< Previousand comedy clubbers back at Mount Airy for headline entertainment beginning in October,” Cademartori says. In keeping with the exceptional amenities of a full-service resort destina- tion, Mount Airy’s entertain- ment options are plentiful, starting at the casino with more than 70 table games, ranging from blackjack, craps, roulette and baccarat, plus more than 1,800 slots. Premier golf conditions also prevail at Mount Airy’s 18-hole Golf Club, resulting in more than 6,500 yards of fairways modeled after golf’s most legendary U.S. championship courses. Certified by Audubon Interna- tional in 2018, Mount Airy’s Golf Course is also a steward for environmental sus- tainability, “protecting our environment while preserving the natural heritage of the game of golf.” Begin and/or wrap up your outing with a meal at the clubhouse and browse the merchandise at the Pro Shop before calling it a day. Or why not relax with a dip in the 51,000-sf indoor/ outdoor pool space complete with pool bar and daybeds, or have a luxurious spa treatment to rejuvenate before heading to the next meeting? Besides Mount Airy’s wine dinners and golf clubhouse food fare, the resort showcases several other popular dining options: Guy Fieri’s Mt. Pocono Kitchen reflects the best of regional food fare discovered in his 15,000 miles of travel around the country, with a twist of his own surprising flavors; Bistecca by II Mulino combining hand-crafted pasta, seafood, farm-fresh vegetables, steaks and chops; and Lucky 8 Noodle + Sushi Bar, featuring fried rice and other chef specialities. COEUR D’ALENE CASINO RESORT HOTEL WORLEY, ID Despite the challenges of the pan- demic for gaming resorts this past year, Coeur d’Alene Casino Resort Hotel’s Yvette Matt, marketing director, and Dee Dee McGowan, cultural tourism manager, report: “We are on track to have the best year in the history of the casino in terms of net profit.” Staffing continues to be the gaming resort’s greatest challenge. “It has been very difficult maintaining and recruiting enough team members to run all parts of the casino resort during our regular business hours,” they say. “We have been forced to close early, open late, open at less capacity or not open certain venues at all.” As a result, the resort is launching a total new campaign focusing on team member recruitment. In addition, Matt and McGowan say, “We have really tar- geted our known gamers and focused on enticing them to visit more frequently. Rather than hav- ing quantity, we are targeting quality.” New property enhancements include renovating the buffet and “looking at creating a high-limit area and food court with more diverse offerings.” Regarding new events, the team is excited to be hosting the inaugural Symetra Ladies Road to the LPGA Tour in late summer, presented by the resort’s Circling Raven Golf Club. “This is the first of three years, and it an honor to host these up-and-coming ladies, and we look forward to the next two years of this tournament,” they say. The property features more than 40,000 sf of meeting and convention space, five separate event spaces, including the newly remodeled Event Center, as well as a unique, stand- alone facility, Stensgar Pavilion. Plan- ners have access to 10 meeting rooms and state-of-the-art sound system for event venues, in addition to 300+ guest rooms with 14 suites. As a top-tier resort destination, the property also houses a casino with a 60,000-sf gaming floor and 1,200 gaming machines, a world- class spa, fine and casual dining res- taurants and championship golf. Voted No. 1 Golf Course in Northern Idaho by Golfweek Magazine, the 18-hole course is beautifully situated on 620 scenic acres of tribal wetlands, woodlands and Palouse grasses, providing 7,189 yards of play. Inside the Pro Golf Shop, Twisted Earth Grill offers several casual food items to enjoy before or after play. The Pacific Northwest’s own celeb- rity chef, Adam Hegsted, is the master- mind behind the resort’s Chinook Res- taurant, where wild Nisqually salmon and prime beef are among the favored selections. Other dining options include the Red Tail Bar & Grill, Night- hawk Lounge, Huckleberry Deli, and Jackpot Java & Creamery. Of special note, Coeur d’Alene Casino Resort Hotel provides cultural tours for those interested in learning about the tribal traditions of the land’s native people. Kayaking and canoe- ing, biking and boating, underground excursions, traditional arts workshops and a bison ranch are among the nota- ble recreational activities. C&IT Coeur d’Alene Casino Resort Hotel offers 40,000 sf of meetings and events space. 30 August/September 2021 | Corporate & Incentive Travel | TheMeetingMagazines.com Join now. THE HOST HAS STARTED THE MEETING. Plan now at turningstone.com/group-events Here’s what’s trending in our 125,000 square feet of meeting space: Book your event by September 30, 2021, to arrive by December 30, 2022, and your company will qualify for special pricing, upgrades and so much more.* *Blackout dates apply. 