Five Must-Haves for Virtual and Hybrid Event Success

Submitted by lpsavas@tsnn.com on Tue, 10/12/2021 - 09:25

Virtual and hybrid events have matured and evolved a great deal over the last couple of years, and they will keep connecting us long after the pandemic is over. Even as businesses move into pandemic recovery, events and conferences—a more than trillion-dollar industry—will largely remain virtual or hybrid for some time. Professional event planners will need to find virtual event solutions that provide a great attendee experience and are highly customizable.

ReedPop Launches Fandom Marketplace “The Haul” Built by Spaceshop Commerce

Spaceshop Commerce and ReedPop have partnered to launch “The Haul,” a virtual pop culture and fandom marketplace, built with Adobe Commerce.

The Haul integrates ReedPop’s digital and live events with a product marketplace featuring some of the biggest brands in pop culture, along with exclusive items from artists and retailers, replicating the fan-to-exhibitor discoverability found on the showfloor at their live conventions.

Women at the Helm: Joyce Leveston, SVP of Convention Centers, Spectra

Joyce Leveston truly understands the transformative power of the convention industry. As a recent college graduate working as a telephone operator at the newly built San Diego Convention Center in 1989, she witnessed how the nascent venue was poised to transform what was then a sleepy military beach city into a highly desirable tourism and convention business destination. From then on she knew she was hooked.

4 New State-of-the-Art Production Studios to Consider for Your Next Hybrid Event

If the human species is good at one thing, it’s adapting. So too is the trade show and events industry, which was forced to “pivot” during the worst of the pandemic by moving into a more innovative, forward-thinking mindset via the leveraging of virtual event technology. What has resulted is a digital events revolution and a growing hybrid evolution that is likely to be a mainstay in the events world for the foreseeable future.  

Distrito T-Mobile Transforms Puerto Rico's Entertainment and Events Scene

Famous for the fortifications, cobblestone streets and colorful Spanish Colonial buildings of Old San Juan, founded in 1519, Puerto Rico is also becoming a favorite for something brand-new, and it’s as vibrant and infused with local heritage as the historic district. Distrito T-Mobile, a five-acre entertainment complex that was being unveiled in phases right across from the Puerto Rico Convention Center, is now fully open, taking the experience for residents, visitors and event attendees to new heights.

Expos, Meetings and Conventions Need New Resources

As event professionals and destinations adjust, adapt and evolve in these uncharted waters, it is imperative that substantial resources be put in place for all of the people responsible for planning and executing trade shows, expositions and conventions. An example is Mohegan Sun, which built an industry-leading, COVID-19 Resource Center with a combination of pictures from recently held successful events (the property reopened on May 1, 2020) along with several widely available and informative documents, such as an evolving operational framework:

Partner Voices
Overview: The award-winning Orange County Convention Center (OCCC) goes the extra mile to make every day extraordinary by offering customer service excellence and industry-leading partnerships. From their dedicated in-house Rigging team to their robust Exhibitor Services, The Center of Hospitality brings your imagination to life by helping you host unforgettable meetings and events. With more than 2 million square feet of exhibit space, world-class services and a dream destination, we are committed to making even the most ambitious conventions a reality. In October 2023, the Orange County Board of County Commissioners voted to approve allocating Tourist Development Tax funding for the $560 million Phase 5A completion of the OCCC. The Convention Way Grand Concourse project will include enhancements to the North-South Building, featuring an additional 60,000 square feet of meeting space, an 80,000- square-foot ballroom and new entry to the North-South Building along Convention Way. “We are thrilled to begin work on completing our North-South Building which will allow us to meet the growing needs of our clients,” said OCCC Executive Director Mark Tester. “As an economic driver for the community, this project will provide the Center with connectivity and meeting space to host more events and continue to infuse the local economy with new money and expanding business opportunities.” Amenities: The Center of Hospitality goes above and beyond by offering world-class customer service and industry-leading partnerships. From the largest convention center Wi-Fi network to custom LAN/WAN design, the Center takes pride in enhancing exhibitor and customer experience.  The OCCC is the exclusive provider of electricity (24-hour power at no additional cost), aerial rigging and lighting, water, natural gas and propane, compressed air, and cable TV services. Convenience The Center is at the epicenter of the destination, with an abundance of hotels, restaurants, and attractions within walking distance. Pedestrian bridges connect both buildings to more than 5,200 rooms and is within a 15-minute drive from the Orlando International Airport. The convenience of the location goes hand-in-hand with top notch service to help meet an event’s every need. Gold Key Members The OCCC’s Gold Key Members represent the best of the best when it comes to exceptional service and exclusive benefits for clients, exhibitors and guests. The Center’s Gold Key memberships with Universal Orlando Resort, SeaWorld Orlando and Walt Disney World greatly enhance meeting planner and attendee experiences offering world-renowned venues, immersive experiences and creative resources for their events. OCCC Events: This fiscal year, the OCCC is projected to host 168 events, 1.7 million attendees, and $2.9 billion in economic impact.  The Center’s top five events during their 2022-2023 fiscal year included:  AAU Jr. National Volleyball Championships 2023 200,000 Attendees $257 Million in Economic Impact MEGACON 2023 160,000 Attendees $205 Million in Economic Impact Open Championship Series 2023 69,500 Attendees $89 Million in Economic Impact Sunshine Classic 2023 42,000 Attendees $54 Million in Economic Impact Premiere Orlando 2023 42,000 Attendees $108 Million in Economic Impact