Preparing For Media Tastings And Events In The New Normal
Photo by Elle Hughes on Unsplash
From phase one to phase three in Singapore, we have slowly become accustomed to living in the new normal. As PR professionals specialising in the hospitality space, a key part of our role is introducing the media to our clients’ offerings – from new menus to product launches, happy hour specials and more, all while ensuring that safe distancing measures are in place.
Read on for our tips for how to safely manage these events…
Safety and hygiene first
There is a need to keep safety and cleanliness top priority while hosting media tastings. Some people might be warier of shared plates or drinks as a high-risk activity given the current pandemic situation. Keeping this in mind, we advise our clients on choosing dishes that are easily pre-portioned for the media tasting or serving miniature cocktails in individual portions. We also request for the kitchen team to portion the dishes before they reach the table in order to effectively minimise any contact between guests.
Limiting number of attendees per event
Though Singapore is relatively safe compared with many countries, we still must be mindful and stay up to date with any government regulations in terms of group size and social distancing. With a current maximum group size of eight per reservation, we must plan our outreach and possibly multiple sessions, each with one seat saved for a representative from our team to host. Staggering these media tastings over different nights will ensure that more journalists can experience them safely while adhering to the safe distancing measures in place.
Full compliance with restrictions on alcohol
With the current restrictions on alcohol in place, it is critical to plan events accordingly, such as ending the media tasting session before 10 pm. While we want our guests to enjoy the evening and offerings, it’s important to ensure we’re mindful of restrictions in order to prevent our clients from getting into legal trouble and possible suspension.
Going online
During the circuit breaker, many innovative ideas have surfaced, from conducting cocktail masterclasses to virtual tastings via Zoom meetings or on social media platforms. We saw a variety of our clients developing engaging online content, and effectively bringing their brands and experiences into the homes of media and consumers. Conducting events online is a double-edged sword, given that there may be technical difficulties or mistakes made live. However, the unlimited potential and reach online may be just the thing your event needs for maximum coverage.
Planning an event or brand launch in these challenging times? We’d love to help! Drop us a line at [email protected].
