Hybrid meetings and events

Year 2022 will witness wedding groups and corporates eager to book international destinations since they have not been able to do so for past two years. Virtual and hybrid meetings will be the new normal until 2022, believes Hema Hariramani, Co-Founder & Director, Iskra Events & Celebrations.

We are already witnessing smaller gatherings as the new normal and particular trends include weddings in destinations. Now, this also includes city hotels where guests prefer staying in the hotel rather than having people travel for functions even if they are within the city. Domestic markets and demand has grown. However, the NRI audience will stay away from India until 2022 due to the uncertainty about how long the pandemic will last.

Due to the uncertainty and travel restrictions, the wedding clients are looking at destinations within India with a very few willing to explore international destinations. However, 2022 will witness many clients eager to book international destinations since they have not been able to do so for past two years. We are already witnessing clients who are eager to know when international destinations will open up. Further, these destinations are working towards making travel seamless for the wedding groups who are keen to host their weddings in their countries. For corporate clients, virtual and hybrid meetings is the new normal until 2022.

Hotels need to provide confidence to the clients that they are willing to work with them as a partner. Due to the current times, clients both corporate and weddings are reluctant to confirm events in hotels due to the heavy deposits and stringent deposit schedules. Additionally, for the domestic market it is imperative for the hotels to build these partnerships to result in repeat business. Even for city hotels, their reliance on domestic market is extremely high. Communities which have the propensity to spend have a fixed mindset on certain requirements, if the hotels are able to look at these with an open mind they will definitely witness the surge in their revenue streams. Adaptability to change needs to work from both sides.

Let’s promote India

With the pandemic going on for over a year, it is our collective responsibility to promote domestic destinations and hotels. There is a large menu to offer. If you want to have caviar, then you will have to pay for it. And the reality is that since we love to have big fat weddings, the hotels which have a huge demand will charge more. Isn’t it always about demand and supply? Today, when we check airline rates for international travel, we do raise an eyebrow. But if we have to travel and we have the moolah, we buy the ticket. Then why should we look at hotels differently? There are huge costs involved when running a hotel, not to mention the additional expenses incurred towards maintaining the health and hygiene aspects due to COVID. Hence, if hotels are charging higher it is because the clients want their weddings there. When you want a brand, you don’t look at the price tag – it is about what you want!

I have had an enriching journey with Marriott for over two decades. And while the events industry for a hotelier is not something new, it still remains a mystery. As a hotelier, when I witnessed larger than life events it always inspired me to bring to life novel concepts and ideas. To be on this side, provides me as an individual to reimagine, explore the unexplored and conceive ideas and turn them to reality!