Weekly Spotlight: Grand Hyatt DFW

During this trying time in the meetings and events industry, we know our partnerships will help us through. In light of this struggle, we plan on doing a weekly spotlight post to recognize the partners we work with that help make our meetings run seamlessly.

This week’s spotlight property is the Grand Hyatt DFW. This is one of our favorite properties for Investigator Meetings and Advisory Board due to its central and convenient location, great meeting space, and exceptional service.

Conveniently located within Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport, this hotel will be perfect for your next meeting. A few reasons we always look forward to returning to the Grand Hyatt DFW is of course the ease and accessibility of the property, their outstanding service, and exceptional meeting space. This property offers more than 34,000 square feet of luxury meeting space that will impress your attendees and take your meeting to the next level. With access to high-end, soundproof rooms and suites, exquisite in-house dining options, fitness center, rooftop pool, and spa, you can enjoy your stay comfortably. Next time you land in DFW, deplane and conveniently indulge in everything this beautiful property has to offer!

At Meeting Sites Pro, we value our partnership with the Grand Hyatt DFW and always look forward to returning. We recognize and appreciate the hard work of their staff and wish them all the best during this time. First stop, Grand Hyatt DFW!

Industry Update: Hilton Defining a New Standard of Hotel Cleanliness

As we all look forward to a new normal in the hospitality and meeting and event industry, brands and companies are starting to come out with defined plans and goals for moving forward. We are working with our individual clients and partners to determine general guidelines as well as specifc plans unique to each meeting. As we move forward, we welcome the opportunity to work together and learn from our partners 

Hilton has recently announced a new program that will launch in June 2020 to upgrade their level of cleanliness and disinfection in their properties around the world. The Hilton CleanStay will build on the current cleaning and hygiene standards of Hilton properties with the help and collaboration of RB cleaning products and experts from Mayo Clinic’s Infection Prevention and Control team. 

The program will focus on increasing cleaning and disinfection protocols that will work to protect Hilton Team Members and guests. Hilton CleanStay was developed to meet the health expectations and guidelines put in place in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The full details outlining the program will be announced soon, however, the current considerations discussed within their press release include the following:

• Hilton CleanStay Room Seal: Adding an extra measure of assurance by placing a room seal on doors to indicate to guests their room has not been accessed since being thoroughly cleaned
• 10 High-Touch, Deep Clean Areas: Extra disinfection to most frequently touched guest areas
• De-clutter Paper Amenities: Removing guest room paper amenities and substituting with digital or available upon request  
• Focus on Fitness Centers: Enhanced guidelines for disinfection, possibly closing for cleaning multiple times daily, and limiting the number of quests allowed at one time
• Clean and Clean Again: Increase the frequency of cleaning public areas
• Guest-Accessible Disinfecting Wipes: Provide stations at primary entrances and high traffic areas
• Contactless Check-in: Encouraging and improving the Digital Key technology for more contactless arrivals
• Innovative Disinfection Technologies: Hilton is exploring the option of adding new technology to improve disinfection; adding electrostatic sprayers which use an electrostatically charged disinfecting mist, and ultraviolet light to sanitize surfaces and objects

In addition to this, Hilton will provide their Team Members with personal protective equipment and training to ensure their health and well-being. This is an industry defining moment that will pave the way for hotel cleanliness and sanitation protocols as we approach the reopening of travel and business. At Meeting Sites Pro, we are proud to come together as a community to navigate through this time together and look forward to having meetings again soon.  

For more information on this press release, please visit: Hilton CleanStay Press Release

Weekly Spotlight: Sheraton Denver

During this trying time in the meetings and events industry, we know our partnerships will help us through. In light of this, we plan on doing a weekly spotlight post to recognize the partners we work with that help make our meetings run seamlessly.

This week’s spotlight property is the Sheraton Denver Downtown. We have been working with this property for over 5 years and always look forward to returning. Their attention to detail and amazing service has always impressed us and helps create a memorable experience for our team and the attendees. The banquet staff in particular are a highlight of the property.