99405_TS_2021_Group_Sales_Print T: 8.125” x 10.875” B: 8.375” x 11.125” L: 77.25” x 10.875” 4cSummer booking o er • $1,000 credit toward team-building activities • Up to three VIP room upgrades • An expense-paid site tour in 2021 for up to 2 site selectors Team building • Culinary demonstrations • Indoor and outdoor activities Luxury meeting venues • Newly built and renovated meeting spaces • Large and intimate entertainment settings • State-of-the-art audiovisual capabilities In addition to executing great events, Hard Rock Atlantic City creates a lively, energy-filled environment before and after meetings ... MICHAEL WOODSIDE VP of Entertainment & Marketing Services Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Atlantic CityJoin now. THE HOST HAS STARTED THE MEETING. Plan now at turningstone.com/group-events Here’s what’s trending in our 125,000 square feet of meeting space: Book your event by September 30, 2021, to arrive by December 30, 2022, and your company will qualify for special pricing, upgrades and so much more.* *Blackout dates apply. Summer booking o er • $1,000 credit toward team-building activities • Up to three VIP room upgrades • An expense-paid site tour in 2021 for up to 2 site selectors Team building • Culinary demonstrations • Indoor and outdoor activities Luxury meeting venues • Newly built and renovated meeting spaces • Large and intimate entertainment settings • State-of-the-art audiovisual capabilitiesCourtesy of Eldon Gale THE THING ABOUT THEME PARKS INDUSTRY INSIGHT // For Scentsy, the Walt Disney World Resort, with its abundance of themed activities, was the perfect place to host an incentive event. 32 August/September 2021 | Corporate & Incentive Travel | TheMeetingMagazines.comH ow better to celebrate the star performers on your team than with an incentive event or corporate meeting at a “fun in the sun” theme-park meeting destination? When your goal is to reward, relax and reset in a unique and innovative venue, theme- parks have it all: family friendly attrac- tions, interactive outdoor adventures, safe animal encounters, plus plenty of food & beverage options to satisfy a variety of menu preferences and special dietary needs for any attendee. WALT DISNEY RESORTS Attendees thinking theme parks don’t need to look any further than Florida’s Walt Disney World Resort. From a world cultures and cuisines showcase at Epcot, to celebrity interac- tions at Hollywood Studios, beach par- ties at Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon and wild animal sightings at Disney’s Ani- mal Kingdom, meeting planners have a plethora of captivating entertainment possibilities for meetings and events. California’s Disneyland Resort offers similar thrills, chills and character interactions. “There’s no better place to ‘wow’ an attendee than a Disney theme park,” says Amy Pfeiffer, director of convention sales & services, Walt Dis- ney World Resort. “One major advan- tage is that theme parks offer dozens of elaborately themed locations, which can be an enormous cost saving. Noth- ing says ‘special’ or ‘VIP’ to attendees more than having a world-famous Dis- ney attraction or land privatized for them.” Pfeiffer assures meeting plan- ners that “Disney Meetings & Events takes pride in being a trusted resource and uses a customized approach to enhance the in-person and digital experience.” For example, “Our cre- ative services can include ‘Disney at Home’ touches, such as a customized, themed box of products to engage remote attendees before or during the meeting, professional development and content provided through Disney Institute and National Geographic, and shared interactive experiences and even gamification.” At Walt Disney destinations, Dis- ney’s beloved cast of characters are waiting to welcome planners and attendees to “The Happiest Place on Earth,” Disneyland, or “The Most Magical Place on Earth,” Disney World. And plans are well underway to kick the festivities up a notch in October with the launch of “The World’s Most Magical Celebration,” an 18-month celebration to commemo- rate the 50th anniversary of the opening of Disney World. Another advantage of hosting meetings at Disney destinations, Pfeiffer adds, is that “Both resorts always have some- thing new to offer, whether it’s amaz- ing new attractions, festivals or sea- sonal entertainment,” and to mark the 50th anniversary, the parks will feature new experiences certain to enhance meeting attendance. Eldon Gale, director of events for Scentsy, selected Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort for his company’s incentive meeting held in June. “We do a family incentive every five years, and Disney is a natural choice,” Gale says. “We chose Coronado Springs because it’s large enough to accommodate our entire group without using multiple hotels. It also helps that the resort was freshly remodeled in the last few years.” Currently, the resort features 220,000 sf of function space that includes 2,416 guest rooms with 64 suites, an 86,000- sf exhibit hall, and a boardroom for up to 24 attendees while 10 loading docks provide ease and convenience for truck access. Numerous on-site dining options — four full-service restaurants, three private dining rooms, six lounges, and four quick-service dining options — ensure guests will never go hungry. Gale rates Scentsy’s experience with food & beverage at Coronado Springs as “very positive.” “Because of the restrictions required by COVID- 19, we took a much