Accor is launching a new hybrid meeting service, called All Connect, which will be available in all 3,200 hotels by 2022. All Connect will allow participants to be physically located at the hotel and participate in a virtual meeting at another location, all simultaneously.
The new system can accommodate up to 3,000 participants, and has experienced IT staff. The system is well-equipped and has an experienced team that can help cut through any misunderstanding. It can also accommodate the needs of smaller meeting groups.
The technology includes a digital broadcast studio, a 57-by-16-foot LED screen, and an HD camera. The venue’s digital infrastructure allows for live streaming of the meeting and on-demand content. In addition, the OCCC Executive Studio features classroom-style seating, A/V gear, and lighting. It is also equipped with a digital infrastructure for managing hybrid meetings.
The Long Beach Convention & Visitors Bureau has been working with facility management giant ASM Global to transform the Hall at Live into a hybrid meeting space. The new system has a $10 million A/V system and two smaller screens. The venue recently renovated the Hall at Live to transform the 40,000 square feet into a broadcast ready venue.
Hybrid meeting services are based on a platform called Canvas, which was initially developed as a platform for Tony Robbins’ virtual events. The hybrid meeting service Melbourne technology will be available to venues in the association that specialize in small meetings. It will complement hybrid offerings by nearby hotels, and will be the first partnership between a convention center and Canvas.
The hybrid meeting service was designed with a situational approach, where users are prompted to interact with other users. The participants are connected through a personal computer that is connected to a video call. During the meeting, Microsoft Teams was used as the video conferencing software. The participants were also connected to a roundtable 360-degree panoramic camera, and the meeting room was equipped with a large screen. The participants responded to each other, and the moderator referred to other participants.
While the technology can be useful for creating more inclusive hybrid meetings, it is important to understand the complexities of the technology. Detailed configuration of a hybrid meeting can increase the time spent planning the meeting and the overhead involved. The more informed a user is about the technology and the network, the more likely they are to plan an efficient meeting.
The Hyatt Regency Chicago recently hosted a hybrid meeting for twenty attendees. The event was recorded by Microsoft Teams and a standing camera. In addition, a hand camera was used to capture meeting content. The meeting room also had a table with other participants co-located.
There is a growing need for flexible hybrid meeting services that meet institutional and organizational goals. The research on hybrid meetings has been conducted in several fields, including workplace studies, tourism and hospitality studies, law studies, and education. Research has focused on the structural and logistical implications of hybrid meetings, the changing meeting experiences, and the legal implications of hybrid meetings.