There was a time not long ago when many of us had never attended a true virtual event. Now, with the novelty of modern technologies worn-off and the over saturation of virtual events, event professionals and marketers alike must find new and creative ways to promote their events. While there is increased talk about hybrid events in 2021, 75 per cent of event organizers plan to incorporate technology into their events going forward, no matter the event format. This is…
The International Association of Exhibitions and Events (IAEE) has partnered with services contractor Fern to offer a premiere chapter education series that enables industry-leading content to be provided at a local level. “It is important to us to provide the best and most pertinent education programming to our members, especially as our industry strives to recover from the challenges faced in the past year,” says IAEE vice-president of learning experiences, Marsha Flanagan. “In the five years the chapter education series…
It will soon be one year since the World Health Organization declared COVID-19 a pandemic. Although the world’s biggest vaccine rollout is now underway, organizations are struggling to decide whether to move forward with a virtual event or postpone. Last year, many pushed in-person events back to 2021, and are now realizing this year may be no more conducive to hosting an in-person event. If the purpose of your event is to build business relationships, it may not be in…
Mediasite Events has announced a complete virtual solution platform to take an event online. “(It’s) everything you need to keep the show going, despite COVID travel restraints,” says Joe Mozden Jr., CEO of Sonic Foundry, the maker behind Mediasite. “Virtual events are the new normal and even as the world starts to re-open, we believe it is forever changed.” The complete virtual platform allows users to expand reach with live or simulated live streaming. A technician works with each speaker…
With more events making the switch to virtual, event organizers are having to deal with a whole new set of risks. Many of the factors involved in running in-person events still apply but there are others that you may not have considered. One area that’s often overlooked is insurance. So, I spoke with experts at Event Insurance Services Ltd. Here’s what you should know before taking your next event online. Insurance Coverage Traditional events have always required comprehensive insurance policies.…
Inclusion and diversity have been major topics of discussion in recent months. The senseless death of George Floyd at the hands of police that was captured on camera and broadcast around the world has forced leaders, business owners and industry to face an ugly truth — we live in a society that is plagued with injustice and inequality. This ‘new’ learning (for some) has prompted many figureheads to take a verbal stance, displaying their allyship to black and minority communities.…
The global spread of COVID-19 has transformed daily life and, like most business sectors, the events industry has evolved and adapted to cope with the new normal. In doing so, it has entered a new phase where changes are likely to endure into the post-pandemic period. Here, three industry experts — Carly Silberstein of Redstone Agency, Ruby Sohi of Royal Blue Events Management and Theresa Beenken of the National Speakers Bureau — provide their predictions on how the events industry…
One of the first (and most important) questions people ask when exploring webinar options is, how much will it cost? Understanding the expenses associated with a webinar is key to being able to project and manage your return on investment. Webinar Platform The most obvious cost associated with running a webinar is the platform. Some simple platforms are free up to a certain number of attendees, while more advanced technologies typically require that you pay a monthly or annual fee…
Developers of European database, Women Talk Real Estate, are exploring demand for a similar resource to help event organizers and journalists tap into more diverse expertise in the commercial real estate industry. All interested parties are invited to respond to an online survey gauging interest in a database of Black, Asian and other minority ethnic (BAME) professionals who could serve as speakers, panellists and media sources. “The aim of the database would be to support both male and female BAME…
COVID-19 has dealt the events industry a blow that far surpasses any other occurrence in modern history. No business has been left untouched but while some have crippled under the coronavirus outbreak, others have pivoted in ways they wouldn’t have imagined months ago when the outlook for 2020 was so bright. “Prior to the pandemic my team was planning hybrid events, which combines live in-person and virtual components. Now our offerings are primarily virtual-only,” explains Alicia Jenelle of her self-named…
