Event planners increasingly expect hybrid events to be more common in future and fewer think that the popularity is temporary, according to a new etc.venues survey.
73 per cent of event planners now think hybrid events will continue to be more common in the future, up from 67 per cent when asked in May. While those who think this is just a temporary trend have gone down accordingly by 6 per cent.
However, 88 per cent of survey respondents said the quality of face-to-face meetings is irreplaceable. This figure is up 10 per cent from 77 per cent when respondents were last surveyed in May 2020.
Adam Simpson, director of marketing and sales in the US, said: “To quantify how these trends have continued to develop since May when we thought the barriers to meeting face-to-face were only temporary is fascinating and very helpful. As we go into another period of lockdown it will be interesting to see if this appetite continues to grow.”
The survey also revealed that fully virtual meetings and events will be prominent in 2021, with nearly half of respondents (45 per cent) expecting virtual meetings and events to be broadcast via Zoom from home.
Only 20 per cent said they expected virtual meeting and events to be broadcast from a professional studio and 35 per cent said from an office using video conferencing software.
“As a hybrid and virtual events are increasingly established alongside live events, event planners are keen to refine and enhance the quality of presentation and the virtual audiences’ experience,” Simpson added.
A desire to travel led Holly Patrick to the business meetings and events world and she’s never looked back. Holly takes a particular interest in event sustainability and creating a diverse and inclusive industry. When she’s not working, she can be found rolling skating along Brighton seafront listening to an eclectic playlist, featuring the likes of Patti Smith, Sean Paul, and Arooj Aftab.
