Meetings Get a Reboot & Reinvention

Meetings Get a Reboot & Reinvention

When it comes to in-person gatherings, the meetings industry isn’t 100% back “on” yet but it is in the near future!  One hotelier, who has a finger on the pulse of California’s luxury lodging scene, recently forecasted that the booking of meetings and incentives would begin to percolate again in the next four to five weeks. Some companies may continue to go the virtual route in the short term for financial and safety reasons, while many businesses and groups are still moving forward with previously scheduled Fall events. In the background, planners, event professionals and the hospitality industry at large have been hard at work preparing for the return of meetings in the near future and long term. Events are being recalibrated and redesigned to integrate all the necessary safety protocols, whether they are being held at hotels or creative off-site venues.

 After surveying their membership and past conference attendees, the California Travel Association gained the confidence to move forward with their annual CalTravel Summit this September 8-10 in Huntington Beach. While they are anticipating smaller numbers than usual, attendance is predicted to be upwards of 200, with many organizations only sending their executive leadership to maximize reduced budgets across the board. The entire conference will be hosted outdoors at Pasea Hotel & Spa. CalTravel has done a great job reassuring prospective attendees with this clear communication on the conference landing page: “CalTravel and Paséa Hotel & Spa are committed to using best-in-class sanitation and safety protocols to protect attendees and workers. The hotel is located right at the beach and has plenty of outside spaces that will be incorporated into the Summit, including General Session outdoors on the Ocean Lawn and Terrace.”

 We’ve also got our eye on Connect Meetings, who will host their CONNECT MARKET PLACE in Las Vegas October 19-21. The annual event brings planners, suppliers and experts across multiple meetings and events industry markets together for one-on-one meetings, educational sessions and networking. They’ve yet to release the modified conference experience details, but we can expect to see a best practice standard for doing meetings well in the current landscape.