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Every year, Encore surveys thousands of meeting and event professionals about meeting/event patterns and formats, how they spend their money and their biggest concerns. Individually, these quarterly Planner Pulse reports form snapshots of current industry trends. But taken collectively, we can begin to forecast where the industry is headed. Looking at the big picture painted by results from our four 2022 surveys, here are the Top 3 event trends for 2023.
Trend No. 1: Immersive and interactive experiences to engage participants and enhance organizational culture
According to McKinsey’s American Opportunity Survey, 58 percent of the employed respondents in the U.S. have the option of working from home for all or part of the week. With a dispersed workforce, in-person engagement is more important than ever for creating and reinforcing an organization’s culture, training employees and fostering a sense of belonging. Companies aren’t the only ones seeing the need for in-person meetings. Encore Planner Pulse respondents report that, compared to 2019, participants value the in-person experience more and are more engaged with and ‘leaning into’ the entire face-to-face experience (Winter 2022 Pulse).
Planners know participants derive the greatest value from networking/relationship building, education/training and organizational culture-building/enhancing activities (Winter 2022 Pulse). Meeting and event professionals are creating more immersive and interactive experiences to maximize the event return-on experience.
How are meeting and event professionals doing this? Designing events with the end in mind, investing in engaging technology, and collaborating with presenters to rethink how content is delivered.
Reverse-engineering the event design leads organizers to rethink how rooms are set to maximize connection and collaboration, bake more opportunities for networking into the agenda and think about how they can create sensory experiences. Technology, like LED walls and 3D projection mapping, is the easiest way to transform rooms and sets quickly. Event technology platforms that enable live polling and Q&A, can be used to educate and entertain. Challenging presenters to respond to questions about how they intend to engage the audience in the call for proposals is a fantastic starting point for conversations about designing and delivering the most meaningful and relevant content for event participants.
Trend No. 2: More attendees for in-person meetings
In-person events continue to gain momentum. Meeting and event professionals expect in-person attendance to increase by as much as 25 percent in 2023. This is a reversal of a downsizing trend seen last spring (Spring 2022 and Winter 2022 Pulse).
The most popular venues remain hotels (Spring 2022 and Fall 2022 Pulse). Sixty-one percent of planners expect to pay slightly to significantly more on hotel room rates (Fall 2022 Pulse). Sixty-two percent expect to pay more for food and beverage, and 57 percent report they will pay more for transportation (Winter 2022, Summer 2022 and Fall 2022 Pulse). Not coincidentally, these also are the Top 3 areas Planners Pulse respondents expect to see their 2023 budgets increase. Of the planners who say their 2023 budgets are increasing, 80 percent expect an increase of more than 25 percent (Winter 2022 Pulse).
According to Summer 2022 and Fall 2022 Pulse reports, the top technology products and services being sourced this year are standard projection/audiovisual equipment (50+ percent) and streaming technology (44 percent). Top attributes driving the selection of event technology partners are value, technical expertise and service excellence (Summer 2022 Pulse).
Trend No. 3: Inclusive and supportive environments to enhance participant wellness and sense of belonging
Health and safety had the greatest impact on participant comfort levels (Spring 2022 Pulse). For that reason, hybrid meetings comprised up to 30 percent of the meetings held in the first half of last year. (Winter 2022 and Spring 2022 Pulse). Now that people are more comfortable traveling, the number of hybrid meetings represents fewer than 20 percent of the meetings planned for 2023 (Summer 2022 and Fall 2022 Pulse).
It’s not just participants’ physical wellness that’s a focus for planners. They also want to support mental and emotional wellness by fostering a sense of attendee belonging, enhanced by face-to-face meeting. One of the ways planners are incorporating this trend into event design include education and conversational groups modeled on the ‘business resource groups’ present at most major organizations, where participants gather with like-minded community members. They’re also using technology, like AI-powered simultaneous translation and captioning tools, to ensure people with neurodiversity or disabilities have an easier time connecting to the content and enjoying it. And for those who don’t want to travel, hybrid event technology allows everyone to participate in the event, no matter where they’re located.
Technology can also help people connect to each other on a more human level by capturing images and stories and sharing them with participants before, during or after the event. Consider setting up on-site interviews or photography booths to capture this user-generated content. Remember: everyone wants to feel special and included. If you can deliver experiences that deliver both to your participants, they’ll want to come back next year.
Those are the Top 3 trends we’re seeing. How are you planning to make your meetings more engaging, supportive of ESG or inclusive? We’d love to hear about your 2023 events and the challenges and solutions you discover as you move through the year. Click here to download the Winter 2022 Planners Pulse Report and opt-in to future communications to have your opinion included.
