Pent-Up Demand for Small Meetings Is Heating Up
Hotels are booking much-needed small hybrid meetings now and over the next few months by offering new technology, flexible contracts and all necessary sanitary protocols.
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 civil unrest.
Companies anxious to cement deals and keep their employees connected realize 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.
"Hotels 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.