In a short time we have gone from being overwhelmed by endless online meetings and events, to not being able to fit the many face-to-face events into our calendar. What will your next event look like?
After being submerged in non-stop online meetings and events, we now struggle to find time to attend so many face-to-face events.
With the good weather and the “desire to see each other again”, the kick-off, the town hall and the summer cocktails compete for our time with drinks, catch ups, lunches and activities with the kids.
In addition we have inaugurations, official events, conferences and many other meetings that we must, can or want to attend, although not as much as we would like to.
Say it to my face
Our eagerness to meet again, to “take ourselves offline”, and to “put on a face to a name”, has been so great that now eight out of 10 events are face-to-face.
Says the American Express 2022 Global Meetings and Events Forecast report.
Add to this that almost half of these events now have a hybrid format: one that allows guests to attend in person or connect from anywhere, sometimes at any time and with any footwear you have at hand.
Prove it to me
“Regardless of the format, the show must go on,” explains Gemma Cuevas, who joined iPg in 2021 after years of career in the sector. “No two events are the same, not even when we repeat the same streaming in two time slots to cover all time zones.”
In these two years, iPg has responded with creativity, speed and quality to a demand for events never seen before.
In 2022, we have organized with our clients more than 65 face-to-face events throughout the country, as well as 12 international online events. In one of them, which takes place every quarter, we exceeded 16,000 attendees.
What do you prefer?
What is the best format for an event you need to organize?
And what about the event you’ve been invited to? will you attend in person, online, or will you sign up just to watch the recording later?
Amongst our clients, we have those in favor and against. The most adequate formula depends on the scope you are looking for and the reason for your event, whether you are acting as an organizer or as a guest.
In our experience, each model brings unique benefits:
| Online | Face to face |
| Comfort: it makes life easier for those who are short of time… or pants. Scalability: unlimited speakers, participants, countries and languages. The screen is your only frontier. Control: pre-recorded content, remote screen control as well as other extra functions. Streamline: simplified roles, agile teams and reduced space, production and catering needs. Sustainability: carbon footprint distributed among all attendees! Intelligence: data, metrics and analytics available before, during and after the event. | Contact: closeness and personal touch. Although still not to close. Uniqueness: creativity, custom staging, spaces and other opportunities to make yourself stand out. Communication: engagement enhanced by non-verbal language without anyone telling you that you are muted. Attention: attendees have fewer distractions, but remember not to delay the drinks after too much. Visibility: attracts sponsors, journalists and other high profile people. Fun: breaks give you the opportunity to network, socialize and have a snack |
Now is your turn
What about you? As a guest or an organizer, do you prefer online or face-to-face events?
Please let us know by voting here.
