Marriott International Holds First Virtual Hybrid Meeting in Asia Pacific

Joining forces with industry leaders to analyze future trends in travel and meetings

[September 23, 2021, Hong Kong, China] Upholding an optimistic outlook on the recovery of the tourism industry, Marriott International, together with several industry experts, held its first virtual hybrid meeting in the Asia Pacific region in early September—titled “Unwavering – Journey to New Encounters.” More than 1,100 travel industry experts from across the Asia Pacific region participated both offline and virtually. During the meeting, experts engaged in lively panel discussions on new trends and demands in the meetings and events market, evolving business travel policies, luxury travel, and post-pandemic consumer behavior, summarizing the following key trends:

User experience determines success or failure

Cleanliness and hygiene remain a key focus for many consumers, and as part of the user experience, expectations related to safety and hygiene have significantly increased. Social distancing, mask-wearing, and hand sanitizers have become essential components of meetings and events. To fulfill the group’s “Connect with Confidence” commitment, Marriott International has prepared a “Pre-Event Checklist” for event organizers as a reference.

Bart Buiring, Chief Marketing Officer of Marriott International Asia Pacific, said, “In our continuous efforts to enhance guest experiences, we have found that cleanliness remains a major concern for many consumers. Marriott International continues to strengthen its hygiene and cleanliness measures and procedures, combined with technology, to ensure the health and safety of guests. The tourism industry is gradually recovering, and I am very optimistic about this. I also look forward to the reopening of cross-border travel.”

Face-to-face interpersonal communication has become more powerful

The meetings and events industry has adopted technology and digital applications very rapidly. Even though virtual meetings became the norm during the peak of the pandemic, 47% of respondents in a post-event survey indicated that more than half of their events next year would be held offline. At that time, hybrid meetings, which combine the advantages of in-person interaction with the convenience of digital applications, are more likely to become the mainstream meeting format.

Regarding how to plan events under the new normal, industry experts are constantly experimenting, reflecting, evaluating, and learning to become more flexible in responding and adapting when challenges arise. Leaders in the meetings and events industry have also recognized the importance and power of face-to-face meetings, using hybrid technology as a support to create a humanized communication experience.

Ramesh Daryanani, Vice President of Global Sales, Asia Pacific at Marriott International, said, “We need to find a balance among technology, reach, and engagement. When hosting hybrid meetings, the platform is not the core element; the expected outcomes and the value brought by interpersonal communication are key. Marriott International will continue to enhance the hybrid meeting experience, but there is no doubt that face-to-face meetings cannot be replaced.”

As borders reopen, clients are also seeking closer engagement in meetings and events. At the same time, using these events to reconnect and make up for the reduced contact during the pandemic will be considered a key priority.

Health redefines luxury

The pandemic has created an opportunity for travelers to think about how to make travel more meaningful. More and more guests are focusing on enhancing personal well-being and wellness experiences during their trips. For example, demands for weekend relaxation getaways, secret all-inclusive resort hotels, spiritual cultivation, and visits to niche destinations are gradually increasing.

According to a survey by Marriott International, three-quarters of respondents hope to relieve stress through travel. People have higher expectations for “slow travel”—they will slow down, visit only one place, and take time to familiarize themselves with the destination and its surrounding environment and culture, rather than rushing through. Industry experts should respond to these rising trends and launch experiences that meet changing market demands. Under Marriott Bonvoy, both Westin Hotels & Resorts and JW Marriott offer signature programs to help guests maintain a healthy lifestyle during their travels. The newly launched “Good Travel with Marriott Bonvoy” program also creates connections between guests and local communities, bringing lasting positive impacts.

This hybrid meeting was jointly created by Marriott International and its technology partner, NowEvents, and was simultaneously held at the Renaissance Hong Kong Harbour View Hotel, The Ritz-Carlton, Millenia Singapore, and JW Marriott Gold Coast Resort. On-site participants could experience the convenience of technology immersively, while breakout sessions created the effect of participants being in the same space even though they were in different locations. The breakout discussions were moderated by Karen Bolinger, Strategic Business Advisor for PCMA Asia Pacific, with participants including:

· Andy Winchester (Hong Kong, China) – Bloomberg, Travel Manager Asia Pacific

· Anna Patterson (Singapore) – Vice President and Managing Director, George P. Johnson Singapore

· Bart Buiring (Hong Kong, China) – Chief Marketing Officer, Marriott International Asia Pacific

· Charlotte Harris (Hong Kong, China) – General Manager, eTravel

· Kenji Soh (Singapore) – Executive Director, Head of Travel Asia Pacific, Goldman Sachs

· Oscar Cerezales (Singapore) – Chief Strategy Officer, MCI Group

About Marriott International

Marriott International, Inc. (NASDAQ: MAR) is headquartered in Bethesda, Maryland, USA, and operates over 7,600 properties in 133 countries and territories, including directly operated hotels, franchised hotels, and licensed timeshare properties, with 30 hotel brands. Marriott International operates the award-winning travel program – Marriott Bonvoy.

About Marriott Bonvoy

Marriott Bonvoy, the travel program of Marriott International, encompasses the group’s 30 hotel brands worldwide and the curated short-term rental residences of Homes & Villas by Marriott International. Members who book directly through Marriott’s official channels not only enjoy exclusive member rates but also earn points easily with each stay and enjoy benefits such as complimentary high-speed Wi-Fi. Members can redeem exclusive experiences and enriching destination travel through the “Marriott Bonvoy Moments” platform. Through the Marriott Bonvoy mobile app, members can easily check in and out, make online inquiries, and use mobile key.