The Greater Palm Springs Convention & Visitors Bureau (GPSCVB) has launched a new meeting incentive program for groups that book summer events for 2021 and beyond.

Radisson Hotel Group has launched a new rapid testing service for meeting and event attendees at properties across its portfolio in Europe, the Middle East and Africa. The service will be available at participating hotels in partnership with Hughes Healthcare using a lateral flow antigen test kit.

With virtual and hybrid meetings now the new normal, Four Seasons Hotel Seoul is offering three different packages that combine service and surroundings with the latest in high-end audio/visual. The packages allow meeting hosts to create effective online meetings, conferences and events—complete with cameras, live streaming, recording, translation services, technicians and more.

Event planners continue to look to hospitality industry leaders for solutions that help simplify the complex task of organizing in-person or hybrid events in the current environment—particularly as it relates to COVID-19 testing and health screenings. Throughout the pandemic, Hilton says it has been listening and responding to the needs of its customers, and now it is providing event planners with COVID-19 testing and health screening resources for their event attendees.

Frustrated officials and union leaders representing California’s business travel, events and conventions industry are calling on Governor Gavin Newsom to issue statewide guidelines clarifying under what conditions business meetings, events and conventions in California can resume someday.

Benchmark, a global hospitality company, has shared its "Ten Top Trends" that are impacting and transforming meetings in 2021. The trends were observed by Benchmark’s portfolio of 80 meeting hotels, resorts and conference centers (including  Benchmark Resorts & Hotels, Gemstone Collection and Benchmark Conference Centers). 

American Express Global Business Travel (GBT) has launched a new workspace booking service for remote workers and small teams.

GBT’s Workspaces gives customers the ability to make flexible, daytime bookings of meeting venues, co-working spaces, guestrooms with desks, converted suites and small hotel meeting rooms, to use as work and collaboration spaces.

For meeting and event professionals who have been looking to plan hybrid virtual/in-person meetings and events, Marriott International is offering new solutions to help "Connect with Confidence" and streamline the current planning process. New resources for hybrid meetings and events, including providers and pricing, will be available next month at Marriott hotels across the United States and Canada, and are slated to be available globally in the near future.

With Zoom fatigue rising and companies recognizing the limitations of virtual meetings, many planners are seeking safe and effective solutions for resuming in-person and hybrid events.

Volan Technology, which provides AI-based safety and contact tracing software, has unveiled its new solution for in-person meetings at the yearly Associated Luxury Hotels International all-staff meeting held in Austin, TX on January 28 – 29 at the Fairmont Austin.