What is post-Covid-19 future for MICE industry?
Tim Cordon
Given proliferation of digital technology to conduct meetings and conferences, combined with myriad corporate travel restrictions imposed by companies, you’d be forgiven for wondering how physical meetings, incentives, conferences and events (MICE) sector will ever survive.
Here are some key factors that will give MICE operators an edge once the world begins emerging from the Covid-19 reality:
New solutions: As the hospitality industry began reopening, additional stringent health and safety protocols have been introduced to ensure peace of mind for both staff and guests.
At Radisson, this included the new Radisson Hotels Safety Protocols in collaboration with SGS, a leading company in inspection, verification, testing and certification.
As more meetings and events are planned, hoteliers and other MICE operators will rely heavily on new quality standards, certifications and accreditations, while also reassessing their hardware and software readiness to take advantage of every opportunity.
Additionally, solutions for monitoring crowds, automated self-cleaning machines for escalators, enhanced air-filtration systems for ventilation, and electrostatic disinfectant sprayers for public and multi-use areas are likely to offer a further safety layer to reassure guests.
Hybrid offerings: Covid-19 has demonstrated our need for human interaction just as much as it has our ability to operate remotely when necessary.
This means that in-person events are likely to still be first-prize option and unlikely to be replaced by virtual events in any significant way for the long term.
Throughout lockdowns, digital offerings such as Zoom have been leveraged to conduct meetings and other events, and that’s unlikely to change any time soon.
Not only do these offerings provide ease of use and remote participation, but also offer corporates a continuing opportunity to draw the line between essential and non-essential travel.
That said, nothing replaces the in-person experience, so we can expect hybrid events to be the order of the day wherever possible.
Radisson’s hybrid offering, aptly named Radisson Hybrid Solutions, is a collaboration between the hotel chain and Zoom, which allows for events in multi-locations, both in-person and via video-conferencing.
Size matters: Until a vaccine is available, restrictions limiting size of gatherings are expected to remain in place to allow for effective social distancing.
With this renewed focus on smaller-scale events, it follows that demand for smaller venues will grow.
As part of Radisson’s Hybrid Solutions offering, Hybrid Rooms are also available.
These combine state-of-the-art office facilities with the comforts of a hotel room.
MICE operators will need to deep dive into the needs of guests and event organisers alike in respect of such small-scale venues, including the potential of adding flexibility to room configurations, along with offering other amenities.
For venues that are much larger, such as ballrooms, operators can explore the various opportunities that bigger spaces provide, including ability to cater for social distancing.
Non-traditional exhibitions may also require designated spaces that can be easily sanitised between sessions.
Green thinking: The production of single-use plastic gloves, masks and other equipment is on the rise.
Hotels and other hospitality industry players who have committed to aligning with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals will have to rethink their eco-friendly practices amidst renewed fears of sharing items and spaces.
Minimising carbon footprint of hotels and guests will set the best-practice standard going forward.
Radisson’s Carbon Neutral Meetings automatically offset carbon footprint of all meetings and events on properties worldwide, at no cost to clients.
Additionally, supporting local, sustainable businesses, implementing alternative energy sources, and adding eco-friendly landscaping, is expected to be the new normal.
While it’s doubtful that either hospitality or MICE industries will return to pre-Covid -19 conditions any time soon, it doesn’t mean that, as we move into 2021, there aren’t still plenty of opportunities for innovation.
It’s also likely that improved ongoing analysis of data needs will help guide forward planning, and help operators to understand and leverage prevailing trends. — The writer is Senior Area Vice President, Middle East & Africa, Radisson Hotel Group
