Seeking a Hybrid Conference Steady State? Here’s a Framework August 3, 2022 by Dave Lutz With live conferences’ comeback, event organizers need to make complex decisions about how to incorporate digital product extensions into their business model. Based on our research, we estimate that there’s an even split between conference owners who are including synchronous or asynchronous hybrid options and those who aren’t. The half who is pursuing hybrid knows … [Read more…] Filed Under: Business Model, Hybrid & Virtual Tagged With: , asynchonous, hybrid conferences, hybrid experiences, hybrid meetings, simulcast, synchronous, virtual conferences, virtual meetings
5 Post-Pandemic Conference Program Design Changes May 20, 2021 by Dave Lutz “Never let a good crisis go to waste” has become a popular adage in the business world over the past year, for good reason. As it becomes more apparent that face-to-face events will return in some form this year, conference organizers have an opportunity to make changes that would have been more difficult to sell … [Read more…] Filed Under: Experience Design, Hybrid & Virtual Tagged With: , community spaces, hallway conversations, hybrid conferences, hybrid meetings, main room events, more white space, post pandemic conferences, virtual conferences, virtual meetings
Does Your Conference Need an Emcee? March 30, 2021 by Sarah Michel Having an emcee at your event was a nice-to-have prior to 2020. Now it’s a must-have. Talk to any meeting owner who has managed a large virtual event this past year using a skilled emcee and he or she will tell you it made all the difference. An emcee ensures that an event flows seamlessly … [Read more…] Filed Under: Experience Design, Hybrid & Virtual Tagged With: , content weaver, emcee, hybrid meetings, online meetings, professional emcee, speaker, virtual meetings
What Risk Factors Are Top of Mind for Association Event Organizers? February 25, 2021 by Lisa Block We recently convened a roundtable of senior-level conference organizers to discuss risk tolerance and the forces that are shaping their 2021/22 event strategies and decisions. Three primary risk categories are emerging as organizations weigh their options for major conferences in 2021: Mitigating financial risk Member considerations and communications Health, safety and duty of care Mitigating … [Read more…] Filed Under: Business Model, Hybrid & Virtual Tagged With: , budgeting, contract negotiations, digital meetings, financial risk, hybrid meetings, virtual meetings
I Am Sorry, but We Are Not All “Fine” October 26, 2020 by Lisa Block I was inspired by a post by Lisa Cowley, CEO of Beacon, who penned a moving article entitled “It Is Okay Not to Be Okay.” I recommend you read her moving story and then come back. Some days, I can relate! Application for Associations It’s getting harder and harder to see the light at … [Read more…] Filed Under: Event Planning, Hybrid & Virtual Tagged With: , hybrid meetings, pandemic and meetings, skilling up, staff layoffs, staff stress, virtual meetings
Event Recovery Food Chain August 27, 2020 by Dave Lutz The harsh reality of an elongated recovery for the live events industry has settled in, as we wrote about back in March when we crafted the Event Recovery Food Chain. At the time, we stated, “Hotels and the entire events supply chain need to understand that we won’t fully recover until we help conference and show … [Read more…] Filed Under: Business Model, Hybrid & Virtual Tagged With: , ADR, COVID-19, event recovery food chain, group business, hotels, hybrid meetings, live events recovery, supply chain, virtual meetings
If You Build It, Will They Come? How Two Large Fall Shows Are Forging Ahead June 16, 2020 by Betsy Bair As many associations wrestle with decisions for their fall conferences and shows, the question on everyone’s mind is, if you build it, will they come? Join this interactive webinar to learn how organizers of two very large events—one a trade association and the other professional—are tackling, planning and preparing for this fall. They have two … [Read more…] Filed Under: Hybrid & Virtual, Ramblings Tagged With: , cancellation, COVID-19, hybrid, pivot, transform, virtual meetings
Hybrid Meetings Doomed to Failure? Not So Fast March 17, 2017 by Betsy Bair I’ll admit that in 2011, when the Virtual Edge Institute (now called the Digital Experience Institute) first co-located its conference with the Professional Convention Management Association’s Convening Leaders, the experience fell flat for me. At the time, a mere six years ago, the fledgling for-profit entity that wagered its future on the potential of virtual … [Read more…] Filed Under: Event Technology, Experience Design, Hybrid & Virtual Tagged With: , engagement, hyrbrid meetings, virtual meetings
Do Millennials Prefer Virtual Meetings? No! Face To Face Matters! [Infographic] October 10, 2014 by Jeff Hurt Conventional wisdom says that millennials prefer virtual and digital meetings over face to face ones. According to this infographic, compiled by CT Business Travel and NeoMam Studios, a digital design studio 78% of Gen Xers & 80% of millennials say they actually prefer in-person communication with their colleagues. 87% of all professionals believe that face-to-face … [Read more…] Filed Under: Hybrid & Virtual Tagged With: , digital events, face to face meetings, hybrid meetings, Millennial, virtual meetings
Helping Your Remote Virtual Attendees Succeed As Participants February 9, 2012 by Jeff Hurt Our time is valuable. Many of us see our time as money, a resource that we don’t want to waste. Asking people to commit 30-, 45- or even 60-minutes of their time to attend your Webinar is asking a lot. It’s critical that your digital event provide tremendous value and ROI or you’ll lose your … [Read more…] Filed Under: Hybrid & Virtual, Speaker Coaching Tagged With: , active participation, digital events, digital meeting, digital presentations, engagement, presentation best practices, virtual events, virtual meetings
