Company name: Destination Concepts
Type of business: Destination Management/Event Production/Meeting Logistics
Founded: 1998
How have you changed your business in response to COVID-19?
Our business is focused on producing events of all sizes for our clients. We know face-to-face events will be coming back, but they’re definitely going to look different than they did in the past. We have proactively shifted into developing creative and practical new formats for face-to-face meetings based on the everchanging mandates while ensuring we’re adhering to the latest CDC guidelines. Our goal is to mitigate the fear of producing face-to-face events and instill comfort in our clients so they know they have a dedicated partner and resource who can positively guide them through the process while taking the stress off their plate. For instance, transportation will have reduced seating, custom seat dividers, and staggered loading. Ballrooms will have reduced dining table capacities with coded seating with multiple entrances and exits to stagger egress. Fun and unique ideas for holding spaces will minimize congregating in groups. Creative amenities to better prepare travelers will include such items as custom branded face masks and healthy travel kits equipped with hand sanitizer, all-purpose wipes and surface spray. We also expect to implement a number of new entertainment experiences that will encourage interaction from a distance like colorful Glow Pods that will serve as designated dance floor spots and be spaced the recommended distance apart as well as a robot mixologist that can shake, stir and muddle a string of cocktails all from an app where guests place their orders.
What keeps you hopeful and/or what is your advice to other companies?
DC has kept a close watch on industry polls and is actively involved in industry webinars, continuously offering routine professional development as it relates to keeping our teams up to date on the latest news and insights. What keeps us hopeful is it widely known that attendees and travelers alike prefer face-to-face interactions vs. a virtual platform, and it is our goal to continue to proactively seek safe solutions to better equip our industry for the return of face-to-face events without compromising the experience.
What is the one thing you are looking forward to doing when things return to normal-ish?
I am really missing the local camaraderie within our community, so I cannot wait to get back out into the city to support so many of our amazing San Diego restaurants and venues.
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