less traditional approach,” he says. “Breakfast was grab and go. Everyone got a pre-made boxed breakfast with all the cold items, then they selected their hot item, juices, beverages, etc. It worked very smoothly. Our priority was time on the attractions in the park before it opened to the public, as well as avoiding long lines caused by delays from having to have all buffets served. Attendees were in and out and appreciated not having to sit down for a meal, but liked the option that they could if they wanted to.” When it came to his group’s evening events, “We kept things simple and served foods that fit the land where the attractions were — pop tarts, grilled cheese and tomato soup in Toy Story Land, etc. We also kept things very family friendly and easy to eat with your hands and on the go. We didn’t necessarily give Disney a chance to flex their culinary muscle, but they met our needs by being flexible and accommodating, and for me, that’s even more important.” Gale also An Abundance of Family Friendly Fun BY NANCY MUELLER TheMeetingMagazines.com | Corporate & Incentive Travel | August/September 2021 33 Give yourself the time you need to get the best out of them, and give your best to the relationship, and you’ll have a successful event. ELDON GALE Director of Events Scentsymentions the resort’s transportation capability, another key concern for meeting planners moving large groups between venues. “We used the meeting space for queue lines for three large group moves to the parks. When I say large, I’m talking monumental. We moved 2,300 guests in 45 minutes. Having the space at the hotel to line people up really helped make this as smooth as possible.” Though planning an event during COVID presented its own set of chal- lenges, Gale cites the benefits as well. “As a traditional ‘resort program’ this one was very different for us,” he says. “Normally, we would host group meals and events at the resort in addition to time in theme parks. Because of the complexities brought on by COVID, we opted to not hold any events at the resort and instead hosted three pri- vate parties in the parks. One was an early morning event before the park opened, and the other two were after- hours parties. This gave our attend- ees the opportunity to experience the most popular attractions in the three busiest parks with virtually no lines, waiting or crowds, and allowed for plenty of social distancing without it feeling awkward. And having them in the morning and evening sure helped with the June heat.” As a result of his group’s experi- ence, Gale says, “We really lucked out with this one. Had we been contracted for any other location besides Disney for this program, I’m not confident we would have been able to move forward. Because Disney did such a good job of managing the pandemic for all guests, it gave us the confidence. As we got closer and closer to our event dates, restric- tions continued to lift, which made the overall experience that much better. But even if all restrictions had remained in place, the program could have continued with very little disruption or incon- venience.” His best advice to event planners considering the property for group gatherings is to “Let Dis- ney be Disney. Don’t try to change who they are to fit your needs. It’s best to maximize the experience they already do so well,” he says. “The more you try to rein- vent the wheel, the more frus- trating it will be for both sides. This doesn’t mean you shouldn’t ask them to bring their ‘A’ game. They have so many incredible resources at their disposal that you really can create some fantastic experiences you could never attempt in other locations.” As Gale also points out, having flex- ibility in meeting planning is key. “Pay attention to the weather and set real- istic expectations for outdoor events. If you’re there in the summer [and most of my Florida events have been], you’re going to get extreme heat and most likely a fierce storm or two,” he says. “You could always get a lucky break, and I certainly have over the years, but I’ve also learned to be very flexible with planning and make sure your outdoor events can come inside without completely derailing your experience.” He suggests that plan- ners looking to book in Disney World, “Start early and be flexible,” adding, “Disney is a large company, and the approval process can be complicated and long. Give yourself the time you need to get the best out of them, and give your best to the relationship, and you’ll have a successful event.” Despite the need to be flexible, especially due to the pandemic, Gale advises: “Don’t let this stifle your creativity. Use it as a springboard to do something different, something new, something you could not get away with in a normal setting. You might find that something differ- ent turns into a new standard with or without a pandemic at play.” UNIVERSAL ORLANDO RESORT Exceptional family fun entertain- ment also awaits meeting planners and guests at Universal Orlando’s three theme parks: Universal Studios Florida, Islands of Adventures and Volcano Bay. Star attractions feature thrilling Harry Potter escapades, a Jurassic Park River Adventure, and water and waves galore. Additionally, Universal CityWalk offers a complete dining and entertainment complex with customized options for meeting planners. Universal Orlando’s resort hotels provide 295,000 sf of meeting space and 9,000 guest rooms. Convenient separate meeting entrances, private meeting Lotus Eyes Photography / lotuseyesphotography.com 1105 Media chose Universal Orlando Resort to host a recent annual event. Pictured is the dessert luau at Loews Royal Pacific Resort for attendees and their families. 