INNTEL Recovery Purple Paper

inntel.co.uk Hybrid meetings. You are likely to be holding blended or hybrid meetings for the foreseeable future, with a mix of attendees sitting in person in a socially distanced group in one location and some attending re- motely via technology such as Zoom or Skype. Inntel’s survey found that cus- tomers believe an average of one in five meetings could be replaced with virtual or hybrid meetings in the future to help productivity, costs and efficiency. The importance of transitioning back into reinstating meetings is therefore critically important, and the success of a strategy including hybrid and virtual meetings re- lies wholly on the most appropriate tech- nology to support individual organisa- tions. Inntel will be objectively exploring technology choices in detail and sharing this in our Recovery paper Part 2. Re-imagining meeting space. And where will you hold your meetings? The cost per head of office space may double if people have to sit further apart – one property group estimates that 60% of desks will be unusable while the two- metre rule remains in place. In this context, rooms previously designated as meeting space may have to become workspace. A new factor arises when companies abandon a wholesale return to the office – Twitter has told its staff they can keep working from home “forever” if they wish. In both these cases, businesses should think about where and how meetings will be held in the future as a crucial part of re-imagining the world of work. If you need to book external venues for meetings, Inntel can match each client with the right venue based on their Covid-19 duty-of-care policies, as well as consulting and advising clients who are unsure how to navigate this new world. Your previous meetings policies, for example, may have included hotels or venues that do not meet new requirements. To re-engage employees and convince clients, it will be critical to allay their fears. The Hotel Booking Agents Association (HBAA) is already taking a lead, launching a “hygiene and cleanliness” accreditation to champion accommodation providers that meet post- Covid standards so that businesses can choose where to meet with confidence 6 . 5 https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/the-fallen- towers-why-life-in-theoffice-will-never-be-the- same-again-sb7cwcvbm 6 https://www.hbaa.org.uk/content/hbaa- spearheads-industry-hygiene-and-cleanliness- accreditation-standard-champion 60% of desks could be unusable while the two-metre rule remains in place