There was a time – pre-Covid-19 – when events were exclusively face-to-face occasions. However, with the advent of Covid-19, many had to pivot to a remote or hybrid format to minimise health risks.
With many businesses seeing the increased benefits of remote and hybrid working and opting to embrace it more, some event organisers were still hopeful that the tried-and-tested, in-person model would make a glorious comeback and online events would be a thing of the past.
However, many event organisers have adopted fully remote events after seeing some incredible advantages and opportunities of virtual hosting. While several organisers have successfully re-introduced in-person events, others have found that a hybrid approach allows for the best of both experiences. In fact, the virtual event market is experiencing such a boom that it’s predicted to reach a valuation of $360 billion by 2027.
Rather than explicitly returning to the way things were pre-Covid and with greater understanding of the pros and cons of virtual events, hybrid events offer the best of both worlds. A hybrid event offers the chance to build more flexible, future-ready occasions that thrive in times of uncertainty. This article will explore some of the key benefits of adapting to a hybrid event model and why it could ultimately be worth your consideration.
Why Have Hybrid Conferences or Events Become So Popular?
Hybrid conferences, seminars and meetings successfully leverage technology to offer memorable and inclusive experiences for all attendees regardless of their location or circumstances. When technology is utilised correctly, it can help enhance audience engagement, reduce costs, and provide an immersive experience.
As notable examples have shown, many hybrid events have stood the test of time while the world was adapting to the pandemic, and have only grown in popularity since then. Organisers have seen successful examples of hybrid events that have achieved great results and drawn high attendance numbers. While hybrid events have to undoubtedly be measured and approached differently than exclusively face-to-face events, the hybrid model allows for plenty of interactivity, learning and seamless transitions between physical and virtual elements. Attendees can reap the benefits of both in-person interactions and global connectivity.
Hybrid has proven to be a reassuring and scalable environment for event organisers that want to bring professionals together despite limitations imposed by travel restrictions, geographical borders, time differences, and health policies. Many events can materialise as hybrid models and thus, they could be an integral idea for any forward-thinking event planning and organisation firm, if not already embraced.
What Types of Events Can Be Hybrid?
These are just some of the event types that could be fused to incorporate in-person and virtual components. Others include award ceremonies, product launches, roundtables, fundraisers, and many more.
3 Main Benefits of Choosing a Hybrid Event or Conference
What makes a hybrid event unique is the ways in which it can engage its audience through the effective and innovative use of technology. Provided that the event is capable of delivering a consistent and memorable experience for attendees, it will likely result in several benefits. Some of the most inherent benefits are outlined below.
1. Increased Attendance and Audience Reach
Hybrid events extend the attendance possibilities to those unable to attend in person, and vice versa. There is a misconception that attendees must take part either virtual or in person and not both, but this is not the case; attendees can join in whichever way is most convenient for them.
Most events with hybrid or virtual attendance facilities are not restricted by the number of attendees who can join, whereas in-person events can only accommodate a certain amount. What’s more, hybrid events allow individuals with health conditions, budget constraints, demanding schedules or accessibility issues to attend.
2. Enhanced Engagement
Thanks to event technology, virtual and remote attendees can engage and participate in discussions, submit questions and comment on content in the same way as they would in person.
Many people thrive on the energy, buzz and physical interactions between attendees at face-to-face events, while others prefer virtual events due to the added convenience. Hybrid events offer the best of both worlds, including a mixture of on-site and virtual networking events and interactions.
If attendees can gather in a closed space, they tend to be more present and engaged, leading to a more enriching and rewarding experience of the talks, presentations and demonstrations.
3. Cost Efficient
Producing a hybrid event has associated costs of technology integration and planning. However, the upfront costs of booking a venue, catering, arranging exhibitor fees, and other investments are usually substantially reduced.
The greater reach and scalability of hybrid events attract more promotional opportunities from sponsors, to the point where they can significantly boost turnover. By scaling down in-person activities and enhancing the digital presence, event organisers can make considerable cost savings.
This cost-efficiency and flexibility is reassuring for organisers, particularly if last-minute or unexpected changes force them to rethink the structure or timings of events. By offering a hybrid option from the start, organisers can guarantee some form of tangible return on investment, even if that’s with a predominantly digital audience.
Important Considerations for Hybrid Events
While hybrid events provide significant benefits, they also require careful planning to address challenges with logistics, technology and the attendee experience.
Some key considerations include:
It’s clear to see that hybrid conferences and events can successfully leverage technology to provide memorable and positive experiences for attendees regardless of their location. Event organisers can adopt this approach going forward with confidence and peace of mind knowing that, if executed correctly, hybrid events can withstand all types of uncertainty and disruption, and thrive.