EventPower Evolves With the Times

January 20, 2021
EventPower Evolves With the Times

Hewlett Packard planned to send 2,000 attendees to Nashville for an event in May. There were 270 presentations ready to go, featuring a combined 700 speakers. Rather than let a little thing like a pandemic let all that work go to waste, HP’s planners reached out eventPower, the company behind its event platform, about transforming all those sessions into a digital event.

Laurie Powell, vice president of business development of eventPower, had a simple response: “Why not?”

In the technology-dependent world of today’s trade shows, conferences and other events, vendors like eventPower must have a can-do attitude. Her rationale was simple: The information about all those presentations wasn’t changing, even if they were going to be consumed differently.

Her theory proved correct. Except for one speaker failing to log in on time, Hewlett Packard’s event went on without a hitch. If anything, it went better than expected, as more than 3,000 attendees participated over the four-day digital gathering. Not only did the results convince HP about eventPower’s capabilities, it was a lightbulb moment for Powell and her team that their platform was ideally positioned for a period of disruption and transition.

Language of Events

EventPower is hardly new—it was founded in 1996. Its first decade was centered around offering full-service meeting management for government and military organizations like the U.S. departments of justice and commerce, as well as military branches. To execute those events in and around the nation’s capital took compiling a list of data points virtually as long as Washington D.C.’s roll of red tape.

“We were doing everything manually,” Powell bemoaned. “We would be running around with a thumb drive like a maniac, making sure the correct presentation was in the correct room.”

Rather than be broken by the inefficiencies, eventPower took matters into its own hands. In order to develop a better method to collect and manage event data, the company created a platform to make the staff’s job easier. It just so happens to now be a solution that those same government agencies and many corporate clients, like Hewlett Packard and Tito’s Vodka, employ.

eventPower

“We joke that we built the platform for ourselves, and it happened by accident that groups started approaching us,” Powell said.

Indeed, while eventPower still offers end-to-end event management, its platform is not far behind as a breadwinner.

“It’s taken off like wildfire,” Powell proclaimed.

That’s in part because there is seemingly not a maximum capacity. It has hosted events with 16,000 attendees.

Powell says what sets eventPower apart from most of its competitors is that decade of experience before it was a technology company. “In real life, we are meeting planners,” she said. “We speak the speak. We know what goes into producing an event.” 

The majority of the other platforms available, Powell said, were the brainchild of a software developer trying to find a space in events. 

Game On

Virtual events, much to the world’s chagrin, became the norm last year. Many months later, and with the benefit of some hindsight, a second generation is emerging looking to improve the experience.

In a world of Zoom fatigue, it seems as if attendees need some nudging to fully interact with platforms. EventPower is appealing to human nature with a point-scoring feature on its virtual events platform. Basic tasks are rewarded with this gamification, including: 

  • Updating your profile
  • Upload your photo
  • Visiting exhibitors
  • Watching sponsors’ marketing videos
  • Sharing virtual business cards with exhibitors and attendees
  • Attending sessions
  • Engaging in video chats
  • Requesting a meeting

“There are a lot of competitive people out there,” Powell said. “If you can reward them, that’s all some of these people need.”

And, as with the rest of the platform, it works with in-person and hybrid events. “It’s across the board, what we are doing,” Powell added.
 

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Overview: The award-winning Orange County Convention Center (OCCC) goes the extra mile to make every day extraordinary by offering customer service excellence and industry-leading partnerships. From their dedicated in-house Rigging team to their robust Exhibitor Services, The Center of Hospitality brings your imagination to life by helping you host unforgettable meetings and events. With more than 2 million square feet of exhibit space, world-class services and a dream destination, we are committed to making even the most ambitious conventions a reality. In October 2023, the Orange County Board of County Commissioners voted to approve allocating Tourist Development Tax funding for the $560 million Phase 5A completion of the OCCC. The Convention Way Grand Concourse project will include enhancements to the North-South Building, featuring an additional 60,000 square feet of meeting space, an 80,000- square-foot ballroom and new entry to the North-South Building along Convention Way. “We are thrilled to begin work on completing our North-South Building which will allow us to meet the growing needs of our clients,” said OCCC Executive Director Mark Tester. “As an economic driver for the community, this project will provide the Center with connectivity and meeting space to host more events and continue to infuse the local economy with new money and expanding business opportunities.” Amenities: The Center of Hospitality goes above and beyond by offering world-class customer service and industry-leading partnerships. From the largest convention center Wi-Fi network to custom LAN/WAN design, the Center takes pride in enhancing exhibitor and customer experience.  The OCCC is the exclusive provider of electricity (24-hour power at no additional cost), aerial rigging and lighting, water, natural gas and propane, compressed air, and cable TV services. Convenience The Center is at the epicenter of the destination, with an abundance of hotels, restaurants, and attractions within walking distance. Pedestrian bridges connect both buildings to more than 5,200 rooms and is within a 15-minute drive from the Orlando International Airport. The convenience of the location goes hand-in-hand with top notch service to help meet an event’s every need. Gold Key Members The OCCC’s Gold Key Members represent the best of the best when it comes to exceptional service and exclusive benefits for clients, exhibitors and guests. The Center’s Gold Key memberships with Universal Orlando Resort, SeaWorld Orlando and Walt Disney World greatly enhance meeting planner and attendee experiences offering world-renowned venues, immersive experiences and creative resources for their events. OCCC Events: This fiscal year, the OCCC is projected to host 168 events, 1.7 million attendees, and $2.9 billion in economic impact.  The Center’s top five events during their 2022-2023 fiscal year included:  AAU Jr. National Volleyball Championships 2023 200,000 Attendees $257 Million in Economic Impact MEGACON 2023 160,000 Attendees $205 Million in Economic Impact Open Championship Series 2023 69,500 Attendees $89 Million in Economic Impact Sunshine Classic 2023 42,000 Attendees $54 Million in Economic Impact Premiere Orlando 2023 42,000 Attendees $108 Million in Economic Impact