34 August/September 2021 | Corporate & Incentive Travel | TheMeetingMagazines.com When you choose Disney for your meeting or event, you’re getting more than just a great place to meet. You’re also getting a dose of our world-famous Disney innovation and imagination to help bring your teams together. With ample creative resources at your disposal to customize your event for both in-person meetings and digital experiences, come see how the Disney difference can help you get back to business. Even if it is a little less than ‘usual.’ Find out about the enhanced health and safety measures we put in place for our Guests visiting Walt Disney World ® Resort at disneymeetings.com THESE ARE MEETINGS It feels like you are on vacation. When I walk around the pool, I can pick out our attendees relaxing with their families and networking with each other. SARA ROSS, CMP Senior Director of Event Operations 1105 MediaWhen you choose Disney for your meeting or event, you’re getting more than just a great place to meet. You’re also getting a dose of our world-famous Disney innovation and imagination to help bring your teams together. With ample creative resources at your disposal to customize your event for both in-person meetings and digital experiences, come see how the Disney difference can help you get back to business. Even if it is a little less than ‘usual.’ Find out about the enhanced health and safety measures we put in place for our Guests visiting Walt Disney World ® Resort at disneymeetings.com THESE ARE MEETINGSplanner offices, registration desks, ball- rooms, banquet halls and business cen- ters are among the many event ameni- ties on site. In fact, “The amenities and great function space” is what draws Sara Ross, CMP, senior director of event operations at 1105 Media, to Loews Royal Pacific Resort — with overflow guest rooms at Loews Sapphire Falls Resort — year after year since 2012. Ross’ conference for developers and IT professionals typically number between 900 to 1,200 attendees. “As the event has grown, we have been able to add space — both guest rooms and meeting space. This has been ideal because it has allowed us to grow our event and keep the same location,” she says. Among the most appealing fac- tors of Loews Royal Pacific Resort for Ross’ group is the overall “resort feel” and proximity to Universal Orlando’s theme parks. “This hotel feels like you are in an exotic tropical locale. From the moment you cross the bridge into the hotel, you’ve entered a destina- tion, and everything you need is there from food, entertainment, amusement parks, water parks and a conference center with meeting space,” Ross says. Attendees love bringing their families, turning “this work trip into a fam- ily vacation by adding on additional nights once the conference ends.” As for amenities, she adds, “Our group loves the pool and resort feel of the Loews Royal Pacific Resort. It feels like you are on vacation. When I walk around the pool, I can pick out our attendees relaxing with their families and networking with each other. I see them over at CityWalk in the evenings enjoying dinner or nightlife as well. It’s so nice to have all the amenities within walking distance, eliminat- ing the need to rent a car.” To capitalize on the trop- ical feel, the group hosts a luau one night of the conference. “The Royal Pacific Resort makes this so easy, and it’s a great fit with the property. It’s something attendees and their families look forward to every year,” she says. “It fits the theme, and since attendees can bring their fami- lies and guests, it’s a great addition to their vacation experience.” Ross appreciates the resort’s flexibility and willingness to customize or make modifications to the menu. “Food and beverage at the Loews Royal Pacific Resort has always been very good. Our attendees really enjoy the lunch buffets. There are lots of selections, and as a planner, their buffets are very well thought out to offer something for everyone. There are lots of veg- etarian/vegan/gluten-free options, or easy modifications that make it where everyone can eat from the buf- fet, which makes for a more inclusive experience for our attendees.” Meeting planners have a variety of programming options to consider, such as after-hours theme park events, team-building activities, group dining and private use of CityWalk clubs/res- taurants. Fun CityWalk venues include Block Party, Big Fire — the resort’s new- est restaurant that showcases open-fire cooking, Bob Marley – A Tribute to Freedom, featuring the a replica of the musician’s Jamaica home — and City- Walk’s Rising Star, for guests who want to elevate their karaoke talent with an emcee introduction, live band and back-up singers. Ross recommends Orlando as “an easy sell” to meeting attendees, with “so much to