We're rounding up the biggest venue news of the month—in one convenient place. Got a tip? Get in touch!
In Case You Missed It
On BizBash, we recently explored how retail stores are using experiential marketing tacts to drive business right now. Click here to learn how brands like Gibson, AT&T and Ralph Lauren are increasingly working with event and experiential agencies to create immersive, interactive retail experiences that go far beyond the typical shopping experience.
Here are 5 more things you should know this month...
1. American Express is launching a series of out-of-the-box dining experiences.
Throughout the pandemic, American Express and Resy have been teaming up for a series of creative dining pop-ups, including a picnic in the park and a drive-thru food festival. And the brands have two more partnerships coming up, starting with the Amex Gold Card Pop-Up Diner, coming to Chicago, Philadelphia, Washington, D.C. and Brooklyn from Sept. 10-Oct. 3. The traveling outdoor restaurant experience brings together chefs from top Resy restaurants, all of whom are putting their own spins on classic diner dishes.
In total, 20 different menus will be served over the course of the event, with dishes inspired by the chefs' restaurants, hometowns and more. Rendering: Courtesy of American Express
2. Hotels continue evolving in the field of event safety.
In addition to cleaning measures and social distancing protocols, the Hilton Sandestin Beach Golf Resort & Spa has introduced proximity contact tracing capabilities for group travel. The new, optional service will be provided and managed by Vital Circle, which provides wearable devices, and customized to best fit the needs of each group. Groups booking at the hotel can also add additional services from Vital Circle, including daily health checks, validation of test results and vaccines, on-site testing and more. The 590-room hotel in Miramar Beach, Fla., has 40,000 square feet of meeting space and 20,000 square feet of outdoor event space.
“Our main objective is to play our part in providing group travelers a safe way to place in-person meetings and events back onto their calendars,” explained Amanda Schleede, CEO of Vital Circle. “We are thrilled to be working alongside a resort such as Hilton Sandestin Beach Golf Resort & Spa that is equally committed to creating a comfortable and enjoyable atmosphere for groups.”
3. Hybrid technology is still the hottest thing around.
Case in point: As part of its “Meet with Confidence" program, IHG Hotels & Resorts has partnered with meeting room technology startup Weframe to offer a new solution for hybrid meetings. Weframe is an 86-inch touch screen and cloud-based solution that serves as an upgrade for meeting room technology, replacing screens and projectors, flip charts and whiteboards to allow for seamless digital participation by meeting attendees. So far, Weframe has signed agreements with 21 IHG Hotels & Resorts, with 23 more pending.
4. OpenTable is making it easier for restaurants to confirm vaccination status.
As more and more restaurants begin requiring diners to be vaccinated against COVID-19, OpenTable has added a new feature that lets venues tag diners as “verified.” The feature, which is expected to roll out to participating restaurants this month, doesn’t actually store diners’ vaccination or health records, and vaccination status isn’t shared between restaurant groups so diners will need to be verified each time. According to The Verge, “In theory, the OpenTable system would allow for a diner to show proof of vaccination on their first visit, and then make future reservations easier. … The feature could also be used to do things like confirm a diner is of legal drinking age or other requirements for entry.”
5. This resort is inviting guests to disconnect from the digital world.
In today’s tech-forward world, it can seem like a radical idea to step away from your devices. But that’s exactly what the St. Regis Punta Mita Resort in Mexico is asking guests to do with its new “Disconnect to Reconnect” experience. “We have noticed that our guests are choosing to detox from the digital world when coming to our resort. More than just switching off their devices, they are looking to reconnect with nature, people and the physical world” explains general manager James Hughes.
Guests and groups booking the package, which is available through Dec. 15, will have a variety of nature- and wellness-focused activities, including “burnout spa therapy,” a neuro-sedative massage designed to fight stress; chakra healing sessions with Tibetan singing bowls; skin treatments that can shield skin from continuous exposure to blue light from screens; healthy menus; and access to recreational trails and exercises.
