Hilton Worldwide has announced plans to launch two small and medium-sized (SME) business programmes covering corporate travel management and in-person events.
The new initiatives, called Hilton for Business and Small Meetings and Events Packages respectively, are currently being tested with a select group of customers with plans to roll them out globally early next year.
Hilton for Business will allow users to set up "varying permissions across a designated team," which will enable administrators to manage the programme fully or delegate tasks to other team members. It will also include Hilton-wide discounts and loyalty benefits.
Small Meetings and Event Packages, which will be available via the company's events website, is a service to support "growing demand for in-person gatherings," said Hilton.
The programme will offer instantly bookable meeting packages, including room blocks and event spaces, for groups of up to 35 attendees without a contract.
According to Hilton, the SME sector represents roughly 85 per cent of the company's business travellers.
Hilton EVP and chief commercial officer Chris Silcock added: “Even as the global pandemic significantly impacted global travel, SME business travellers never slowed down.
“We used that opportunity to listen and learn how we could solve long-running pain points and deliver what these businesses need most - simple booking and travel management tools and recognition and rewards for their loyalty.”