A global shift in working patterns is certainly unprecedented as many of us adjust to newer working models globally.
The health and wellbeing of family, friends, citizens and employees – now more than ever – is at the front of our collective mentality. As a leader you do not only need to take care of your business continuity, but also understand what is required to meet the expectations of stakeholders such as business partners, employees and communities. From travel restrictions to the growth of working from home and wild swings in equity and commodity markets, the last year has changed our region.
Following the initial novelty – for those of us able to exercise this privilege – of working from home came a sense of fatigue. Growing tiresome of virtual quiz sessions, rather, many of us are craving some form of social interaction with our colleagues.
Studies show that, whilst most appreciate the flexibility that comes with a hybrid WFH arrangement, this cannot be the way of working, but should rather sit alongside in-person meetings and events where appropriate.
A recent McKinsey survey suggests that 90% of organizations aim to incorporate a combination of remote and at-desk functionality in the immediate post-Covid era. But, despite many of us coming to terms with a hybrid way of working, executing this is not without its complications.
In recent months, we have seen the accelerated adoption of technology within businesses. Whilst it is believe there will always be a need for physical meetings and interactions, business meetings nowadays have moved to a more hybrid set-up, with smaller teams getting together in one location and connecting with others via videoconference. But the question is, how can we make these meetings as comfortable and collaborative as they were previously in order to ensure the success and longevity of our businesses.
According to the Post Covid-19 Event Outlook Report, an overwhelming 93% of organizers plan to invest in virtual events moving forward. Looking at numbers, it’s not unusual for virtual events to capture 6x – 8x the number of registrations compared to the equivalent event. Additionally, both attendees and planners were pleasantly surprised by attendance rates and engagement levels in virtual events.
With that in mind, many believe that virtual events are likely to stay, as they create a powerful way to build engagement with audiences everywhere. Whilst physical events will come back in the future, they probably won’t supplant virtual events; rather they’ll exist alongside them.
Traditionally, in the context of work meetings, hotels may be a place to meet, grab a coffee, or lay your head after an intense day of dialogue and discussion. However, in these unprecedented times, the role of the hotel – and the hotelier – has taken on a new trajectory.
With the merge of on and offline, so too comes the blur of work and play, which is why we have seen a shift in the role of hotels in the business context. With hospitality at the heart of everything we do, as hoteliers, we clearly understand the value of connections, and the need to exercise flexibility.
Late last year, Radisson Hotel Group announced the launch of Hybrid Solutions. Created to address this newfound need for a more flexible way of working, these Solutions aim to combine the best of in-person and virtual meetings; think, reliable images, sound and video conferencing system, dual screens, wireless presentation clicker, high-speed internet connection…things we previously took for granted.
We put our heads together – virtually, in case you wondered – to develop virtual participation options and hybrid formats that allow for small local gatherings, while also broadcasting to remote attendees and satellite locations.
Zoom is essentially synonymous with the pandemic, which is why Radisson Hotel Group partnered with them to provide a smooth experience for clients’ virtual and hybrid meetings and events. Specialist in-house event teams assist clients in delivering a range of events, from hybrid multi-site meetings to broadcasting events, ensuring events are efficient, effective, and engaging, with flawless execution and no audio/visual problems.
Further, Hybrid Rooms perfectly combine the facilities of a state-of-the-art office with the comforts of a superior hotel room to create a productive, dedicated, and quiet workspace for the business traveller, leisure guest, and local day-guest alike. Hybrid Rooms offer easy connectivity to second screen devices, video-conferencing facilities, wireless enabled keyboard, mouse and loudspeaker, printing services, stationery, unlimited coffee and tea, access to on-site wellness facilities, and many other benefits.
As the world works to heal from the pandemic, and with vaccine programmes being rolled out at varying speeds globally, ways of working are varied cross-culture and cross-country, again pointing to the need for Hybrid Solutions. Radisson Hotel Group’s Hybrid Solutions are currently available across 50 select hotels in Europe, the Middle East and Africa, to better meet the rapid lifestyle changes of today’s travellers and their evolving expectations when they stay, work and meet in our hotels.
There are many signs that COVID-19 has embedded social responsibility and environmental awareness deeper into our collective mindset, and the expectations of businesses to understand the moral and cultural values of its employees and customers has never been greater. It’s not enough to stand behind an issue; rather, businesses must integrate their key beliefs into every aspect of work.
It can be said with certainty that the hybrid working solutions will be sought after long after the pandemic is over.
News Source: BizBahrain
