Marriott introduces content to the digital platform for meetings and events

Following the announcement of the Marriott International Global Cleaning and Hygiene Pledge Council, Marriott has introduced digital content on redefined processes and redesigned spaces guided by cleaning experts and best practices to help hosts, organizers and attendees plan and execute. meetings and connect with confidence.

Recognized as an industry leader for quality and high standards for more than 93 years, Marriott is introducing changes that include improved sanitation guidelines, new operational training for associates, and increased use of conferencing technologies to ensure customers can meet up when they're ready. Meeting planners can now reference a number of new materials, including an informational video, customer stories, and resources that provide additional context and information for designing successful events in today's environment. Available today at MarriottBonvoyEvents.com, these tools illustrate Marriott's approach to delivering high-quality meeting experiences across its portfolio of hotels and resorts.

"Our commitment to cleanliness is guiding everything from how we keep our guests and associates safe to how we begin to welcome meeting and event arrangements," said Ray Bennett, CEO of Global Operations for Marriott International and president of the Marriott's Global Cleaning Council. “Our Global Clean Council is working with us to address the realities of the COVID-19 pandemic and what that means for a hotel meeting or event. Having experts in the areas of hygiene, food safety, infectious diseases and infection prevention has been enormously beneficial in helping us think about what we can do to support organizations as they begin to anticipate, plan and run future meetings and events of all sizes ”.

The planning process
The main goal of hotel event teams is to help our organizers understand what a meeting will look like in today's environment and ensure that they can get their work done quickly and easily with events designed to cater to their meeting goals. From planning to hiring, hotel teams consult with clients to review new practices, including social distancing from attendees, and enhanced offerings like virtual / hybrid meetings, contactless registration, and catering solutions. The Marriott Bonvoy Events portal has the best practices, testimonials, and real meeting charts to bring the expertise of the meeting experts to life.

The Marriott Bonvoy Events team has created a series of distant physical blueprints that allow event organizers to visualize room configurations that allow for socially distant gatherings, while still supporting the purpose and objectives of the meeting. Consultations, pre-convention meetings, and site visits can be conducted virtually and adapted to include health and safety briefings.

Meetings and events
Attendees can anticipate the following adjustments during meetings and events at Marriott properties:

• In the United States, Canada, the Caribbean and Latin America, Marriott International requires all associates to wear a face shield as part of their uniform.
• Throughout the United States, Canada, the Caribbean and Latin America, Marriott International requires all guests to wear a face shield.
• Seating capacity has been reduced in accordance with local laws and specific government regulations for each market, and outdoor spaces will be used whenever possible.
• Frequent and deeper cleaning is performed to disinfect meeting spaces and high-touch areas such as elevator buttons, door handles, and handrails up to every hour.
• Hand sanitizing stations are provided in all gathering spaces.

Meals and breaks
The redesigned food and beverage experiences follow recommended food safety and service standards. Both meals and breaks are set in dedicated and socially distant spaces, reserved for a specific event and its attendees, to avoid mixing with other groups. Food service menus are also being adjusted to include a wide range of selection tailored to group size, including new options of individually prepackaged meals, canned and bottled beverages, and a la carte service. The firms will also be modified to include servers, shields, hand sanitizing and queue management. Hotels are also leveraging technology and digital solutions to create contactless service where appropriate, such as the use of QR codes and digital menus. Non-essential items such as bedding, preset dishes and glassware, and decorations will also be removed.

“Marriott International continues to work in partnership with industry organizations, such as the Events Industry Council, to find ways to instill confidence in meetings and events,” said Tammy Routh, Senior Vice President of the Marriott Worldwide Sales Organization International. “We look forward to welcoming returning customers and guests for the exceptional experiences our company is known for in a safe and clean environment. Cleanliness and service have always been our hallmarks and now those deep convictions are more important than ever. "