Learn how to practice
radical inclusion
Attendees’ feelings of belonging and inclusion at events are critical for positive recommendations and repeat attendance. When was the last time you evaluated your event ecosystem to recognize and remove barriers to enjoyment? Do your events connect with people in ways they are comfortable being involved in?
This guide will help teach you to be radically inclusive. By mindfully evaluating your event ecosystem you can ensure your attendees feel engaged, wanted and included in your event experience.
Download our free guide, Practicing Radical Inclusion, and learn the strategy and benefits of bringing your attendees together in a positive way.
The basic tools, technologies and best practices you need to engage dual remote and in-room audiences.
What are your event essentials?
The tools you need depend on the experience you’re trying to create. All hybrid events will need camera and audio as well as an event platform. Use this chart to identify additional elements you might need.
Basic event technology requirements
Camera and audio: For small, hybrid meetings, most cameras offer integrated audio and speaker solutions. For larger events, you may want an external camera or a broadcast-quality setup. The three main considerations that will help you select the right camera and audio for your event are:
- Connectivity: Will the camera/audio be integrated into a laptop, plugged in via USB, or will it be a broadcast solution connected via SDI or HDMI?
- Field of view (FOV): Do you need a camera that swivels 360 degrees? Or is a static shot with fixed angle of 125 degrees or less sufficient?
Wired internet: Pre-pandemic, wireless internet was the standard, but for broadcast events, you need a wired internet connection.
- Simple wired internet (3 MB) is ideal for 1:1 videoconferencing but not great for webinars.
- Superior wired internet (5 MB) is ideal for webinars, but not great for hybrid conferences.
- Dedicated bandwidth (varies depending on need) is ideal for hybrid conferences and broadcast events but is overkill for 1:1 videoconferences and most webinars.
Additional displays: If your event is a one-way broadcast, then you don’t need to worry about additional in-room displays. But they are phenomenal at increasing engagement between remote and in-room audiences. They help these dual audiences see and talk with each other.
- Traditional tripod screen kits are ideal for educational meetings, standard presentations and large conference rooms. They’re not great for rooms with limited space or interactive sessions.
- Large format monitors are idea for board meetings, rooms with limited space, collaborative sessions and large conference rooms. They are not great for single-focus meetings.
Enterprise videoconferencing tool: When you’re broadcasting content, you need a reliable videoconferencing tool to stream content. Encore offers an enterprise videoconferencing tool through Zoom that guarantees the highest quality stream available. Encore also provides platform solutions and onsite support for technologies such as Chime Go℠, Chime Live℠, Cvent Attendee Hub® and Notified Virtual Event Platform®
Laptop rental: If you want to be able to show up and start your meeting, or if you need to check email and work during breaks, then invest in a rental laptop. For a relatively small investment, it provides huge peace of mind and frees up presenters and planners onsite. Having a dedicated laptop for your event guarantees:
- Properly configured software and broadcast settings
- Full integration with technology services
- Required processing power needed to display rich media content without glitches
Event technology provider: Producing a hybrid event means you’re designing two simultaneous experiences. With one of them being face-to-face and the other existing in digital spaces, this creates additional layers of complexity and potential errors. Partnering with a trusted event technology partner, like Encore, can eliminate human error, turnaround professional-quality events in an abbreviated period, and help you exceed expectations. Contact Encore for a free consultation.
Want to read more about hybrid essential technology? See this content and more in guidebook form by clicking the link below:
How It Works:
Step 1:
Check the boxes for the categories that apply to your event. It isn’t necessary to select all categories.
Step 2:
Using the guidance listed under each category, complete the information requested.
Step 3:
Below the categories you’ll find a summary of the estimated bandwidth by category and the total estimated bandwidth for the event.
Step 4:
Contact an Encore Representative or Ask a Question for further consultation on Event Internet.
Not sure if you need dedicated bandwidth?
Enter Your Event Details:
Discover what’s in store for the
events industry
Want to stay in-the-know with industry trends? Encore knows knowledge is power, which is why we continuously report on how our industry is evolving to help set you up for success. We poll meeting and event professionals across the globe to deliver the latest findings on everything from popular meeting formats and expectations to budgets, planner priorities and more.
Key insights from the Winter 2022 Planner Pulse report include:
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- The need to meet face-to-face will propel in-person events further in 2023
- 62% of planners expect attendee size to grow up to 25%
- Human connection and engagement are the most impactful values for in-person events
- The industry growth we experienced last year will continue despite rising costs
- Six of ten planners will see budget increases this year, driven by food and beverage costs, room rates and transportation needs
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Download your free copy of the full report and infographic for insights that can help give you confidence in planning transformative meeting or events that resonate with today’s audiences.
