With the world slowly starting to return to normal and adjusting to COVID-19, event organizers worldwide are considering the possibility of hybrid events. They recognize that virtual events have been incredibly popular over the past year, but also understand that many people miss the experience of in-person events. That’s where hybrid events come into play! Let’s take a look at what these events are and how they could benefit your organization.
Hybrid events combine an in-person event with a virtual event and can come in the form of hybrid conferences, exhibitions, career fairs, and more. While local exhibitors and visitors can attend the event physically, you’ll find that you can enjoy the benefits of reaching a wider audience when using a virtual events platform.
With many individuals and event organizers itching to plan their next in-person event, hybrid events are the perfect solution for anyone who’s unsure about or unable to attend physical events. We all know how ever-changing the rules and regulations surrounding travel are today, so a hybrid event is a great option to protect your future events from this uncertainty.
Benefits of Hybrid Events
Hybrid events offer so many advantages to event organizers and attendees alike. No doubt you’ve spent countless hours of the past year at virtual exhibitions and events, and for some people, they love this style of event and are happy for it to continue. However, for other individuals who love presenting and speaking to people in-person, the thought of sitting in front of a computer for another day fills them with dread. Hybrid events offer you the best of both worlds where you can please everyone.
One of the great benefits of virtual events is the ability to network with individuals anywhere in the world. If an event is taking place in the UK, individuals from Hong Kong, USA, and Germany can all tune in from the comfort of their home. This saves companies a fortune in flying employees around the world, but still allows everyone to connect and form relationships. In the future, we can expect this international element to continue by way of virtual conferences and exhibitions, while local residents can attend the physical event.
Benefit #1: Increase in Attendance
Offering a hybrid event will naturally boost your attendance. You’ll enjoy welcoming attendees to your venue, while the virtual event can attract thousands of overseas guests. In this manner, you make your event accessible for more people without breaking the bank.
Benefit #2: Cost-Effective
Imagine the cost of renting a physical venue for 10,000 attendees. With hybrid events, such costs are diminished since most of your visitors exist in the virtual world. You only need a venue to entertain local guests and the rest is online. You can also incorporate countless posters and billboards without paying an extra dime.
Benefit #3: Longer Event Life-Cycle
Physical events need to come to an end. It is impossible for an in-person event to be run 24/7, 365 days a year. However, you’ll find that virtual events softwares allow you to save your venue and continue streaming content for as long as needed. This is an excellent tool for future marketing efforts and to promote your next hybrid event.
Benefit #4: Detailed Analytics Data
Gain insight to your virtual visitors behavior and actions. Find out how many calls were performed, how many messages were exchanged, which venues were most popular, which booths saw most traffic, and lots more. Combine these metrics with in-person surveys to get a complete image of your ROI.
Benefit #5: Positive Environmental Impact
We’re all looking to lower our impact on the environment. If you’ve ever seen the amount of waste involved in physical events, you’ll understand why this is important. When you host a hybrid event, you’ll be able to minimize waste, CO2 emissions, and more, with virtual attendees receiving all of their information electronically. You’ll no longer have to worry about stocking up on thousands of freebie pens or snacks.
To conclude, COVID-19 shed light on the importance of virtual and hybrid events; however, their immense benefits demand that they stay even in a post-covid world. Here at Outreal XR, we can offer you the assistance you need to set up your next hybrid event, thanks to our 3D virtual events platform, HoloFair. For more information about hosting hybrid or virtual events, don’t hesitate to contact our team today!
