4 Recently Launched Customizable Virtual Event Platforms Event Pros Should Know

October 21, 2020

In the continuing evolution of virtual and hybrid events, the role of digital technology used to host those events has continued to evolve as well. To help sort through some of the new technology designed to aid organizers as they plan their virtual and hybrid meetings, here are four recently launched virtual event platforms.

e-Attend Virtual Experience

Denver-based event services company Image Audiovisuals has added a virtual event platform to its e-Attend technology. The new e-Attend Virtual Experience links broadcast-quality production, recording and live streaming services with virtual-event technology. 

The fully customizable platform was developed in-house and based on customer feedback and user groups. It includes features such as a virtual lobby, auditorium, meeting rooms, hospitality suites, networking lounge, expo lobby, exhibit hall and exhibitor booths. Also included are options for registration and e-commerce, sponsor impressions, personalized conference schedules with attendee push notifications, detailed analytics, API integrations and chat functions plus technical support before, during and after each event.  

EZY Virtual Events

Representation Plus, a London-based public relations and marketing agency, has launched EZY Virtual Events. The platform was unveiled at a virtual networking event the company created for the Association of National Tourist Offices and Representatives that featured EZY’s virtual exhibitor stands, rooms for meetings and press conferences, BYO Cafe for casual chats, auditorium for speeches and help desk. 

The new platform features customization that allows exhibitors, hosts and sponsors to supply their own branding and style. It also allows attendees to interact with multiple hosts, speakers or exhibitors, and encourages engagement through embedded quizzes and speed dating formats. A technical support team is available to answer questions whenever they arise and post-event analytics report on what audiences found interesting, where they visited and what they viewed and downloaded.

IACC MultiPOD Meetings

Merging in-person with virtual, the new IACC MultiPOD Meetings brings gatherings held at IACC-certified venues together. The launch of the program follows months of research by the association to develop a framework that would allow its member venues to stage geographically diverse meetings that are interconnected through technology platforms and collaborative venue solutions. 

Partnering with PSAV and Electro-Media Design, IACC developed a specification document and venue pledge for the 400 IACC-certified venues in 25 countries wishing to host MultiPOD meetings. Venues then receive training and consultancy for both MultiPOD and hybrid meetings. Each venue also commits to having in place MultiPOD knowledgeable staff and the ability to collaborate with other venue, AV and production teams.

Rocket.Chat Virtual Conference Platform

An open-source communications hub already present on 700,000 servers in 150 countries, Rocket.Chat now provides a conference platform for event organizers seeking to facilitate interactions at their virtual conferences and trade shows. The platform allows organizers to customize the look and feel of their meetings, choose their users and securely manage their data. 

Rocket.Chat can also provide a gradual migration from a physical venue to a virtual experience by working with the assets a planning team has already built and helping to migrate them into their virtual conference. The platform has already been used by organizations that include Cornell University, the Association of Computational Linguistics and the Linux Plumbers Conference.

 

