You may not be ready for telepresence but the interactive systems that support this form of live, real place transmission are growing as an alternative to travel for meetings, at least in some corporate boardrooms.
Two of the world’s biggest hotel companies, Starwood Hotels and Resorts and Marriott International, now offer telepresence suites. Today’s high-end systems go beyond typical videoconferencing technology and are comparative to face-to-face meetings because of the interactivity made possible by advanced technology. Some participants may be in the hotel room, while others attend from remote locations, with information transmitted in both directions.
While virtual meetings will not eliminate the need for in-person meetings, they are giving potential attendees another option. In fact, some industry leaders view it as an expansion of their meetings business. According to a recent story in The New York Times, companies that have telepresence technology are incorporating it into their travel booking systems, so employees consider it as a choice in lieu of taking a trip.
Have you ever used telepresence technology, or would you consider including it as an option for your meetings?
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