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Delivering Meeting Services in a Foreign Country
By Alyssa M. Kolat, CMP, DES, senior meeting consultant, Site Solutions Worldwide
I spent this summer working in Japan, in the middle of a pandemic, for the U.S. Department of State during the 2020 (actually 2021) Olympic and Paralympic Games. There are many safety and security concerns just delivering housing and transportation services to a client. When working in a culturally different environment with changing rules as a result of a global pandemic, the challenges can be overwhelming.
Safety concerns:
- Transportation to quarantine from the airport – inability to meet and greet due to airport restrictions
- Following COVID regulations in a hotel with and without a global brand (language barriers, lack of continuity at all properties)
- Maintaining security while in quarantine (can’t leave your rooms, can’t manage your attendees/guests)
- Implementation of daily COVID tests
- Daily changing rules related to the pandemic
- Maintaining comfort of the guests under difficult circumstances (during quarantine and after)
Challenges:
- Language barrier
- In-country customs
- Using translators rather than being able to speak in person
- Understanding contracting conversations
- Missing/not seeing body language cues (restricted from site visits, having to use Zoom)
- Inability to establish relationships with hotels and various service providers due to the inability to conduct site visits
- Inability to establish relationships due to differing customs and language
- Inability to get a true sense of property amenities (or lack of)
- Inability to understand nuances in transportation that differ from the U.S.
- Hotel billing completely different/contract language not as extensive
From the Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Committee:
Thank you, Alyssa, for being part of the team to keep U.S. athletes safe and sharing your experience! Here is a brief “behind-the-scenes” news story about diplomatic security service at the Olympics.
If you have a story to share, DE&I resources or action items for our industry, or if you're just curious, please do not hesitate to reach out to us:
DE&I Committee Board Director: Leila Beltramo, lbeltramo@visitmontgomery.com
DE&I Committee Co-Chair: Joan Aiken, jmaiken22@msn.com
DE&I Committee Co-Chair: Joan Aiken, jmaiken22@msn.com
MPI Potomac is an inclusive community of meeting professionals who embrace learning, collaboration and your development.
