Hyatt Hotels Corporation has announced that “Together by Hyatt” – a new suite of event solutions designed to empower meeting planners to navigate the new normal – is being launched across its hotels in Asia Pacific. It will help businesses effectively deliver increasing numbers of events following the broader easing of pandemic-era restrictions in many markets. This follows a successful pilot program at 10 hotels in Asia Pacific and a launch in the US that provided wide-ranging feedback via surveys and stakeholder interviews, highlighting the added confidence provided by enhanced hygiene protocols and remote event planning capabilities.

Since the onset of the pandemic, businesses have adapted to regular hybrid events and meetings, yet even as restrictions ease, the use of both online and offline elements is expected to remain the norm in order to accommodate the changed expectations of participants. According to the “State of In-Person Events” Report from meetings technology firm Bizzabo, which surveyed more than 230 meeting professionals in June and July this year, 68 percent of organisers plan to have a virtual component at their next in-person event. This reinforces that most respondents will retain partial hybrid meeting options even as they build on the momentum of a return to in-person events.

Building on Hyatt’s deep-rooted expertise in delivering high-quality meetings and events, “Together by Hyatt” advances care for planners by simplifying and streamlining event planning and execution, with attendee safety and wellbeing as top priorities.

“As an increasing number of markets in Asia Pacific have eased restrictions on group gatherings, we are seeing a steady reemergence of MICE enquiries. Our goal is to help businesses come together again to reconnect, ideate and share unforgettable moments,” Carina Chorengel, senior vice president of commercial, Asia Pacific, Hyatt Hotels Corporation.“After almost three years of disruption, event planners recognise the need to meet expectations of safety, technology and well-being more than ever. ‘Together by Hyatt’ is designed to inspire planners to envision and deliver small- and large-scale events with the ideas and tools necessary to reach their attendees in safe, creative and impactful ways,” she said.

Rooted in Hyatt’s purpose to care for people so they can be their best, “Together by Hyatt” prioritises four pillars that are essential to all events:

Care + Safety
Hyatt’s Global Care & Cleanliness Commitment, which focuses on enhanced rigorous cleanliness and safety protocols and includes GBAC STAR™ Facility Accreditation from the Global Biorisk Advisory Council™ (GBAC), a leader in cleanliness and disinfection standards. With safety and wellbeing as top priorities, Hyatt has taken additional steps for added peace of mind:

Reimagined Meeting Spaces: Hyatt has reimagined all touchpoints of the event experience — from socially distant room setups to signage for attendees to care stations with personal protective equipment.

GBAC STAR Facility Accreditation: Planners can feel confident that Hyatt is following the industry’s most rigorous cleanliness standards and protocols. All Hyatt hotels globally are required to secure GBAC STAR Facility Accreditation and have at least one dedicated Hygiene & Wellbeing Leader at the hotel.

COVID-19 Testing and Vaccine Verification: Depending on local health advisory and guidance, Hyatt works with COVID-19 testing providers and verifies guests’ vaccination records to ensure attendee meet gathering protocols.

Care + Technology
Recognising that seamless and streamlined technology platforms are critical to the overall event experience, in addition to its in-house audiovisual capabilities, Hyatt is working with Swapcard* and other key providers to offer an end-to-end virtual and hybrid events platform  These platforms give planners access to bespoke programs that unifies on-site and remote attendee experiences.

Planners can also take advantage of Hyatt’s proprietary meeting tools. From virtual hotel tours that can be done from the comfort of their home or office to making requests directly to the hotel team in real time through the Event Concierge app to Group Bill, which organises all event charges into one bill, Hyatt’s robust set of event planning tools provide planners with more choice and flexibility at their fingertips.

Care + A Community of Experts
In a recent survey of Hyatt customers, almost half of planners expressed difficulty creating a synchronised and compelling hybrid experience. To address complexities of hybrid events, “Together by Hyatt” offers planners extra care with the opportunity to tap into new resources and dedicated expertise:

Hybrid Event Experts: Hyatt has created a new team of Hybrid Event Experts with specialised skills and deep-rooted expertise spanning events and technology. Certifications for Planners: Hyatt is providing its most loyal customers the opportunity for planners to be sponsored to secure training from the Global Biorisk Advisory Council, allowing them to approach event planning with the same level of training as Hyatt’s Hygiene & Wellbeing Leaders. Additionally, Hyatt is teaming up with the hybrid event experts, Virtual Events Institute, to offer loyal planners a certified training course to deepen their knowledge of hybrid events.

Resource Guides to introduce new possibilities and inspiration at Hyatt hotels as planners begin to ideate on what their next event could look and feel like.

Care + Wellbeing
COVID-19 has profoundly elevated the importance of wellbeing. In line with its purpose of care, Hyatt is addressing this increased focus on wellbeing in new ways through “Together by Hyatt”:

Miraval and localised Experiences: A new series of guided experiences featuring wellbeing experts at Hyatt’s Miraval resorts and some of our locations across Asia Pacific will be available for planners to integrate into event agendas for meetings at all Hyatt hotels. With content purposely designed to serve as a break in the agenda, attendees will be able to enjoy a variety of wellbeing moments – from intention-setting activities to guided stretching exercises – throughout their event.

Headspace: Curated content from Headspace, a global leader in mindfulness and meditation, will provide planners with a unique opportunity to care for attendees’ mental wellbeing. From meditations, breathing exercises and focus music, planners will be able to make their meetings more mindful.

Food & Beverage Offerings: With a strong reputation for food & beverage excellence, Hyatt is evolving its culinary offerings in creative ways to bring exceptional food & beverage experiences to attendees – whether on site or remote.

“Navigating the new world of events can be overwhelming, as events look and feel very different under today’s new normal,” said  Chorengel. “Guided by our purpose of care, every aspect of ‘Together by Hyatt’ is intended to provide a seamless experience for planners so they can focus on delivering exceptional events for attendees to fully experience the joy of what it means to be together again. We’ve taken strategic steps to bring safety, technology, support and wellbeing to the forefront of our offerings, and lay the foundation for a new era of events that will be more inclusive than ever before.”