{"id":9805,"date":"2021-01-26T09:41:45","date_gmt":"2021-01-26T09:41:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.gdg.travel\/?p=9805"},"modified":"2021-06-16T10:20:01","modified_gmt":"2021-06-16T09:20:01","slug":"pent-up-demand-for-small-meetings-is-heating-up","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.gdg.travel\/en-au\/blog\/pent-up-demand-for-small-meetings-is-heating-up\/","title":{"rendered":"Pent-Up Demand for Small Meetings is Heating Up"},"content":{"rendered":"

[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ fullwidth=”on” admin_label=”Header: Pent-Up ” _builder_version=”4.8.1″ collapsed=”on”][et_pb_fullwidth_header title=”Pent-Up Demand For Small Meetings Is Heating Up” subhead=”hotels introduce enhanced technology and flexible contacts” text_orientation=”center” header_fullscreen=”on” header_scroll_down=”on” scroll_down_icon=”%%2%%” scroll_down_icon_color=”#ffffff” background_overlay_color=”rgba(0,0,0,0.46)” admin_label=”Title: Small Meetings” _builder_version=”4.8.1″ title_line_height=”1.3em” subhead_font_size=”30px” subhead_letter_spacing=”4px” subhead_line_height=”1.2em” background_color=”#414042″ background_image=”https:\/\/www.gdg.travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/small-meeting-hotel.jpg” parallax=”on” z_index_tablet=”500″][\/et_pb_fullwidth_header][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ admin_label=”content” _builder_version=”4.6.1″ custom_padding=”75px|0px|0px|0px|false|false” border_color_all=”rgba(255,186,96,0.6)” border_width_right=”8vw” border_color_right=”#5b8cb1″ collapsed=”on”][et_pb_row admin_label=”Intro” _builder_version=”4.0.6″ collapsed=”on”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.0.6″][et_pb_text admin_label=”Intro 1″ _builder_version=”4.8.1″]<\/p>\n

It just may be the small-meetings business that could help the beleaguered hotel industry overcome challenges presented by a raging pandemic, economic downturn and, in the United States at least, even civil unrest.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Danny King of Hotel News Now shares his perspective from the other side of the pond on what hotel chains are doing there to encourage business events back and how the UK is quickly following suit.<\/p>\n

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Companies anxious to cement deals and keep their employees connected realise they need to have meetings, with hotels providing the perfect venue to do this safely in small groups. To entice these groups, hotels are providing enhanced technology, flexible contracts that allow for last-minute changes and detailed sanitary procedures.<\/p>\n

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\u201cHotels must have all social distancing guidelines in place for meeting space and (food and beverage). In addition, they need to offer more flexible cancellation and attrition clauses around force majeure, or if fewer attendees become a reality,” said Steve Goodman, founder and managing partner at MeetingAdvice in Atlanta.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Some hotels are offering meeting space just for online meetings and most in-person meetings going forward will have a hybrid component, he said. As a result, hotels are making accommodations to allow this, such as higher bandwidth options.<\/p>\n

Hotels can also charge extra for the additional audio-visual services to accommodate the online or hybrid meetings, which is another potential revenue source.\u00a0In addition, even larger meetings and incentive bookings are on the books for 2022, Goodman said, which will also mean greater revenues.<\/p>\n

However, even though bookings are picking up, many meetings being booked now are focused on drive-to markets. This is the case until consumer confidence with longer-haul flight travel rises, said Teresa Savage, vice president of business development at the Monterey County Convention & Visitors Bureau in California.<\/p>\n

A significant portion of these gatherings are meetings with boards of directors and other corporate matters such as strategy, budget, sales and marketing, operations, staffing and company performance, said Tim Dick, senior director with CBRE Hotels Advisory.<\/p>\n

The average meeting size generally averages about 18 to 20 people. Video conference capabilities at hotels are critical as is food and beverage. Additional meetings range from 12 to 14, Dick said. The booking cycle is short, generally within 45 days. Half of the booked meetings are rooms only and the other half include food and beverage.<\/p>\n

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“Hotels are experiencing constant and steady interest in meetings for both near term and the future,” he said.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

There is also strong demand from consultants, corporate, local corporate, local government, state government, health care, medical suppliers, government overseeing vaccination, Veterans Affairs hospitals and pharmaceutical companies.<\/p>\n

Realising that meetings are where the business is, Hilton began rolling out globally its Hilton EventReady Hybrid Solutions. These offerings, which will continue to evolve, direct event planners to Hilton\u2019s hybrid-ready hotels while also providing them with planning resources, according to a news release<\/a>. Participating hotels will have access to team member training resources to build their knowledge in hybrid events.<\/p>\n

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