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Professional Edge Webinar Series Videos
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Register for one or all our interactive and educational webinars that will bring meetings and events industry experts to a screen near you. Earn continuing education hours and sharpen your skills through sessions covering relevant topics like choreograph experiences, industry insights, upcoming meeting trends, and much more.
Once you have registered, simply use your Chime Live login credentials when it’s time to begin.
To Register or log in: click here
Boundless Possibilities for Event Engagement
Access On-Demand Sessions: To Register or log in click here
Date Recorded: June 15th, 2022
As a part of the Hybrid webinar series, the first step to maximizing boundless possibilities for event engagement is to realize that engagement opportunities begin way before the doors open and continue far after the last session ends. In this webinar, you’ll learn pre-show strategies, such as how to create audience engagement with your registration site and marketing campaigns, how to extend excitement and create curiosity from one event to another, prepare your event participants for the upcoming experience, and learn more about who’s coming. You’ll be introduced to inventive ways you can leverage second screens and engagement technology to keep participants engaged during the event, and you’ll also learn about post-show strategies that will improve the desired actions, sustain the momentum, and generate interest, including earned word-of-mouth sharing and recommendations, in your next event.
Learning Outcomes:
- Learn how leveraging advanced technology can increase participant engagement
- Examine different strategies and tactics used to engage in-person and remote attendees
- Discover creative ways to activate and engage participants’ senses (sound, sight, smell and touch) during in-person, hybrid and virtual events
Hybrid Essentials for Small Meetings
Access On-Demand Sessions: To Register or log in click here
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Hybrid essentials
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Driving positive outcomes
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Participant insights and engagement
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Digital solutions & platforms
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Future of events
Date Recorded: April 27th, 2022
In-person meetings are back. But not all meeting participants are. Even in-person meetings need to have a fully integrated and immersive hybrid component. During this 45-minute session, you’ll learn about the most important hybrid tools to make your small meetings more inclusive, why these tools matter, and how they work in real-life room sets. Join us for this free webinar and learn about the most effective ways to transform your hybrid events into something extraordinary.
Learning Outcomes:
- Learn how to best connect in-person and virtual participants
- Understand the different hybrid essentials for small meeting
- Describe how each component enhances the experience for in-person and remote participants
- Identify ways to maximize attendee engagement with hybrid room set-ups
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DIY digital event platforms demystified - In partnership with Cvent®
Access On-Demand Sessions: To Register or log in click here
Date Recorded: February 16th, 2022
According to recent Encore Planner Pulse insights, only half of event organizers surveyed consider the needs and goals of their events prior to selecting a digital platform. Yet, to produce successful events, you need both the right platform and tech team. If you’re struggling to make the connection, this webinar is for you. We’ll examine real-life case studies and solutions that range from do-it-yourself to full-service support so you can elevate your next event experience.
Host:
- Donna Hubley, Vice President, Field Sales
Panelists:
- Karri Hobson-Pape, Executive Director, Organ Donation and Transplantation Alliance
- McNeel Keenan,Vice President of Product, Cvent®
- Andrew Rohland, Project Management, Encore
- Erik Bockelman, Sales Manager Virtual & Hybrid, Encore
- Corey Bryant, Senior Director, Organ Donation and Transplantation Alliance
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Professional Edge 2021 Recorded Sessions
Next Practices: Successful Fundraising & Social Events
Access On-Demand Sessions: To Register or log in click here
Date Recorded: December 1st
Whether you’re a corporation, association or non-profit, now is a great time to think about social events or adding social aspects to your next event. For non-profits, as much as 80 percent of their net operating income may come from a once-a-year event. While for corporations, giving back is a key goal this time of year. Or maybe your organization is looking for ways to recognize and celebrate key contributors to your 2021 success?
Host:
- Donna Hubley, Vice President, Field Sales
Panelists:
- Audee Kochiyama-Holman, Director of Alumni relations, Advancing Justice – Asian Law Caucus
- David Eck, DES Virtual & Hybrid Specialist, Global Sales
- James Hess, Virtual & Hybrid Sales Manager
Related Articles
Post-pandemic meetings and events: What does the future hold?
Planning Complex Events in Times of Uncertainty
Access On-Demand Sessions: To Register or log in click here
Date Recorded: October 13th
Planning a large-scale conference or exhibition is no easy task, even in in ‘normal’ times. But with Covid-19 variants potentially impacting the best laid plans, how can you organize events in smarter ways?