see and do in the area,” plus the region’s “affordable and convenient” air Lotus Eyes Photography / lotuseyesphotography.com 36 August/September 2021 | Corporate & Incentive Travel | TheMeetingMagazines.com They are attentive, quick to respond and committed to making your event a huge success. It’s more than just a venue … You get a team of rock stars. LAUREN SPIRES Vice President Success Team Enterprises LLCand ground transportation. For event planners considering the destination, Ross advises, “Look at the full package. There is so much here and the price is very affordable, especially when you realize everything included in this location — a resort atmosphere [with no resort fee], incredible pools and theming, lots for family and attendees to do [amusement parks, water parks, CityWalk].” In summing up her experience working with the property, Ross says: “This hotel has been great partners with us. The sales team has been amazing to work with through the challenging year of 2020. The event staff have been fabulous to work with, and it’s great to see the same faces year after year. They know our program and partner with us to execute a flawless event. The Loews Royal Pacific Resort is a wonderful place to host a meeting.” BUSCH GARDENS TAMPA BAY Duane and Lauren Spires, presi- dent and vice president, respectively, of Success Team Enterprises LLC, chose Busch Gardens Tampa Bay for three 2021 events because “It is a high- energy, vibrant, and most importantly, fun venue.” The partners explain by saying, “We are known in the industries we serve as elite-level consultants who always host the very best live events. Busch Gardens is an amazing venue that reflects our exceptional brand.” At Busch Gardens, event planners have their choice among several select venues: Serengeti Plain features free- roaming African animals and Serengeti Overlook, an outdoor patio for cock- tail parties and receptions; centrally located Dragon Fire Grill offers market- style dining and a fully equipped stage for live entertainment and award cer- emonies; Gwazi Pavilion, designed for private events; and Adventure Island entices attendees with sandy white beaches and tropical atmosphere. Event planners can also opt for a Busch Gardens Park buyout for 3,000+ guests, and/or exclusive area rentals that include the park’s top attractions, such as the Cheetah Hunt, Cobra’s Curse and Montu in the Egypt area. For the Spires, the Busch Gardens theme-park experience was unique because their clients “had the opportu- nity to have a blast before, during and after each day of the event.” In fact, the Spires say, “Many of our clients reported that it was the most fun they have ever had at any industry event, and it was amazing to be able to jump on roller coasters during breaks.” For their client venues, “We used the Stanleyville Theater and hosted an exclusive social mixer in the Jungle area, and our mem- bers loved the tiger exhibit,” they add. Beyond the tiger exhibit, special touches that enhanced the attendee experience included other animal encounters. “We actually had two incredible cheetahs live on stage with us, as well as a flamingo, an owl and a sloth each morning as attendees were arriving at the theater.” The Spires recommend that meeting planners explore their venue options — theaters, live entertainment, animal exhibits and encounters — with the Busch Gardens staff. “The amazing part about working with Busch Gardens is that they are able to make anything happen.” Working with the property “has far exceeded our highest expectations,” they say. “They are attentive, quick to respond and com- mitted to making your event a huge suc- cess. It’s more than just a venue … You get a team of rockstars.” Do consider the weather when scheduling events, recommends the event-planning duo, who add, “Florida is known for amazing fall and spring seasons that are mild, dry and bug-free. The summers are nice, too, but the daily rainstorms can make it a slight challenge for any late-afternoon outdoor events or activities.” Ultimately, clients who have hosted programs at Busch Gardens leave with an overwhelmingly positive impression, say the Spires, who add that their “minds were blown,” and that they felt they were on a “learn- ing vacation.” C&IT Duane and Lauren Spires selected Busch Gardens Tampa Bay for three of their client events scheduled in 2021. Left, attendees of the 1105 Media event look at the agenda wall at Loews Royal Pacific Resort at Universal Orlando, pictured. ©2021 Universal Orlando Resort Courtesy of Lauren Spires TheMeetingMagazines.com | Corporate & Incentive Travel | August/September 2021 37AFTER THE CRISIS Hotel Brands Adapt New Cleanliness, Technology Standards BY MAURA KELLER HOTEL UPDATE // s the worst of the COVID- 19 pandemic winds down, the hospitality indus- try is anxious to wel- come meeting planners and guests as bookings begin to grow. For most hotel brands, this means establish- ing expansive safety and cleanliness programs throughout their commu- nal spaces. For others, it means estab- lished near-contactless stays through innovative touchless technologies. As more guests prefer mobile-enabled hospitality experiences post-COVID pandemic, hotel brands are respond- ing accordingly. HILTON “We’ve always had our guests at the heart of everything we do at Hil- ton and, in recent years, the integration of physical and digital has been a key focus of our innovation agenda,” says Mike Gathright, senior vice president of customer experience, Hilton. “Over the past 18 months, the world changed and adjusted to the realities of the pan- demic and, at Hilton, in many ways, we stayed the course and took the same strategic approach that we’ve always taken: to lead the industry with innova- tion that has a meaningful and lasting impact on guest experience.” When the pandemic hit, the Hilton 38 August/September 2021 | Corporate & Incentive Travel | TheMeetingMagazines.comteam knew it needed to act fast. “We quickly accelerated our efforts to ensure our guests had seamless, contactless and controlled experiences around the world,” Gathright says. Combining the digital innovation efforts of the Hilton Honors app with our industry-leading Hilton CleanStay program, we aimed to elevate the safety and security, as well as overall experience, of our guests before arrival, at check-in and in their guest room.” Much of this work was in prog- ress and used by millions of guests pre- pandemic, but one of the biggest lessons the Hilton team learned is that innova- tion makes a big impact during good times and bad. Already having this inno- vative technology at scale put Hilton in a position to best serve its guests during the toughest of times. “With our innova- tions, we have fast-tracked the pace of change, shaping the future for our indus- try, guests, owners and team members through ‘a decade of innovation’ in just 12 months, and we look forward to con- tinuing to pave the way,” Gathright says. Hilton’s key contactless technology initiatives include: • Digital Key — Prior to the pan- demic, Hilton was already focused on expanding the features of the Hilton Honors app to improve the guest expe- rience, including Digital Check-In, Digi- tal Key, Digital Check-Out and in-room technology. All of these features give guests the option to use their phone to select their room from a floor plan as well as check-in, unlock their room and access other areas of the hotel that require a key, such as fitness centers and pools, directly via the Hilton Honors app. Since its 2015 launch, Hilton’s Dig- ital Key has expanded rapidly. It’s now available in more than 80% of Hilton’s more than 6,500 hotels and used to open more than 121 million doors. Almost all new hotels adopt Digital Key before they open. Last year alone, despite the pan- demic, Digital Key rolled out to an addi- tional 383 hotels and adoption has dou- bled. “And this June, we enabled a mile- stone 1.1 million Digital Keys for guest use around the world,” Gathright says. • Contactless Payments — Hilton now has contactless payments at more than 2,500 hotels, so guests can pay with their mobile phones, smart watches or by tapping their credit cards. Along with their other contactless initiatives, this helps to improve the guest experience. • In-Room Technology — Hilton’s in- room technology in select hotels enables guests to personalize and control several aspects of their stay from their mobile device and the Hilton Honors app. For example, guests who stay at participat- ing hotels are able to customize their preferences from popular streaming media, such as SHOWTIME, Netflix and iHeartRadio, using their smart phone as the remote control for their experience. • Embracing the Environment — As part of the Hilton CleanStay program, guests will also see fewer paper items during their next stay as the chain moves toward digital communications. For example, room-service menus and marketing materials are being reduced or replaced, in some cases, by QR codes. “This past year has been unprecedented for the world and our industry — as well as humbling. While we cannot be certain what the future might hold, we are confident in our approach and will keep listening, evolving and innovat- ing, to lead the industry and deliver exceptional guest experiences,” Gath- right says. “That will include evolving our digital offerings in ways that cre- ate a seamless travel experience while maintaining the personal connections that deliver on the heart of hospitality.” WYNDHAM HOTELS & RESORTS Today’s guests at Wyndham Hotels & Resorts can now check in on their mobile device, utilize a digital key on their mobile device to access their room and conduct touchless mobile payments rather than “chip and pin” transactions. With more than 9,000 hotels across approximately 90 countries, Wyndham has made a concerted effort to upgrade its mobile app to offer state-of-the-art touchless technology capabilities in the industry. At Wyndham Grand Orlando Resort Bonnet Creek in Florida, for example, guests may choose to receive their room key digitally via their mobile phone. Guests at many of Wyndham’s locales can also leverage mobile check-in and checkout to reduce contact between themselves and hotel staff. Hilton has put in place its CleanStay Program, which boosts cleanliness protocols, Inset, Caesars International has hosted events that show a focus on health and safety. TheMeetingMagazines.com | Corporate & Incentive Travel | August/September 2021 39Next >