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Partner Voices
Less than six months ago, Lisa Messina joined the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA) as the first-ever chief sales officer after leading the sales team at Caesars Entertainment. A 12-year Las Vegas resident, Messina is a graduate of Cornell University’s School of Hotel Administration and serves on MPI International’s board of directors. TSNN had a chance to catch up with this dynamic leader and talk to her about her vision for the new role, current shifts in the trade show industry, creating more diversity and equity within the organization, and advice to future female leaders. Lisa Messina, Chief Sales Officer, LVCVA With Las Vegas becoming The Greatest Arena on EarthTM, what are some of the things you’re most excited about in your role? Our team was at The Big Game’s handoff ceremony earlier this month, and I couldn’t help but think, “We’re going to crush it next year!”  These high-profile events and venues not only drive excitement, but also provide unmatched opportunities for event planners. Allegiant Stadium hosts events from 10 to 65,000 people and offers on-field experiences. Formula 1 Grand Prix will take place in Las Vegas in November, after the year-one F1 race, the four-story paddock building will be available for buyouts and will also offer daily ride-along experiences that will be available for groups. And, of course, the MSG Sphere officially announced that it will open in September, ahead of schedule, with a U2 residency. It’s going to be the most technologically advanced venue as far as lighting, sound, feel, and even scent, and it will be available for buyouts and next-level sponsorships inside and outside. There’s no ceiling to what you can do when you’re doing events in Las Vegas.  Allegiant Stadium As the trade show and convention business returns to the pre-pandemic levels, what shifts are you noticing and how do you think they will impact the industry going forward? Our trade show organizers are very focused on driving customer experience. Most of our organizers are reporting stronger exhibitor numbers and increased numbers of new exhibitors, with trade shows proving to be almost or above 2019 levels. Now our organizers are really doubling down on driving attendance and focusing on the data to provide that individualized, customized experience to help attendees meet their goals and get the best value. Some companies continue to be cautiously optimistic with their organizational spend when it comes to sending attendees, but I think it will continue to improve. As the U.S. Travel Association makes more progress on the U.S. visa situation, we also expect a growing influx of international attendees. What are some innovative ways the LVCVA helps trade show and convention organizers deliver the most value for their events? We focus on customer experience in the same way that trade show organizers are thinking about it. We got rave reviews with the West Hall Expansion of the Las Vegas Convention Center (LVCC), so over the next two years, we will be renovating the North and the Central halls, which will include not just the same look and feel, but also the digital experiences that can be leveraged for branding and sponsorship opportunities.  Vegas Loop, the underground transportation system designed by The Boring Company, is also a way we have enhanced the customer experience. Vegas Loop at the LVCC has transported more than 900,000 convention attendees across the campus since its 2021 launch. Last summer, Resorts World and The Boring Company opened the first resort stop at the Resorts World Las Vegas , with plans to expand throughout the resort corridor, including downtown Las Vegas, Allegiant Stadium and Harry Reid International Airport. The LVCVA also purchased the Las Vegas Monorail in 2020, the 3.9-mile-long elevated transportation system that connects eight resorts directly to the convention center campus. This is the only rail system in the world that integrates fares directly into show badges and registration. For trade show organizers, these transportation options mean saving time, money and effort when it comes to moving groups from the hotels to LVCC and around the city. Also, the more we can focus on building the infrastructure around the convention center, the more it supports the customer experience and ultimately supports our trade show organizers. Scheduled to debut in Q4, Fontainebleau Las Vegas will offer 3,700 hotel rooms and 550,000 square feet of meeting and convention space next to LVCC.  What are some of the plans for advancing DEI (diversity, equity and inclusion) within your organization? We’re currently partnering with instead of working with a leading consulting firm, to lay the foundation and create a solid DEI plan and be the leader when it comes to DEI initiatives. The heart of that journey with the consulting firm is also talking to our customers about their strategic approaches to DEI and driving innovation in this space.  What are your favorite ways to recharge? My husband and I have an RV and we’re outdoorsy people. So, while we have over 150,000 world-class hotel rooms and renowned restaurants right outside our doorstep, one of my favorite things to do is get out to Red Rock Canyon, the Valley of Fire, and Lake Mead. Five of the top national parks are within a three-hour drive from Las Vegas, so there’s a lot you can do. We love balancing the energy of Las Vegas with nature, and we’re noticing that a lot of attendees add activities off the Strip when they come here.  Valley of Fire What advice would you give to women following leadership paths in destination marketing? I think it’s about being laser-focused on what you want to accomplish; building a team around you that lifts you and helps you achieve your goals; and being humble and realizing that you do it as a group. No one gets this done alone. Thankfully, there are a lot of women in leadership in this organization, in our customers’ organizations, and in this city that we can be really proud of. We’re a formidable force that is making things happen.   This interview has been edited and condensed. This article is exclusively sponsored by the Las Vegas Convention & Visitors Authority. For more information, visit HERE.