Hyatt Hotels Plans to Explore Mobile Health Passport for Meetings, Events and More
Hyatt Hotels Corporation announced plans to explore VeriFLY + Stay, a mobile health passport for the hospitality industry using the VeriFLY app that provides verification of COVID-19 credentials and travel guidelines. This mobile app can facilitate peace of mind for in-person gatherings by providing meeting attendees and colleagues with a seamless option to directly receive and present COVID-19 test results. Tens of thousands of travelers already have confidently and safely verified their COVID-19 health status with VeriFLY since January 1, 2021.
“Since the onset of the pandemic, we have believed that accessibility to testing and resources would play a critical role in the travel industry’s recovery,” Frank Lavey, senior vice president of Global Operations, Hyatt. “Collaborating with Daon, a leader in identity assurance, to test VeriFLY + Stay for colleagues and meeting attendees furthers our commitment to our guests’ and colleagues’ wellbeing and represents an important step in providing peace of mind to meeting attendees before, during and after an event.”
As part of these exploration efforts, Hyatt will work closely with meeting planners to identify criteria for meeting attendees, which could include presenting a recent negative COVID-19 test. The criteria can then be communicated to attendees in the VeriFLY mobile app prior to arrival so they can fulfill their requirements and complete all necessary forms. Meeting attendees who satisfy a meeting’s requirements will be able to use the app to display a green checkmark for entry into the meeting or event. Daon will not send any personal or individual information to Hyatt or a Hyatt hotel; Hyatt will only receive aggregated and anonymized data from Daon.
“Throughout the pandemic we have stayed close to our customers to understand what’s most important to them and focus on solutions that meet their needs,” said Steve Enselein, senior vice president of Events, Hyatt. “In listening to our customers, we know attendee safety and wellbeing remain top priorities for meeting planners, and we look forward to exploring VeriFLY + Stay with meeting planners to provide a new resource that assists with event execution.”
As an extension of Hyatt’s Global Care & Cleanliness Commitment, this is one of Hyatt’s latest initiatives to support guests throughout their entire travel journey as Hyatt maintains its focus on prioritizing safety and wellbeing for guests, colleagues and meeting attendees. Hyatt joins a growing number of travel companies, including American Airlines, utilizing this VeriFLY solution to inspire confidence to return to travel by helping travelers manage new requirements in their destination, complete health questionnaires and adhere to guidelines set forth by travel providers. VeriFLY is the world’s first widely adopted digital health credential and has more than 300,000 active users in 55 countries across six continents.
To learn more about this initiative, HT spoke with Steve Enselein, Senior Vice President of Events, Hyatt.
Will this technology be required for all meetings/events to use?
Hyatt is offering VeriFLY + Stay as an option to meeting planners hosting events at Hyatt hotels. Hyatt will work closely with meeting planners to identify criteria for meeting attendees, which could include presenting a recent negative COVID-19 test.
If so, would that include personal events such as weddings? Graduations? Baby/Bridal showers?
As part of exploration efforts with VeriFLY + Stay, Hyatt will continue to work closely with groups and event planners to determine their needs and identify criteria for event attendees. In listening to our customers, we know attendee safety and wellbeing remain top priorities, and we look forward to exploring VeriFLY + Stay with event planners to provide a new resource that assists with event execution.
Mobile health passports are a fairly controversial/polarizing technology, why did Hyatt decide that implementing and offering this tech was the right move?
Guided by our purpose of care, we are always listening to our customers, and we know attendee safety and wellbeing remain top priorities for meeting planners. VeriFLY + Stay is an important step in providing peace of mind to meeting planners and attendees before, during and after an event.
In addition, Hyatt is collaborating with Daon, a leader in identity assurance to offer VeriFLY + Stay for colleagues and meeting attendees. Daon will not send any personal or individual information to Hyatt or a Hyatt hotel; Hyatt will only receive aggregated and anonymized data from Daon.
Do you think other hotel brands will also begin to offer/require this type of technology in the near future for meetings/events?
Hyatt joins a growing number of travel companies, including American Airlines, utilizing the VeriFLY solution to inspire confidence to return to travel, so it is likely that other hospitality companies will continue this trend.