings are based on the corporate version of ZoomThis is an integrated chat and polling facility for interacting with participants, with a high level of security and a closed environment to which only guests can successfully log in.
At the same time, the moderation of the meeting is controlled from a tablet which lets you play with the cameras, zoom in on the presenter, focus on a speaker or switch from one participant to another. " With two screens in the room, I can see the participants on one side and the presentations on the other. It's very easy to use, as I've found out for myself." says the Radisson Hotel Group's Director of Meetings & Events.
Following this initial phase, Radisson plans to train partnerships with studiosor to welcome them in their hotels, as is the case in Stockholm, Frankfurt and London Heathrowor to link their studios to the Zoom Rooms offered by Radisson hotels. " For example, we are in contact with a company that has 12 studios to reach a wider audience." says Christine Wassell.
As for the question of what role hybrid meetings will play once the pandemic is over, Christine Wassell believes that "hybrid meetings will be an important part of the response to the pandemic. they are here to stayHowever, they should not account for more than 20 % to 30 % of demand. People are still just as attracted to meeting people. Networking, chatting over a coffee: you don't build the same relationships online. "
A Covid testing programme to make meetings saferIn the run-up to the resumption of business, the Radisson Hotel Group is one of the first hoteliers in the EMEA region to deploy a Covid testing programme for meeting and event participants, reinforcing its security protocols put in place in collaboration with SGS. While Hilton, Hyatt or Marriott Radisson hotels in the region participating in this new programme will offer one or more of the following options: either a rapid antigen test before the event administered at the hotel by a healthcare provider, either a PCR test for groups or VIPs on site at the hotel, again administered by a qualified service provider, or access to PCR test sites close to the hotel, or even PCR tests with self-sampling, in countries where this is legally permitted. To build this programme, Radisson has teamed up with several partners, including Hughes Healthcare for antigenic tests, including the " turned out to be one of the most accurate and the best performing" explains the hotel group. For PCR testing, Radisson has formed partnerships with Synlab, a provider of clinical laboratory services. approved by UEFAand Eurofins, one of the leaders in bio-analysis, a partner of Formula 1. The next step is to be able to offer rapid tests to our customers and professionals. towards a safe return to travel for the business sector" said Chema Basterrechea, Chief Operating Officer of the Radisson Hotel Group in EMEA. |