Join our panel of experts from Encore, Intel and Notified as we discuss the process of planning complex events, Virtual & Hybrid event formats, contingency plans, special considerations, exhibitor integration and methods for maximizing sponsorship ROI.
Host:
- Donna Hubley, Vice President, Field Sales
Panelists:
- Jim Huss, Director, Event & Experiences at Intel Corporation
- Tony Lorenz, Global Head of Event Solutions | SVP, Strategy, Notified
- Kaelynn Mahalak, Director Global Sales, Encore
- Alan Gillis Jr., Program Producer, Encore
Related Articles
Notified from Intrado – Virtual Event Platform
Questions you need to ask your key meeting and event stakeholders
Next Practices: Hybrid Event Room Design and Engagement Through Technology
Access On-Demand Sessions: To Register or log in click here
Date Recorded: September 15th
If you’re still designing physical spaces for hybrid experiences the way you did for in-person meetings, you’re wasting money and alienating remote participants. Designing rooms to stream content require adjustments to traditional sound, lighting and equipment set-ups. You also need to tweak how you communicate with speakers and participants pre-event. Learn what these hybrid event “next” best practices are and what new technologies can help you engage and elevate the experience for everyone.
Host:
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- Donna Hubley, Vice President, Field Sales
- Donna Hubley, Vice President, Field Sales
Presenters:
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- Karla Reyes, Senior Sales Manager
- Irina Batchelor, Sales Director
- Damein Futch, Product Manager
- Tommy Kotz, Product Manager
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Creating an Accessible Meeting with Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in Mind
Access On-Demand Sessions: To Register or log in click here
Date Recorded: August 25th
Hybrid drives expanded reach of content and collaboration, diversity and inclusion of attendees, lowering the environmental impact of events and improved accessibility for those with disabilities.
Host:
- Donna Hubley, Vice President, Field Sales
Presenters:
- Samantha Evans, Certification Manager, International Association of Accessibility Professionals (IAAP)
- Kevin McFarlane, Director of Product Development, Concise
- MaryBeth Costello, Vice President Talent, Global Learning & Corporate HR
- Gloria Gonzalez, Sales and Marketing Manager, CSI
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How Choreography Creates Transformative Events
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Date Recorded: July 28th
Planning events can be daunting. With so many details to manage and stakeholders to please, how do you bring clarity and focus into the process? Learn how to strategically plan and deliver Choreographed Event Experiences — and drive positive outcomes for participants, presenters and planners with this approach.
Host:
- Jo Merriman, Client Services Director, Concise Europe
Presenter:
- Doug Kunnath, Client Experience Director, Concise US
Related Article
Why Your Upcoming Event Needs a Plan B (or even Plan C)
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Back-up plan
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Driving positive outcomes
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Participant insights and engagement
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Digital solutions & platforms
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Participant journey
Date Recorded: June 30th
Have you ever lost power, internet, meeting space, presenter content, etc. during your meeting? You’re not the only one who’s had mishaps. Learn about challenges your peers have experienced in planning and executing events and how they were addressed successfully.
Host:
- Donna Hubley, Vice President, Field Sales
Presenters:
- Alex Wedesky, Field Operations Manager, Internet Services
- Derek L. Coleman, Vice President, Power Distribution Services, Design and Integration
- Brandon Goodman, Senior Director, Project Management, Encore
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Plan Your Meetings with a Purpose
Planner Tips: Event Strategy and Design for Hybrid Meetings
Hybrid Help – Ask the Experts
Access On-Demand Sessions: To Register or log in click here
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Hybrid essentials
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Driving positive outcomes
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Participant insights and engagement
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Digital solutions & platforms
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Future of events
Date Recorded: April 28th
It’s the ultimate AMA session! Ask the experts and get a recap of the most commonly-asked questions from the entire How-to-Hybrid series. This is a great session if you’re having trouble identifying how the drivers work in concert with one another. Don’t miss your opportunity to talk to our panel of experts, each a specialist in their respective subject area:
- Environment
- Experience
- Engagement
- Connectivity
- Content
- Production
PRESENTERS:
- Matthew Johnsen, Vice President, Product Management
- Robert Parrish, Vice President, Field Sales
Related Articles
The Art of Planning – Building an Effective Event Strategy
Access On-Demand Sessions: To Register or log in click here
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Hybrid essentials
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Driving positive outcomes
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Participant insights and engagement
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Transformative experience
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Event design
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Future of events
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Complex event planning
Date Recorded: February 17th
Using proven methods and a creative mindset, Tara Higgins, walks you through event strategy and design – specific to hybrid events. As the first course in our How-to-Hybrid series, Tara shares ways to develop a deeper understanding of your audience and then transform those insights into a creative, enriching in-person and online experience. Learn how to set event benchmarks that yield success, and learn how to develop hybrid engagement strategies to meet them.
