Aims to guide organizers, hosts and attendees in planning their meetings through MarriottBonvoyEvents.com
Following the successful launch in the United States, Marriott International is introducing the concept to the Caribbean and Latin America, highlighting how redefined processes and reimagined spaces, guided by cleaning experts and best practices, will help hosts, organizers and attendees plan. and run meetings and connect with confidence. The first hybrid Marriott Conecta con Confianza event in the region took place at The St. Regis Mexico City on June 30, welcoming 35 in-person attendees, joined by more than 80 virtual participants, presenting business news and perspectives on Marriott International leaders, global sales and event operations.
Recognized as an industry leader for quality and high standards for more than 90 years, Marriott introduced changes including improved sanitation guidelines, new operational training for associates, and increased use of conferencing technologies to ensure customers can get together when they're ready. Meeting planners can now consult a series of materials including client stories and resources that provide context and additional information for designing successful events in today's environment. Available on 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 guides everything from how we care for our guests and associates to how we begin to get back into the meetings and events business," said Diana Plazas, Chief Sales and Marketing Officer for the Caribbean and Latin America. “Our Global Cleaning Council is working with us to address the realities of the COVID-19 pandemic and what this means for a hotel meeting or event. Having experts in the fields 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 we begin to anticipate, plan and execute future meetings. and events of all sizes. "
The Planning Process
The primary goal of hotel event teams is to help our planners understand what a meeting would look like in today's environment and ensure they can get their work done quickly and easily with events designed to serve their goals. meeting.
From planning to hiring, hotel teams consult with clients to review new practices, including attendee social distancing, and improved offerings such as virtual / hybrid meetings, contactless registration, and solutions. catering. The Marriott Bonvoy ™ Events portal contains best practices, testimonials, and actual meeting images to bring the expertise of the meeting experts to life.
The global operations team has created a series of physically distant blueprints that allow event planners to visualize room configurations that allow for socially distant gatherings while still supporting the purpose and goals of the meeting. Consultations, pre-convention meetings and site visits can be conducted virtually and adapted to include health and safety briefings.
Additionally, Marriott has handpicked a list of vendors, including Encore, Cvent, Convene, MeetingPlay, and Hopin, who offer hybrid meeting technology solutions to streamline the planning process.
Meetings and events
Attendees can anticipate the following adjustments during meetings and events at Marriott properties:
● Attendees may be required to wear masks, depending on the local guidelines of the meeting destination.
● The seating capacity is in accordance with local laws and specific government regulations for each market and, whenever possible, outdoor spaces will be used.
● Frequent and more thorough cleaning is carried out to disinfect meeting spaces and high-touch areas, such as elevator buttons, door handles, and handrails, even every hour.
● There are hand sanitizing stations in all meeting spaces.
Meals and Breaks
Redesigned food and beverages follow recommended food safety and service standards. Both meals and breaks are held in specific and socially distanced spaces, reserved for a particular event and its attendees, to prevent them from interacting with other groups. The catering menus They are also being adjusted to include a wide selection customized to the size of the group, including new options for individually prepackaged foods, canned and bottled beverages, and table service. The buffets will also be modified to include waiters, masks, hand sanitizing and line management. Hotels are also leveraging technology and digital solutions to create contactless service when needed, 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 closely 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, Global Sales Organization, Marriott International . “We look forward to welcoming clients and guests back to experience the exceptional experiences our company is known for in a safe and clean environment. Cleanliness and service have always been the hallmarks of our identity and now those deep convictions are more important than ever. ”
Later this year, other Conecta Con Confianza events are planned in the region, in Brazil and Costa Rica.