Corporates demand increasing privacy in meetings

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One of the growing demands of corporate planners and PAs booking meeting rooms is complete privacy, according to several UAE-based hoteliers.

Hoteliers at Arabian Travel Market (ATM) agreed there was a growing desire for increased privacy at meetings, particularly within the banking and finance sectors.

The most common request was the ability to remain in the meeting without being interrupted, according to communications and brand manager of Mövenpick Hotel Bur Dubai, Katie Harvey.

"Privacy is an extension of an issue we tackle during Ramadan when we cannot serve coffee or snacks in public areas," she said.

"We set up coffee breaks inside so nobody is disturbed during the meeting."

Mövenpick has also made sure there are no security cameras focusing on its ballroom, only on the entrances and exits, to ensure privacy for clients: "Companies can also bring in their own staff if they wish.

"We try and limit this as there are health and safety issues, but we are willing to facilitate their requests if we can," Harvey said.

In order to accommodate this requirement, the hotel would provide facilities to keep beverages hot and cold in the meeting room as well as toilets and separate access points away from the main hotel, she added.

Assistant food and beverage manager for Kempinski Hotel Ajman, Rony Jacob, acknowledged the increased demand for privacy: "We have separated our meetings facilities so people can have privacy without having to bump into hotel guests," he said.

"Our meetings facilities have a separate entrance from the main entrance of the hotel. It even has its own private car-park which is perfect for something like a product launch," he added.

Measures taken to accommodate the need for secrecy in meetings internationally have included changing the locks of the meeting room immediately before the event and a 24-hour manned security presence inside and outside of the meeting room, according to one MIME source.

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