Hilton Canada: Meetings for the 21st century

With three months to go until Y2K, Hilton International has firmly established Meeting 2000 as its answer to serving the needs of meeting planners and their clients. Launched in Canada at the Toronto Airport Hilton Hotel this past April, Meeting 2000 conference facilities are now available at more than 60 Hilton International hotels around the world.

The concept evolved after worldwide research with 2,000 meeting and conference planners, travel agents, and of course actual customers. One thing that everyone wanted was the constant on-site availability of professional, specially trained hotel staff to assist organizers, and to meet last-minute requests. As a result, a dedicated Meeting Service Manager is on hand, overseeing every detail of the meeting, from changing a light bulb to delaying a snack break or finding a translator.

A typical example, the Toronto Airport Hilton redesigned its conference facilities to incorporate the features and services most frequently requested by meeting planners. The mahogony table in its Pearson Board room easily accommodates up to 18 participants in fully adjustable board room chairs. The Ontario Room works well for seminars, holding up to 50 people. Push buttons on a hand-held remote control operate the lights, screens, and the automatic black-out roller shades that cover the large windows in each room.

Long-distance meetings

Along with individual climate controls and extra telephone outlets and data lines, video-conferencing equipment is another bonus. 'Virtual' meetings can be arranged with anyone - provided they have access to video-conferencing equipment as well - from any Hilton Hotels in Canada. On-site technicians help set up and co-ordinate video-conferencing sessions. When combined with a video camera, everyone involved can fully interact throughout the course of the meeting or presentation.

Video-conferencing services start at $150 per hour or $700 per day. Although the pricing may seem steep, it looks different when you consider, for example, the cost of bringing a company’s CEO from Los Angeles to address a staff meeting in Vancouver or Toronto. Toronto Airport Hilton regularly hosts a 6pm video-conference for a local company that wants to have a 9am meeting, local time, with its head office in Tokyo.

Besides the meeting rooms, there’s a full-service Meeting 2000 Business Centre, with two private offices for use by individuals. Open from 7am to 7pm, services offered here range from secretarial to courier deliveries, and access to fax, the Internet, and personal computers with a wide range of software.

Another element of Meeting 2000 is its light and healthy foods. While coffee and Danish is an option, more enticing snacks include tropical fruit juices, fruit skewers with low-fat yogurt dip, and granola bars.

After discussing your requirements with the Meeting 2000 team, meeting planners receive a quote within 24 hours. Rates begin at $50 per person for a daily delegate package that includes the meeting room, two coffee breaks, and a working lunch.

For reservations or more information, call the Toronto Airport Hilton at (905) 672-6800 or Hilton Reservations Worldwide at (800) 445-8667.

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