Over 16,700 Safe Venues Ready For Meetings
Since the COVID-19 pandemic started back in March this year, cancellations and adjournments have dramatically impacted the revenue of many businesses within the MICE industry worldwide.
Stimulus packages, hypothetical solutions, forecasts and alternatives have invaded the mind of everybody in the events sector. Although the UK and many governments have demonstrated their effort to reduce the burden on the event industry, they have been struggling to make meetings possible once again.
Safe Meeting
venuedirectory.com, launched on the 1st June this 2020 “SAFE MEETING” feature, this enhances our database to allow venues and meeting rooms to display their “Safe Meeting Policies” with a view to improving delegate confidence.
venuedirectory.com “SAFE MEETING” feature, allows all our venues both UK and worldwide to upload all their policies, schemes, surveys, protocols or plans to overcome this Covid-19 lockdown. By doing so, website visitors will be able to see those ‘Safe’ venues for their next coming event.
Having the attendees' confidence restored and to demonstrate, following the Covid-19 outbreak, that the venue has put into place the steps necessary to ensure staff and delegates are safe to meet in those venues; is our main goal.
Every day more venues are helping to build a safe venue database for the future.
As planned, there is an icon on all search results, and within a venue profile, demonstrating the venue has a policy in place, which will make it easy for meeting planners to source venues that are safe and ready to receive meeting delegates. So far, there are over 16.700 venues, which are using this feature to show their efforts applying rigorous hygienic and cleanliness standards to offer venues for meetings and events as usual.
Countrywide Hotels
Countrywide Hotels, a beautifully curated group of hotels throughout the UK each one individual and special in its own setting, launched “The New Normal” policy, which allowed all of their hotels to be opened throughout the lockdown period for the NHS staff and Key Workers.
“The New Normal'' policy included all the recommendations from the Government and Public Health England that protect their customers and team members during this lockdown time, including but not limited to Social Distancing, bedrooms hygienised following the “Key Critical Touch Point Cleaning”, enhanced cleaning practices in conjunction with ‘Diversey’ our chemical provider in all public areas, washrooms and lifts & the relevant PPE for their staff in each of the hotels' departments. Moreover, they have tested their staff from COVID-19, as part of the Government Key Worker initiative. Now they have been re-opening fully while undertaking intensive preparations & cleaning procedures to ensure all their venues and meeting rooms are in the best possible condition. This is an ongoing process and will be updated along with government announcements, guidelines, and industry best practices.
Accor Hotels
Accor, best known for brands like Sofitel, Novotel, Mercure & IBIS and a global leader in augmented hospitality, and Bureau Veritas, a world-leading provider in testing, inspection and certification, have joined forces to develop a label designed to certify that the appropriate safety standards and cleaning protocols have been achieved to allow businesses to reopen.
Franck Gervais, CEO Europe Accor, said, "Welcoming, protecting and taking care of others is the very DNA of Accor and at the heart of what we do. Today, more than ever, our employees, customers and partners need to be reassured of our ability to offer them the best welcome possible. As the European leader in hospitality, it is our duty to anticipate needs and respond to health and safety requirements by adhering to the highest standards. We are pleased to be pioneering this drive with Bureau Veritas and to extend it to all stakeholders.”
Besides, Jacques Pommeraud, CEO Bureau Veritas Africa & France, added: “For almost 200 years, it has been Bureau Veritas’ mission to shape a world of trust. With this label, today we have the ability to meet the new expectations of our society in terms of health and safety. This label will contribute to the hospitality and restaurant industry reopening with confidence. We are proud to work with Accor, at first in France and subsequently in all European countries. This approach will benefit the entire industry as every company could request to be certified by Bureau Veritas.”
Marriott International
Marriott International (NASDAQ: MAR), which for 92 years has been recognised as a hospitality leader for its commitment to quality, exacting standards, and rigorous training, announced their “Global Cleanliness Council”, which enhanced technology to help counter virus spread; new multi-pronged platform details increased safety measures for guests and associates.
Arne Sorenson, President and CEO of Marriott International said: “We are living in a new age, with COVID-19 front and centre for our guests and our associates. We are grateful for the trust our guests have shown us through the years. We want our guests to understand what we are doing today and planning for in the near future in the areas of cleanliness, hygiene and social distancing so that when they walk through the doors of one of our hotels, they know our commitment to their health and safety is our priority. It’s equally important to us that our associates know the changes we are making to help safeguard their health as they serve our guests.”
Hilton International
Hilton, one of the most recognised brands in the world, released the new standard of hotel cleanliness named “CleanStay”, in partnership with RB/Lysol and Dettol and Mayo Clinic to elevate hygiene practices from check-in to check-out.
Christopher J. Nassetta, Hilton President and CEO said: “Our first priority has always been the safety of our guests and Team Members. Hilton “CleanStay” builds on the best practices and protocols we’ve developed over the last several months, allowing our guests to rest easy with us and focus on enjoying the unforgettable experiences we have to offer – while protecting our Team Members who are on the front lines of hospitality.”
There are also other groups making use of this feature to publish their safety policies such as: