Limit Density
While our business events exist for bringing people together, this practice is against the epidemiological perspective for a fight against Covid-19. We need to change the way we do business by keeping people apart on event floor density. We also lower our headcount to avoid the risk of spreading the virus. We can use up the mix and match spaces and venues, so why not share your event with multiple small platforms? Plus we will need to cover as many bases such as hand washing or sanitiser stations and mandatory masks.
Engaging with experiences
Otao Kitchen continues to host virtual business events because of the government shutdown since March. While hosting a face-to-face event is much better as our guests can enjoy cooking with the senses while connecting with chefs and other guests. The energy of our cooking venue, our staff and other guests around make hosting virtual events with some challenges we need to address. We approach them with our guests, and we worked out the best format for doing these classes. Firstly we like to make the event "short and sweet" for 1-2 hours and limit on a single topic or couple of menu items. We select the things where we can have the ability to engage the senses and cooking class event we can still offer a memorable experience with food and drink they made at home.
The new format of business events
Virtual events present businesses and event planners with a new opportunity to challenge traditional event planning. People are talking about hybrid events meaning a combination of online and offline components. Given the situation of our business of events gearing 2021, we believe business event continuity would be with the importance of trying these different formats. The big issue for Otao kitchen is trying out other forms and convince customers do not merely pick up a one-day event. Still, they extend the digital experiences with, for example, smaller taster events over multiple days to boost engagement.
Plan the Next Generation of Family-Friendly Events
But don't let that fool you into thinking, attracting your patrons to your events will be comfortable with virtual events. People working from home are just different. They have other things to disturb them, such as kids, pet or doctor appointment. For businesses, we would need to think of our guests' expectations of family-friendly events. Usually, many attend work events without their family around; now, they want for their family and kids to immersive experiences virtually too.
Enforce Your Own Rules
The critical part of event planning is with safety and security and Covid-19 practices factor in the complexity of health, safety and legal liability. The challenges is if we have safety protocols such as our FAQs in place do our guests or even our staff follow? These safety protocols are essential as the participants feel safe to attend the event. However, this constitutes a promise, and the measures will need to be in force. If we say masks are mandatory, then people will need to wear them. If we say social distancing is compulsory, then people will keep away from each other 1.5-2 m apart.
