This content was created in partnership with Hyatt and SkiftX, Skift’s branded content studio.
The evolving needs of attendees and planners have been a major topic of discussion throughout the meetings and events industry over the past few years, and Hyatt has been listening. The challenges posed by smaller teams and shorter planning windows are impacting planners’ ability to achieve sustainability metrics, create memorable well-being experiences, and more.
As clients and planners across industries increasingly look for brands that understand their needs, delivering the best possible event experience through knowledge and empathy remains critical. These discussions shaped Hyatt gathersthe company’s approach to meetings and events.
Hyatt is driven by a commitment to care, sustainability and well-being. In January, World of Hyatt launched its “Be More Here” brand platform, inviting guests, members and customers to tap into the transformative power of travel and become closer to the present. Together by Hyatt simply builds on that commitment, as Hyatt gives planners more of what they need to make ordinary meetings more exciting.
First launched in 2021, the new Together by Hyatt features four unique benefits, each of which intersect to make every meeting experience unforgettable. “We are helping our customers be more efficient, feel more cared about, be more impactful and conscious when it comes to the environment,” explains Steve Enselein, Senior Vice President of Events.
Read on to learn more about what Hyatt Together has to offer.
More care
Every aspect of Together by Hyatt is always with the customer in mind. To help lead the industry forward, Enselein asked itself and 300 leading meeting planners how companies could differentiate themselves in caring for their planner community. The result is a refreshed Hyatt concept, a way of doing business that meets the needs of today’s planners, who in turn meet the needs of attendees.
Hyatt’s deep understanding of what makes today’s meetings successful helps differentiate the brand in a highly competitive industry. To take the pressure off planners, Hyatt has created a team of associates at its hotels to handle all aspects of meetings. Culinary experts, audiovisual experts and other support teams collaborate with planners on everything from room setup to menus and lighting so attendees are in the best position during the meeting. Hyatt even provides a “Know Before You Go” with important information (transportation options, weather forecasts, etc.), saving planners time answering attendees’ most common questions.
Hyatt’s loyalty program, World of Hyatt, recognizes the impact planners have on Hyatt’s overall business. Beginning in January 2024, planners will have expanded opportunities to earn qualifying nights and tier status at World of Hyatt. Meanwhile, the Hyatt Resorts Alliance and Hyatt Meetings Alliance have a network of hotels that cater to specific types of meetings and events of all sizes. This is another way to provide scale and facilitate the meeting planning process.
more efficient
Hyatt’s proprietary technology brings it all together, putting planners in control. Resources such as the Event Experience Guide, the Event Concierge App and the Hyatt Planner Portal assist planners throughout the entire event lifecycle and are a one-stop shop for gathering information and quickly adapting. “We allow planners to do what they want to do when they want to do it,” Enselein said.
The process starts long before attendees arrive onsite with the Event Experience Guide, which is designed to anticipate and answer most questions before planners ask them. Planners can access the following information:
- Current seasonal menu
- Wellbeing and Sustainability Experiences and Products
- Frequently Asked Questions about loading dock times, distance from the airport, transportation, nearby providers and other key suppliers familiar with the hotel.
The Hyatt Planner Portal is a user-friendly tool for running reports on historical and current events, including important information such as room inventory, room transfers and no-shows. Planners can also collaborate on room layouts within the portal. For convenience, planners can pre-schedule reports to be delivered to their inbox at specific times, or they can view them immediately. Likewise, event organizers can obtain the latest billing information in the portal. Enselein reports that the results speak for themselves. “Last year, planners self-served more than 300,000 reports through the Hyatt Planner Portal,” Enselein noted, adding that this eliminates the need for many inbox-clogging emails and instead provides planners with the information they need when they need it. required information.
Event concierge apps quickly adjust temperatures, room settings, food and beverages, and other important on-site details.
more influential
One example of how Together by Hyatt’s beliefs blend seamlessly with planners’ priorities is its commitment to sustainability. This is evident in the top-notch food and beverages, which appropriately adopt “food. Thoughtfully sourced. Carefully served.” The menu is built around regional goods and services from local, minority- and women-owned vendors that serve and Services impact the surrounding community. “Our key pillars are healthy people, healthy planet and healthy communities,” explains Enselein.
Chefs follow the same principle when crafting their menus. No artificial ingredients or unnatural sugars, reduced portion sizes, and a greater emphasis on fruits and vegetables. With personalized sustainability coaching, planners can create healthier meetings by accessing relevant information:
- As a global company, what steps is Hyatt taking to care for the planet?
- What various hotels hosting conferences are doing (on-site electric vehicle charging, on-site composting, etc.)
- Tips to help plan more sustainable meetings
“Our goal is to expand on what planners are already doing and take it to the next level for them and their organizations,” Enselein said.
more intentional
Aligning with its commitment to wellness and its emphasis on care, Hyatt has thoughtfully added details large and small to allow meeting planners and attendees to focus on the present.
The experience starts in the guest room and extends to the conference room. A care station is located at the back of the conference room with items such as cleaning wipes, mints, Band-Aids, blankets, vitamins and stress balls. “We really believe these care stations can help attendees feel more comfortable and therefore more actively engaged in the meeting,” Enselein said.
Tools available in the guest room and World of Hyatt apps include:
- headspace: This exclusive collaboration offers guests free mindfulness and sleep content, including relaxing sounds from Headspace’s premium Colored Noise series.
- Master class: Attendees can learn from the world’s top minds in a variety of fields including health and wellness, arts and entertainment, business and cooking.
These indoor content options provide a wellness experience throughout the day, in addition to traditional morning yoga or the 5km runs that planners often organize.
in conclusion
Together by Hyatt’s four strengths complement each other. This holistic approach is ideal for planners as they not only plan and execute the meeting, but also ensure it has a positive impact on the organization and the industry as a whole.
To experience Together by Hyatt for yourself at IMEX America, stop by booth E2041 and add it to your schedule here.
Learn more about Hyatt Together.
This content was created in partnership with Hyatt and SkiftX, Skift’s branded content studio.
