Smith-Bucklin
Aug 03, 2020
Taking the lessons learned in helping client organizations transition in-person events to virtual or hybrid experiences, association management and services company SmithBucklin has created a fee-based service designed to aid other groups — including those in the corporate world — going through the same process.  “It’s not about taking an in-person event and placing it on a digital platform,” said Carol McGury, executive vice president of event and education services for SmithBucklin. “It’s about building a new experience that achieves the business outcomes.” As part of the new SmithBucklin… more
Jul 29, 2020
Virtual Events Institute has debuted a global platform designed to bring the virtual and hybrid events community together to share best practices, educate, discuss, inspire and do business. The pandemic has rapidly accelerated the events industries’ adoption of digital events. Virtual events and experiences now play a crucial role in global marketing and event strategies, complementing live experiences and creating opportunities to get closer to customers, gain real-time market insight and widen global reach. Online events are currently at the heart of community building, so the need to… more
Jul 06, 2020
Self-service event app and event data management company Attendify has launched a new offering, Attendify for Virtual Events, that aims to transform the in-person, virtual and hybrid event experience. According to company officials, Attendify’s goal for its new platform is to help make the industry resilient. Whether it’s a future economic shock, another health crisis or a major industry strike, the event industry can’t be as susceptible to future shocks that are completely out of an organizer’s control. Through Attendify for Virtual Events, event organizers can build out a modern virtual… more
Event Tech Live
Jun 29, 2020
The global event tech exhibition and conference Event Tech Live is taking a new approach for its 2020 event — and perhaps no one is better equipped to go (partially) digital, due to their depth of knowledge with event technology. This Nov. 2-6, Event Tech Live will take a hybrid approach, expanding its typical two-day trade show (which will still take place in person, Nov. 4-5, at The Old Truman Brewery in London, incorporating procedures overseen by health consultants to ensure safety for all attendees) to include five virtual days of content, as well. “ETL introduced a virtual element… more
Jun 22, 2020
As face-to-face meetings and events begin to resume, it goes without saying that event organizers are going to be paying extra-special attention to health and safety practices. With social distancing among the top safety practices for the foreseeable future, event registration and lead management solutions provider Convention Data Services is offering a new Touchless Toolkit. Launched in early June, the Toolkit includes DigiBadge, which allows event registrants to check in safely and securely using their own mobile devices. Event participants download the DigiBadge link provided by the… more
Lippman Connects
Jun 09, 2020
Lippman Connects recently sold out the first of its new Digital Summits, which were created to facilitate the peer-to-peer exchange of information among event professionals in a virtual setting. Sam Lippman, president of Lippman Connects, organized and facilitated the event, which was capped at 15 exhibition and convention professionals. At the first Digital Summit on May 29, participants looked at the topic of how the COVID-19 pandemic has affected meetings and events, and highlighted what some of the next steps might be for the industry. According to Lippman, the event professionals taking… more
Jun 02, 2020
Event technology companies are responding to increased demand for virtual tools with new software offerings designed to help event planners make the shift from in-person to digital meetings. Here are two of the newest offerings:  StreampointLIVE  Event management technology platform Streampoint Solutions launched StreampointLIVE, a customizable virtual events platform tailored to the registration process that incorporates integrations with CRM and AMS solutions. “While the country endures the COVID-19 shutdown, we want to provide events and meetings with access to a virtual platform that… more
May 27, 2020
PGi is known for its corporate audio, video and web-conferencing tools. But the Alpharetta, Georgia-based communications company is also quietly powering high-profile virtual events and helping its customers quickly launch new meetings online.  Corporate Event News chatted virtually — using PGi’s GlobalMeet conferencing tools — with CMO Mark Roberts about how COVID-19 has impacted PGi’s clients, business and outlook on events. Virtual Event Timelines are Shorter Roberts says many of PGi’s customers were already incorporating virtual and hybrid meetings and communications into their… more
May 14, 2020
As the demand for virtual event platforms continues to increase, LinkedIn has entered the game. The social media giant has brought two of its offerings together — LinkedIn Live and LinkedIn Events — to create LinkedIn Virtual Events.  The virtual event functionality allows brands to stream video content to their LinkedIn page, targeting followers or event attendees. One benefit the company is touting is a new video tab, making it easier for brands to share and archive their video content in an accessible manner. For video streaming, LinkedIn is partnering with third-party broadcasting… more
Apr 29, 2020
Conference management service and software provider eventPower has launched new services and tools to help planners with live, virtual and hybrid events. Clients can choose from fully managed solutions (working with eventPower’s meeting planners) or software as a service tools. “We wanted to improve the efficiency of the existing sales process and create a software that ultimately seeks to increase revenue for our existing and future clients,” said Laurie Powell, eventPower’s vice president of business development, in reference to the new exhibit selection and management tool. Frank Powell… more
Partner Voices
Just when it seems like Las Vegas can’t get any bigger, brighter or more exciting for groups, MGM Resorts raises the bar again. The company continues to invest and innovate across its portfolio of Las Vegas resorts, with new attractions and upgraded experiences for attendees of all interests.  Remodeled Guest Rooms MGM Grand is the largest single hotel in the world with over 5,000 guest rooms and an 850,000-square-foot conference center. It is home to the newly remodeled MGM Grand Studio Tower—700 reimagined guest rooms with a fun mid-century vibe. Nearby, the iconic New York-New York Las more