Meeting Professionals International (MPI) recently held their annual World Education Conference at the Gaylord Texan in Dallas, TX, with the theme of “Reunite for Recovery.” MPI has been a leader in the safe return to meetings and used their research to create a hybrid event that had over 600 in-person attendees and over 1,000 digital attendees from 17 countries around the world. The WEC event was a culmination of best practices developed over the last few months to create a safe meeting space for in-person attendees while creating a meaningful experience for digital attendees.
During the World Education Conference, attendees were monitored by on-site physicians and daily health checks, including temperature checks and some rapid-response COVID-19 testing when deemed appropriate. Social distancing was maintained throughout the event and Food and Beverage services looked a bit different than usual with pre-packaged meals and beverages. Attendees still had opportunities to network and conduct meetings using tables with plexiglass dividers. In all, the meeting reviews showed a positive experience for attendees and provided insight into what is possible.
TRG understands the importance of connection and the value of in-person meetings to build relationships, share company values, honor, and recognize individual achievements, and facilitate networking. We are keeping a close eye on best practices as we work with our clients to return to live events. We are committed to creating a safe environment for attendees as well as our crew.
Exciting news regarding vaccines has everyone excited for possibilities while knowing that safety protocols will still be an important aspect of safe returns to live events well into 2021. TRG has been developing our own protocols as we make our plans. From room diagrams to allow more space for each attendee and wider aisles to allow safer traffic flows, to facemasks and hand sanitizer for all crew members.
For some, a hybrid event may be the first step towards a return to safe meetings. In a hybrid event, presenters can be live in-person, live from a remote location, or pre-recorded and presented on screen. Similarly, a hybrid event can have one or multiple live, in-person locations that allow smaller groups of attendees to gather and participate in the same event. Each location can be connected via an internet connection and shared on screen. Additional attendees may also have an option to view the entire event via a streaming platform from their home or office.
TRG is committed to helping our clients create incredible experiences for all attendees, whether live, virtual, or hybrid. We are equally committed to creating a safe environment for everyone, from attendees to presenters and crew. Let’s create the meeting you’ve been waiting for!