Lessons learned to date and technologies used.
DALLAS – The Center for Exhibition Industry Research (CEIR) released the second report in its three-part Global Virtual Event Trends series, sponsored by Swapcard, providing new, hotly sought-after details on virtual events. This global study provides insights among organizations that traditionally run or manage in-person business-to-business (B2B) exhibitions. Report Two – Lessons Learned To Date and Technologies Used synthesizes open-ended comments shared by executives on lessons learned and technology to run their virtual events.
The historic pandemic created another rare phenomenon: the emergence of a new marketplace that appeared almost overnight like a volcanic eruption. When COVID-19 brought the industry to a screeching halt, B2B exhibition organizers who were forced to cancel in-person events flipped to offering events online. It has been a mad dash to secure services to make these events happen, with many market entrants responding and offering virtual event services. This report uncovers a crowded market of virtual event providers – over 100 vendors – vying for this high demand market.
Given the precipitous ‘pivot’ to virtual events, organizers were forced to launch events and ‘learn by doing.’ Report Two – Lessons Learned To Date and Technologies Used synthesizes and summarizes these key learnings. The executive summary provides a check list of recommendations based on the primary key learnings shared by executives.
“I am in awe of B2B exhibition organizers who took on the challenge and made virtual events a reality to serve their communities during this time of crisis,” said CEIR Vice President of Research Nancy Drapeau, PRC. “I thank them for generously sharing their insights on what worked well and where they believe improvements are needed moving forward. This report offers peer learnings for executives searching for a resource for planning or to compare their notes on what worked well or not for their events.”
“CEIR is appreciative of the collaboration and generous support from over a dozen other associations that have made this research possible for the global B2B exhibitions industry,” added CEIR CEO Cathy Breden, CMP, CAE, CEM. “We thank them for enabling us to provide the industry with insights based on objective, unbiased research that will help our stakeholders understand and successfully respond to these trends.”
Through the generous financial support from Swapcard, CEIR’s Global Virtual Event Trends series reports are available to the industry at no cost from CEIR’s website.
“Swapcard is proud to have sponsored this survey,” commented Swapcard CEO and Co-Founder Baptiste Boulard. “We sponsored the research because we believe in industry-wide collaboration to keep lifting each other up, learning and growing together. We hope that this study allows B2B exhibition organizers to understand the value that virtual events can bring to the table and that they need to become data-driven if they want to succeed in today's changing world of events. We at Swapcard have certainly embraced the best of technology to keep optimizing events for our clients and it's paying off.”
Vicky is the co-founder of TravelDailyNews Media Network where she is the Editor-in Chief. She is also responsible for the daily operation and the financial policy. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Tourism Business Administration from the Technical University of Athens and a Master in Business Administration (MBA) from the University of Wales.
She has many years of both academic and industrial experience within the travel industry. She has written/edited numerous articles in various tourism magazines.
