Digital Event Benchmark Report Reveals Online Event Attendance Increase
May 1, 2013
Released last month, the Digital Event Benchmark Report, conducted by Virtual Edge Institute (VEI) and commissioned by Freeman, gives insight into how some organizations are using online events to reach their audiences.
The study included a cross-section of the event industry with representation from associations, corporate event planners, trade show organizers, conference producers and agencies, with more than 200 survey participants.
Just under 80 percent of survey participants produce physical events, with 70 percent of those respondents also producing online events. More than half of respondents with in-person events report that those events have fewer than 2,000 attendees.
Two-thirds of the survey participants reported online attendance is up this year and slightly less than 10 percent reported online attendance being down. To give you an idea of the attendance numbers, just more than half of all respondents said their online event attendance was less than 500 attendees.
The majority of respondents reported the average length of time attendees spent at an online event was between one and two hours. However, the report does not define or break down the type of online event.
When it comes to business objectives, the report highlighted a potential area of growth for online events.
Only 49 percent of survey respondents indicated a goal of providing additional value to physical event attendees.
A previous survey by VEI, Professional Convention Managers Association (PCMA) and UBM Studios reported that 80 percent of attendees would use access to content after the event as justification to attend physically.
Respondents reported the most successful efforts to monetize events were overall event sponsorships, advertising and sponsorships tied to in-person event sponsorships. Online booths were the least successful.
Another interesting finding in the report was that a majority of respondents said they did not charge for online event content. In that same previous VEI survey, more than two-thirds of potential attendees said they would be willing to pay for live/on-demand content.
Perhaps the most interesting information to come out of this survey was the fact that one-third of the respondents said they did not have an ongoing marketing program to get exposure to the content captured during their event for later on-demand viewing.
Virtual Edge Institute is an international organization dedicated to advancing engagement around events, meetings, learning and marketing programs through technology. VEI supports and contributes to research, education, thought leadership, promotion, and professional networking.
Partner Voices
MGM Resorts is committed to fostering an inclusive and diverse culture, not just among employees and guests but also within its supply chain. The company prioritizes procuring goods and services from businesses owned by minorities, women, veterans, people with disabilities, LGBTQ individuals and those facing economic disadvantages. This commitment is integral to MGM Resorts' global procurement strategy.
Through its voluntary supplier diversity program, MGM Resorts actively identifies and connects certified diverse-owned suppliers to opportunities within its supply chain. The company is on track to spend at least 15% of its biddable procurement with diverse-owned businesses by 2025, demonstrating that supplier diversity is not only a social responsibility but also a strategic business imperative.
Supplier diversity isn’t just the right thing to do – it’s good for business. A diverse supply chain allows access to a broader range of perspectives and experience, helping to drive innovation, entrepreneurship and resilience, while strengthening communities. At MGM Resorts, engaging diverse suppliers ensures best-in-class experiences for guests and clients. Supplier diversity ensures a more resilient supply chain while supporting economic development in the communities in which it operates.
The impact of MGM Resorts' supplier diversity initiatives is significant. In 2023, these efforts supported over 3,500 jobs across more than 30 states, contributed over $214 million in income for diverse-owned businesses and generated more than $62 million in tax revenue. The story extends beyond the numbers – it reflects the tangible benefits brought to small and diverse-owned businesses, fostering economic empowerment in their communities.
MGM Resorts also supports the development and business skills of diverse-owned businesses through investment, mentorship and education. Through the MGM Resorts Supplier Diversity Mentorship Program, the company identifies, mentors and develops diverse-owned businesses to fill its future pipeline, while providing businesses with tools and resources to empower and uplift. Since 2017, the program has successfully graduated 105 diverse-owned businesses and is on track to achieve its goal of 150 graduates by 2025.
MGM Resorts’ commitment to supplier diversity not only enhances its business operations but also plays a crucial role in uplifting communities and fostering economic development. This approach reinforces the idea that diversity is a powerful driver of innovation and resilience, benefiting both the company and the wider community.
Add new comment