Half of the respondents plan on hosting physical events while 36 per cent are happy with running more hybrid events. Photo Credit: Unsplash
As Asia Pacific sees events returning amid the pandemic, meeting
planners consider various factors affecting event hosting in a recent
survey led by Marriott Bonvoy, Marriott International’s travel
programme.
The survey reached 536 respondents including event and meeting
planners, administrative support staff and those in management roles
across multiple industries in Asia-Pacific excluding China.
Half of those surveyed are planning to continue with in-person
events. While offline events might be a popular choice, 36 per cent of
the respondents are planning to host more hybrid events.
With ongoing travel restrictions, it's no surprise that 70 per cent
of respondents indicated a preference for domestic destinations. With
Marriott’s ‘Connect with Confidence’ hygiene protocols in mind, Marriott
International properties across the region are offering virtual
solutions for event planners who are unable or prefer to not travel.
Through these solutions, event planners will not have to be on-site to
get a full picture of the properties and meeting facilities.
Ever-changing government regulations around hosting events pose the
biggest concern to planners (45 per cent), followed by safety and
hygiene standards of the venue (30 per cent) and budget constraints (16
per cent).
According to Marriott International, masks and hand sanitisers will
be made available upon request by meeting planners and attendees, and
regular temperature checks will be implemented for all attendees upon
arrival. Additionally, all associates are required to wear masks.
Through the virtual planning, consultations, pre-convention meetings and
site tours can be adapted to include hygiene and safety briefings.
Venues can accommodate different seating capacities through flexible
rearrangement of meeting furniture. Furniture are kept at a safe
distance to ensure that social distancing requirements are met. Where
available, live-streaming capabilities can also be used to facilitate
virtual and hybrid meetings.
Meals and breaks are spaced out for different events to avoid
co-mingling with attendees from other events. A wide variety of enhanced
F&B options tailored to group size may be offered, including: Grab
and Go, canned and bottled beverages or plated service available on
request.
“The current ‘new world’ we are experiencing through this pandemic
has required us to have a different elevated experience for guests
across different sectors and markets,” said Rajeev Menon, president,
Asia Pacific (excluding Greater China), Marriott International.
“We are seeing leisure travel slowly returning, followed by business
and then groups. And with our Commitment to Clean initiative, we are
ready to welcome guests back to our hotels around the world, providing
them with a safe environment that aligns with expert protocols to travel
and connect with confidence.”