Solving the hybrid dilemma
A false start and the hunt for a new venue didn ’ t stop Cvent showcasing what ’ s possible with its virtual event platform in a hybrid format
Earlier this year , Cvent faced a dilemma when it was forced to reconsider staging a pilot hybrid event around International Confex after the ExCeL London-based exhibition was postponed due to prolonged government Covid- 19 restrictions .
At the time , Cvent concluded that delegates will only feel confident of attending the in-person elements of conferences and education sessions once they ’ ve seen how industry leaders can guarantee the staging of safe , live , accessible and engaging hybrid events .
So , with the help of The May Fair , owned by Edwardian Hotels London , and production partner Pixl , part of Entertainment Technology Partners ( ETP ), Cvent hot-footed it across town to one of the capital ’ s largest private screening rooms and put the May Fair Theatre ’ s eight-metre screen , high-definition projection systems , and THX quality spectacular sound through their paces .
Having found a new venue with the requisite technology infrastructure to successfully showcase a hybrid event format , Cvent staged The Hybrid Dilemma : when virtual meets reality in July .
The result saw 500-registered attendees online and 30 guests in the room , experience 90-minutes of informed discussion on the challenges and opportunities for planning and staging hybrid events .
Moderated by Cvent ’ s senior marketing manager Europe , Felicia Asiedu , speakers included ETP ’ s president Europe , Paul Hutton , Edwardian Hotels London group AV and technical systems director , Kathryn Soave and Cvent ’ s event manager for the day , Sabrina DeRizzio-Willis who all spoke about staging the event and the challenges
THE RESULT SAW 500-REGISTERED ATTENDEES ONLINE AND 30 GUESTS IN THE ROOM , EXPERIENCE 90-MINUTES OF INFORMED DISCUSSION ON THE CHALLENGES AND OPPORTU- NITIES FOR PLANNING AND STAGING HYBRID EVENTS .