PRESENTERS:
- Tara Higgins, Senior Vice President, Commercial and President, Hargrove
- Jim Huss, Director, Event & Experiences at Intel Corporation
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How to Hybrid 101
Access On-Demand Sessions: To Register or log in click here
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Hybrid essentials
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Driving positive outcomes
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Participant insights and engagement
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Maximizing ROI
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Participant Journey
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Event formats
Date Recorded: March 3rd
Class is in session! John Rissi, and Debra Mategrano, dissect the anatomy of a successful hybrid event. By breaking down its components, John shows you how to take any event and adapt it into a worthwhile hybrid experience. Learn how these 6 Key Drivers – environment, experience, engagement, connectivity, content, and production – support every participant’s objectives. Learn how the key drivers are able to scale for a variety of meeting and event types and find out how they all work together to create an unforgettable hybrid experience.
PRESENTERS:
- John Rissi, Senior Vice President, Customer and Industry Relations
- Debra Mategrano, Regional Sales Director, Field Sales
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A Meeting Environment to Suit Every Hybrid Experience
Access On-Demand Sessions: To Register or log in click here
Date Recorded: March 17th
Brian Johnston, guides you through the moment it’s time to select a meeting environment for your hybrid event. Learn how your event environment influences the delivery of your content and supports both the in-person and remote participant experience. Pick up tips for optimizing your hybrid event space and create an environment built for learning, multiple presentations, and keeping the focus of your in-person and remote attendees.
PRESENTERS:
- Brian Johnston, National Director, Creative Innovation
- Zoila M. Rivera, CMP, Regional Sales Director
- Joe Pasterkiewicz, Regional Vice President, Venues
Related Articles
3 Tips for a Versatile Hybrid Event Environment
Design a Hybrid Event for Every Participant
ProEDge Special Edition - Women in Business: Cause, Effect & the Future
Access On-Demand Sessions: To Register or log in click here
Date Recorded: March 29th
In honor of Women’s History Month, we take a deeper dive into a case study with Women’s Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC), a leading non-profit organization dedicated to helping women-owned businesses thrive. Join us for this compelling session with WBENC’s Sr. Vice President of Marketing, Pat Birmingham joined by our very own Tara Higgins, Senior Vice President, Commercial, Encore & President, Hargrove. Learn how the pandemic has affected women owned businesses. As part of the discussion they will focus of the future of events, and how WBENC reimagined a format to continue to support the growth and revitalization of women owned business and how as a community we continue to support women in the events industry.
Key Takeaways:
- Learn how WBENC have changed their approach to events in order to get critical content to their community
- How female entrepreneurs and careers in general have been impacted through COVID
- How WBENC are thinking about event planning for their events in the future
PRESENTERS:
- Tara Higgins, Senior Vice President, Commercial, Encore & President, Hargrove
- Pat Birmingham, Senior Vice President, Marketing & Technology, Women’s Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC)
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Ready to get more done, save time, and reach your hybrid event goals quicker?
As a supplement to the Hybrid Event Handbook, this dynamic Hybrid+ Event Checklist is a planning tool that will help you ensure you’ve covered all of the components you need to consider for a Hybrid event of any size.
Check off safety measures, recording capture, data analytics and more through our checklist which is broken out into these 6 key drivers:
- Environment
- Experience
- Engagement
- Connectivity
- Content
- Production
Keep your event plans on track by downloading our dynamic planning tool Today!
6 Key Drivers
“There are more ways to join audiences and presenters across multiple venues and locations.
And there are more ways to use technology – both traditional audiovisual and cloud solutions – to enhance your brand or association, engage your participants, and collect data that offers new insights into the event experience.”
Environment
Experience
Engagement
Connectivity
Content
Production
Related Planner Tools
Do you have the right infrastructure, bandwidth, and support for your next Hybrid event?
As a supplement to the Hybrid Event Handbook, this dynamic Hybrid Event Internet Connectivity Checklist is a planning tool that will help you assess the capabilities of your event location.
Determine your network needs around bandwidth delivery and overall network capability. Consider the value of:
- Network data
- Back-up solutions
- Clear dedicated connection
- Dedicated and knowledgeable support
- And more
Download our must-have dynamic planning tool Today!
6 Key Drivers
“There are more ways to join audiences and presenters across multiple venues and locations.
And there are more ways to use technology – both traditional audiovisual and cloud solutions – to enhance your brand or association, engage your participants, and collect data that offers new insights into the event experience.”
Environment
Experience
Engagement
Connectivity
Content
Production