Not only do they have an excellent team on property, but the hotel itself has recently gone under an $80 million renovation with brand new beautiful guestrooms, meeting space, lobby, restaurants, and club lounge. If you have not visited this stunning property yet, you are just in time because the bulk of the renovations will be completed by summer of 2020. Located right in the heart of downtown Denver, this hotel allows access to endless shopping, dining, nightlife and entertainment while still offering a breathtaking view of the Colorado mountains. As the largest meetings hotel in the city, the hotel offers 133,000 square feet of meeting and exhibit space that also provides easy access to The Colorado Convention Center.

At Meeting Sites Pro, we are taking this time of uncertainty to focus on the partnerships that have contributed to our success and development over the years and will continue to do so in the future. We value the time we get to work with this property and look forward to returning soon. We can’t wait to see the newly renovated and beautiful property doing what they do best. For more information or to check out the property’s renovations yourself please visit www.sheratondenver.com or Renovation Newsletter

Weekly Spotlight: The Hyatt Regency Seattle

During this trying time in the meetings and events industry, we know our partnerships will help us through. In light of this, we plan on doing a weekly spotlight post to recognize the partners we work with that help make our meetings run seamlessly.

This week’s spotlight property is the Hyatt Regency Seattle. This stunning property recently opened in December of 2018 and has so far done nothing less than impress us. The work of their sales team goes beyond our expectations in the planning process. We admire the responsiveness of their team and their dedication towards understanding our client’s needs. Not only do they have an amazing team of professionals but the property itself is phenomenal! One thing we love the most about this property is the layout of the space and meeting rooms. With 103,000 square feet of meeting space, the Hyatt Regency Seattle is largest hotel in the Pacific Northwest. Located right in the heart of downtown, this hotel offers everything you would want for your meeting. With access to shops, dining, city attractions, and the Washington State Convention Center facilities, everything you need is right there with you. The last thing we want to highlight is that the Hyatt Regency Seattle is the city’s first and only LEED Gold-Certified Hotel, who doesn’t love a green property! 

At Meeting Sites Pro, we value our partnership with this property and look forward to the long-term success we will achieve together. Next time Seattle comes up, whether you are planning a meeting or just taking a trip, be sure to check out this property at hyattregencyseattle.com!

Weekly Spotlight: The Boom of Zoom

During this trying time in the meetings and events industry, we know our partnerships will help us through. In light of this, we plan on doing a weekly spotlight post to recognize the partners we work with that help make our meetings run seamlessly.

In light of current events, face-to-face meetings have been put on pause and the the meetings and events industry is facing a complex shift in the way we do business now, and in the next coming months. As frightening as this may seem, we are taking this as an opportunity to learn and engage with new technology to build our skill-sets and versatility. One of the most helpful tools we use is online video meetings through Zoom. This platform has been the basis of how we stay connected as a company. We have found daily morning video calls with the entire team to be the most effective way to start the workday. This call gives everyone the opportunity to see and interact with each other as we normally would in person. We are also using this platform for some of our upcoming meetings including a couple advisory boards.  Zoom offers many great features that promote a fun and engaging environment for all.

Here are some of the benefits of Zoom we enjoy and encourage you all to use:

• Virtual Backgrounds: Change your personal background with the use of this feature. For internal meetings this can be sandy beaches in Hawaii or personal photos of your dog and for more formal meetings, we recommend customizing a background with a company logo. You have the option to create your work environment! 

• Chat: Use the chat box to comment or ask questions to anyone in the meeting during your call.

• Screen Sharing: Allow others to actively see what you are working on by sharing the visibility of your computer screen.

• Polling: This is a great way to involve everyone in the call and gain a better understanding of your audience.

• Reactions: Instantly react to the present conversation with the use of a thumbs-up or clapping hands; this allows others to communicate without disrupting the person who is speaking.  

These are just a few tips and tricks on how to make your video calls more engaging. Zoom offers a variety of different features you can use to host a smooth and effective meeting on a much larger scale. Although a lot has changed in the past few weeks, we are glad we have the resources to stay connected, and we are excited for the future.

Check it out yourself!

https://zoom.us/