To showcase measures being taken to support the safe return of in-person meetings and events, the Meetings Mean Business Coalition (MMBC) is enlisting corporate executives, policymakers and meetings industry leadership to engage in critical conversations in ongoing virtual discussions. The series, which premiered in July, will continue through this fall. Here are five highlights of conversations thus far:

1. Safety Comes First

The meetings and travel industry has been hard at work putting protocols in place so that those who want to meet in small numbers can do so safely, even now. Each stage of the meeting and travel journey is accounted for, from ground transport to air travel to visits at conference venues and hotels.

Blueprints of safe in-person meetings include MMBC’s own summer board of directors meeting in July in Washington, D.C. “With the diligent and seamless coordination by our venue, the Grand Hyatt Hotel, to implement proper physical distancing, PPE and increased sanitation, we were able to show the world that it is possible to meet safety in our current environment,” said Nan Marchand Beauvois, senior vice president of the U.S. Travel Association and managing director of MMBC.

She continued, “We understand that not all organizations are in a position to host in-person meetings at this time. Our aim is not to rush them to a decision; it’s to provide them with information and options, particularly those who do essential business and are continuing operations through the pandemic.”

2. Consistency Is Key

Examples of safety-proofing across the travel ecosystem are vital to building the confidence of business travelers, said Richard Golinowski, vice president for operations support for Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority.

“Airports throughout the country are coordinating closely to ensure that the traveler experience is consistently safe,” Golinowski noted, adding that travelers feel comfortable passing through the airport at the start of their journey and again when they depart for home – regardless of where in the U.S. they start and complete their travels.

This level of deliberate planning, consistent coordination and information sharing is essential in propelling the new meetings and travel journey. Corporate leaders also have a role to play in sharing consistent information about new health and safety protocols, and the return to in-person interactions. Chief human resources professionals are at the forefront of these efforts, said Nick Schact, chief global development officer with Society for Human Resource Management. The role of HR professionals as internal advisors is growing, Schact said. “Words matter. The information that leadership shares with its employees – and the consistency, tone and context in which they share it, is critical.”

3. The Bar Has Been Raised

The meetings and travel industry has always prioritized cleaning and sanitation. What has changed? “People want to see it,” said Michael Dominguez, president and CEO of Associated Luxury Hotels International. What used to take place behind the scenes has been brought front and center to assure visitors that new health and safety standards are being met.

“I’ve worked in the hotel industry my entire life [and] I’ve always said that cleaning is an extensive and top priority,” said Dominguez. “Though it wasn’t always a part of the visitors’ palpable experience, it happened while they were asleep. We’ve embraced the opportunity to give [visitors] a front-row seat to see the measures we’re taking to ensure their wellbeing.”

4. Collaboration with Corporate Leaders is Evolving

In many cases, meetings and travel policies are being shaped directly by the C-suite, with input from a growing cohort of safety, security and wellness experts. Partnership between the meetings and travel industry and other influential business sectors has never been more apparent or essential.

“We are all in this together,” said Fred Dixon, president and CEO of NYC & Company and MMBC co-chair. He added that the bridges being built across industries to align on processes, protocols and policies are creating a safe meeting and travel experience for all.

5. Innovation is Ongoing (and Inevitable)

Despite the difficult and complex state of affairs, meetings and travel organizations are finding ways to innovate through hybrid, satellite and virtual events. They’re enlisting partners from the tech community to erect new processes for engagement and learning. MMBC’s upcoming virtual discussion, slated for September (date TBD), will cover how the industry is leveraging technology to meet shifting safety standards and needs, with additional commentary from an expert panel including tech industry leaders.

Learn more about MMBC’s virtual discussions here.