Watch: Global Roundtable on Running Virtual Events

Hear advice from four major event producers and planners on making the pivot to virtual events for now, and how that may affect the industry moving ahead.

As we enter month two with real-world experiences on hold, digital events are quickly picking up steam. This panel convened a group of leaders from the corporate and agency world to discuss what virtual events can do for this summer, and whether this pandemic triggers a more lasting shift into the digital realm.Special thanks to the panelists for their contributions: Issa Jouaneh, Danielle Wright, Russ Lidstone, and Ana Foley.Hosted by David Becker (Co-Founder & CEO, zkipster), with support from The World's Best Events.

Some key takeaways from the panel are:

• There are a lot of myths around virtual meetings, people think they are dull and dusty, lack engagement, but it is more than possible to create an engaging meeting or event online
• Virtual and live events are in a symbiotic relationship and we will see more hybrid events, a mix of virtual and in-real-life gatherings, emerge in the near future
• Don’t let the technology get in the way of the content and the actual objective of the event
• It's important to think about the user journey and the delegate experience first, and then think about the technology - not the other way around
• There is no one-size fits all technology solution for virtual events, it depends on budget, objectives, type of events
• It's about technique rather than tools. We need to create content that fits the objectives, letting the technology facilitate the content rather than the other way around
• Event professionals don’t need to become technologists to run virtual events, but they need to become more knowledgeable about options
• There is a huge opportunity for augmented and virtual reality, it will most likely work for a high-end product launches and one-off events with larger budgets
• There are a variety of costs for different tech approaches – companies that specialize in this space can provide a menu of options
• Vicarious interaction through peer to peer or the use of influencers are just one of the ways you can bring a product launch to life virtually
• The key to virtual events is getting the content is right and starting from there but it’s so important to make sure a virtual event is two way - enabling people to participate
• Micro content is essential for an online audience as people don’t have bandwidth for longer format
• Now is the time to explore and experiment and look at the strategy on short- and long term and understand how to differentiate your offering
• We have a bit of room to experiment with technology until privacy and security demands will come front and center again
• This is the chance for the events space to become better at ROI measurement, if we are disciplined in implementing technology in a strategic way
• Our industry will always bring value, events are here to stay, and the growth with come back

Looking for more resources on how to navigate the current challenges of the event industry? Read our primer co-produced with J.B. Miller and Empire Entertainment on the 4 best virtual event formats for special events, or watch our last webinar on overcoming adversity.

Panelists

Issa Jouaneh | Toronto

‍Founder of Jouaneh Ventures Incorporated, launching new ventures and supporting M&A in the MICE and Travel industries. Prior to that, Issa was the SVP & GM, leading American Express Meetings & Events globally. Over ten years, Issa led the transformation of the business, tripling in size and reaching over 2100 employees in 25+ proprietary markets.

Danielle Wright | NYC

‍The Executive Director of Events & Meetings at KPMG US, Danielle is an industry veteran for events across the financial, legal, and non-profit domains. At KPMG, she provides overall leadership and strategic direction to more than 100 events and business professionals. Read more about Danielle

Russ Lidstone  |  London

‍Russ is Group CEO of The Creative Engagement Group, a group of five agencies - WRG, The Moment, Just Communicate, Axiom and Forty1. Starting his career at Coca-Cola, Russ spent much of his career in advertising as CEO of Havas Worldwide and Head of Strategy at a number of agencies including Lowe and JWT.

Ana Foley | NYC

‍Founder & CMO at Check Check Productions based in Brooklyn, Ana is a creative producer with an eye for the technical details that make an event a truly memorable experience. Working in events her entire life, she has created live experiences for Google, Toyota, JTI, Vogue, Carlsberg Group, Bentley, and many more. Read more about Ana