Experience Kissimmee Senior Director of Meeting Sales and Services Michelle Moore couldn’t believe her ears at a recent meeting at the Gaylord Palms Resort and Convention Center
Michelle Mason, a champion of associations for more than 20 years, has been named new president and CEO of ASAE, the organization’s board of directors announced on Tuesday. Mason, who assumes her position on September 1, succeeds Susan Robertson.
A large majority of events will have a blend of digital and in-person elements this year. Many event professionals expect this to be the case going forward. After that, there is a mix — or dare we say “hybrid?” — of opinions, confusion and certainty, according to a recent Swapcard survey studying hybrid events.
The biggest takeaway is that three-quarters of the 364 respondents say they are planning to have virtual components of their program, but 30% don’t know how to define hybrid events.
With things looking more optimistic for a return to in-person interactions in 2021, it’s natural to wonder what will happen with large gatherings and events. Companies were forced to move online in 2020, which disrupted their existing in-person event marketing strategies. It might be difficult to imagine “returning to normal” at this time, but plenty of people are ready to get out of their houses and do something different.
As the industry continues its gradual progress toward a full recovery, event organizations, destinations and venues are inking new deals and extending existing relationships as they gear up for an acceleration in business. Take a look:
Like much of the events industry, Denzil Rankine, executive chairman of AMR International, will have his eyes on World of Concrete
Heather Russell is the Event Operations Director at Seven Events Ltd, a leading online event platform offering corporate event management and venue finding services in the UK. She has been with the company since its formation, helping to build and lead our fantastic team ever since.
Fittingly, World of Concrete in Las Vegas will signal the return of trade shows as we know them. After all, the event organizers are looking to build a foundation of safety measures and business development in executing trade shows that remind the world of just how valuable meeting in-person can be.
With a return to normalcy in sight, event organizers can finally look forward to reopening venue doors and welcoming delegates in-person, but even as restrictions ease, venues are unlikely to be able to safely cater for an audience at full capacity. This is why when planning upcoming events, it is crucial to include both physical and virtual elements in the form of a hybrid event.
The growth of the Chinese trade show market is imminent and could mean big things for the global exhibitions industry. That is among the key takeaways from the comprehensive Global Industry Performance Review, which is now available for order.
