To showcase the innovative measures being taken to support the safe return of in-person meetings and events, the Meetings Mean Business Coalition (MMBC) is enlisting corporate executives, policymakers and meetings industry leadership to engage in critical conversations in a virtual discussion series.  The conversations—which premiered in July and will continue through the fall—thus far highlighted five key considerations, predictions and actions underway. They are:

A recent survey of how North American venue operators are currently serving customers in wheelchairs indicates opportunities for improved access. The June 2020 venue accessibility survey was completed as part of a joint study on behalf of IAVM (International Association of Venue Managers) and Lexia.Solutions. 

Some good news. Global Business Travel Association (GBTA) member companies worldwide are reporting an emerging willingness to permit employees to engage in domestic business travel, according to the latest poll conducted August 5-9, 2020.

Ninety-five percent of event planners may run a hybrid event in 2020, according to a survey by etc.venues. This figure reflects the growing commitment to hybrid events as, at the beginning of July, 73 percent said they expected to hold a hybrid event this year. Many are already putting this into action, with 34 percent of respondents in the process of organizing a hybrid or multi-hub event, while 61 percent are in the decision-making phase for their event.

As signs of recovery continue in the business travel sector, travel procurement professionals are prioritizing the health and safety of employees, according to a new poll released by the Global Business Travel Association (GBTA).

A survey of event professionals by etc.venues during its first hybrid event since lockdown revealed that almost three-quarters (73 percent) of them are planning a hybrid event before the end of the year.

A fifth (19 percent) of planners said the biggest barrier to choosing a hybrid event is a lack of experience, followed by concerns over cost (17 percent), risk of failure (17 percent), perceptions of low attendance (17 percent), confusion with technology (16 percent) and getting stakeholder buy-in (15 percent).

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Last week’s ICCA (International Congress and Convention Association) U.K. and Ireland Chapter meeting was attended by more than 90 delegates from destinations, venues and suppliers. It was moderated by newly appointed chairman of Business Visits and Events Partnership (BVEP), Simon Hughes. 

The majority of organizations will take a phased approach to resuming domestic and international business travel over the next 12 months, according to the first part of a combined multinational "State of the Market" survey by global travel management company (TMC) FCM Travel Solutions and sister SME (small and medium-sized enterprises) specialist business travel provider Corporate Traveler.

The business travel sector is showing higher levels of optimism of late, according to new research by the Global Business Travel Association (GBTA). Domestic and essential business travel will likely resume first, especially with industry standardized health and safety standards.

To continue to understand the effects of the coronavirus’s on business travel, GBTA conducted its eighth poll among membership from June 9 – 14, 2020. GBTA received responses from 1,708 member companies throughout the world.