IHG Hotels and Resorts has expanded its Meet with Confidence groups programme to better support hybrid events.
The programme now offers two hybrid event solutions, called Smart and Expert, for events including in-person and virtual attendees in one or more locations.
The smart solution, part of which already exists, builds upon IHG Connect, the company's technology and wi-fi platform, which sits in the cloud and allows for an unlimited number of devices to be connected. The expert solution offers more advanced technology, such as the ability to connect multiple venues, as in a hub-and-spoke scenario, along with virtual attendees.
Smart is available at participating IHG Hotels & Resorts globally, except in Greater China. Events booked by 30 June that will take place before 31 December have no cancellation fees or attrition fees for rooms that are not booked and attract up to a 5 per cent rebate towards the master bill.
The group is also offering IHG Business Rewards for planners and bookers, and streamlined contracting through use of a short-form contract.
Expert, initially available at almost 100 hotels in Europe, the US, the Middle East and Asia, offers a full suite of hybrid meeting capabilities allowing in-person and virtual attendees to connect, in addition to advanced audio-visual production and multi-venue linking, working with its technology partners encore and weframe. Expert events attract a flat 5 per cent rebate towards the master bill.
The Kimpton Fitzroy London, InterContinental Berlin, Crowne Plaza Amsterdam – South and Crowne Plaza Warsaw – The Hub are among the hotels in Europe offering the Expert solution.
Derek DeCross, senior vice president, global sales, IHG Hotels & Resorts, said: “There is a strong desire to return to face-to-face meetings, and welcoming groups back to our hotels is going to take a team effort from those planning events. We’re committed to helping provide quality meeting experiences to give the attendees the confidence they need to feel secure attending in-person events, if that’s the option they choose.”