Adam Riggs
Adam Riggs is founder and CEO of Frameable, a suite of remote-first digital experiences, including its fully customizable virtual and hybrid event platform, Social hour.
Five Must-Haves for Virtual and Hybrid Event Success
October 12, 2021
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.
Additionally, in-person event attendees will expect more from conference apps than just being a prompt for the room where their next session will be held. They’ll want the event technology to help them give speakers real-time feedback, contribute to live polling, and even matchmake to pair them up with mentors and new contacts.
After supporting all sorts of virtual events—from major industry conferences to massive alumni events for universities and even weddings, Social hour has learned that improving the experience is based on five major elements:
- Limited number of participants based on size of room. A memorable conversation is always balanced and spirited, and to achieve this, the size of the group needs to be limited, allowing a conversation to flow naturally.
- An equitable talk-to-listen ratio to help avoid listening fatigue. You can make the talk-to-listen ratio better through smaller, more focused rooms and the use of analytics. It’s ideal to provide speaker stats, so that everyone in a room can see how long they’ve been speaking relative to their peers. This promotes social accountability and awareness for a more mutually engaging conversation.
- Attendee choice. Allowing attendees to choose how to navigate the virtual space and take breaks at their leisure gives them more energy and keeps them engaged.
- Metrics and analytics. Data should be used to make virtual events better and more engaging over time. This includes surveying attendees before, during and after your event.
- Engagement. When we think about what makes hybrid events successful, it’s essential for event planners to focus on the virtual aspect as much as the in-person experience. If you try to bolt a virtual event onto the in-person event, the virtual attendees will typically get the short end of the stick and suffer through a bad experience. If you are planning a virtual conference or trade show, consider how you can use technology to re-create the in-person experiences that attendees find the most valuable (i.e., meeting and engaging with other people). Be sure you enable virtual attendees to interact with speakers, network with industry vendors and engage with industry colleagues.
In the end, a virtual or hybrid event that is designed around human connection above all else will be the most successful. Rather than hours of video that attendees passively consume, it must be inspiring, thoughtfully designed and at least partially interactive for everyone involved. No one goes to in-person events just for the content. They go for the human connection.
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Partner Voices
MGM Resorts is renowned for its exceptional service and diverse venue options across Las Vegas, Detroit, Springfield, National Harbor, Biloxi, and Atlantic City, providing flexible spaces for meetings of any size. Beyond these offerings, MGM Resorts distinguishes itself through a strong commitment to social responsibility and sustainability, making it an ideal choice for your next meeting.
At the core of MGM Resorts' company values is its platform, "Focused on What Matters," dedicated to meeting customer needs while advancing socially responsible practices. This commitment is evident in several key areas:
Protecting Natural Resources
MGM Resorts is home to industry-leading recycling, renewable electricity and water conservation programs. Some highlights include a cogeneration power plant at ARIA, producing ultra-efficient electricity; one of America’s largest contiguous rooftop solar arrays atop the convention center at Mandalay Bay; and onsite wells that provide water for the celebrated Fountains of Bellagio, avoiding reliance on precious Colorado River water. These efforts and many more save on natural resources while boosting attendee satisfaction.
Committed to Community
Always striving to be good neighbors, MGM Resorts works to avoid food waste and combat food insecurity with the Feeding Forward program. In partnership with local food banks, they safely divert unserved food to food insecure members of the community. Since 2016, over 5 million meals have been provided, highlighting MGM Resorts' commitment to minimizing food waste and addressing community needs.
MGM Resorts supports clients in their responsible-meetings efforts, not only with efficient venues but also waste-reducing décor and signage; sustainable food and beverage options; and outreach to help planners communicate sustainability efforts to attendees. What’s more, they offer a Mindful Meetings series that puts attendee wellness first—through fitness and mindfulness activities, and in give-back events with local charity organizations.
Fostering Diversity & Inclusion
To MGM Resorts, a diverse and talented workforce is essential to success. By cultivating innovative strategies that consider multiple perspectives and viewpoints, the company creates an inclusive workplace culture that benefits its employees and community. MGM Resorts takes pride in being a welcoming home for veterans, individuals with disabilities, people from diverse backgrounds, LGBTQ+ community members, and more. This commitment to inclusion is reflected in the company's recruitment and hiring practices and its social responsibility initiatives. From the workplace to the community, MGM Resorts' commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion remains unwavering, and its efforts continue to create a more equitable and sustainable world for all.
MGM Resorts offers unparalleled service and venue options while standing out for its proactive approach to sustainability and community engagement. Choosing MGM Resorts for your next meeting means aligning with a company that values social responsibility, efficiency, and attendee satisfaction, ensuring a meaningful and impactful event experience.
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