An initiative aimed at easing concerns among business travellers over natural disasters and social unrest is being rolled out by Intercontinental.
IHG Assist is being implemented in direct response to requests from corporate clients and underscores the company’s commitment to responsible business practices, Intercontinental Hotel Group announced on December 3.
“As employees visit locations prone to natural disasters or experiencing political or social unrest, these initiatives will help ensure appropriate security measures are put in place,” IHG said.
The safety scheme is being launched at more than 4,900 InterContinental properties across the world along with IHG Meeting Point – a separate initiative streamline services for small and medium-sized meetings. The company says both schemes are aimed at enhancing the experience offered to business guests and corporate partners.
Ingrid Quimby-High, IHG’s director for global groups and meetings strategy, said: “Having listened to the specific needs of our customers, IHG has introduced IHG Assist and IHG Meeting Point to provide a more efficient, simple and streamlined way of working with businesses – whether they are hosting meetings or staying at our hotels.
“IHG Assist answers the increasing concern for traveller safety and security, and IHG Meeting Point enables us to offer the right meeting space at the right hotel, with an unparalleled level of service and sector-specific expertise. These industry-leading initiatives help build more trust and loyalty with our business guests,” said Quimby-High.
As business travellers employees visit locations prone to natural disasters or experiencing political or social unrest, these initiatives will help ensure appropriate security measures are put in place, says IHG.
The measures include:
IHG Assist Groups & Meetings Service: A 24-hour phone line to answer client concerns regarding traveller safety and security.
IHG Security Consultations: Security consultations between a corporate client’s security team member or travel manager, and a member of IHG’s Global Security Team to address risk assessment concerns and security queries.
Guest Location Services: Corporate clients will be offered access to information about their employees’ location during times of crisis and emergencies.
IHG Meeting Point:
This has been introduced as a first-to-market meetings solution for the pharmaceutical, auto, energy, technology, medical healthcare and manufacturing sectors.
“With industry-specific regulations and requirements, as well as safety and security issues, these sectors have a very dynamic set of needs. Through a dedicated training portal, tailored by sector, IHG Meeting Point enables IHG hotel employees to develop unrivalled industry-specific knowledge, which directly caters to the needs of our clients,” says IHG.
IHG Meeting Point addresses these specific needs in many ways, which includes the following:
Pharmaceutical companies are driven by a heavy regulated industry in which exclusivity is key – having two pharmaceutical companies staying or hosting events at the same hotel, during the same time is prohibited. IHG Meeting Point allows IHG hotel staff to manage these confidential bookings in a way that ensures no two pharmaceutical companies are staying in, or meeting at, the same hotel at any given time.
Energy companies value offerings such as the IHG Green Engage system, a global standard across the IHG portfolio helping hotels in delivering greater sustainability. IHG Meeting Point helps bring together clients with hotels who meet the advanced ‘Level 3’ criteria for the IHG Green Engage system.
