Wyndham Hotels and Resorts has launched a hybrid meeting concept to “help drive corporate business demand to its hotels” in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic. The initiative blends physical meetings with virtual technology, and is currently being piloted at a selection of the group’s Dolce Hotels and Resorts in Europe.
The new concept includes the ability to live stream to separate meeting rooms in the same location, host large-scale online conferences, and connect various Dolce hotels in Europe through the on-site broadcast studios. These offerings cater to the remote working trend and respect government restrictions on meeting sizes.
Every event includes a dedicated hybrid meeting expert, state-of-the-art technology, high-speed wifi and pre-event technical rehearsals. Businesses using the facilities can also request full project management services for event planning.
The new concept also has a variety of additional features on offer including event moderators “to promote participation”, events such as live music, yoga and tai chi, and team building activities.
The meeting initiative abides by Wyndham’s ‘Count on Us’ health and safety protocols, which include reconfiguring meeting spaces to allow for social distancing, managing attendee flow, and maximising outdoor spaces where possible.
The pilot is currently active at the following eight hotels:
- Comwell Aarhus Dolce by Wyndham, Denmark
- Comwell Copenhagen Portside Dolce by Wyndham, Denmark
- Dolce by Wyndham Sitges Barcelona, Spain
- Dolce by Wyndham La Hulpe, Brussels
- Dolce by Wyndham Bad Nauheim, Germany
- Dolce by Wyndham Attica Riviera, Greece
- Akti Imperial Hotel and Convention Centre Dolce by Wyndham, Greece
- Dolce by Wyndham CampoReal Lisbon, Portugal
Wyndham aims to roll out the flexible concept to more of its properties across Europe, Middle East, Eurasia and Africa.
Julie White, Vice President Commercial EMEA at Wyndham Hotels and Resorts, commented:
“We are delighted to pilot these new meeting solutions, which perfectly complement our broader offering in the region. This new initiative enables us to support businesses as they transition through a new phase of remote working without compromising on the professional experience and flexibility they require.”
Other hotel groups have also amended their meeting offerings in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic. In August, Marriott Hotels introduced new digital content to help hosts, organizers and attendees plan meetings, while the NH Hotel Group has redesigned its event experiences.
