Video: Experts discuss benefits of virtual meeting components
More than 90 percent of meeting professionals exceed their goals through hybrid meetings — meetings that have both face-to-face and virtual components — according to new research released yesterday by video management and webcasting firm Sonic Foundry in partnership with the Meeting Professionals International (MPI) Foundation.
"Sonic Foundry is proud to partner with the MPI Foundation to support the first comprehensive research on hybrid events," said Gary Weis, CEO of Sonic Foundry, which is best known for its Mediasite Events webcasting solution. "We firmly believe, and the results of the survey corroborate, that hybrid events will play an important role in the future of meetings. Through the explosive growth of our Mediasite Events group, we've seen firsthand how early adopters of hybrid meeting strategies have expanded the impact and reach of their events, creating deeper attendee engagement and valuable online knowledge while contributing meaningful ROI."
Based on a survey of 1,800 meeting professionals, event delegates, technology vendors and consultants, MPI's and Sonic Foundry's research found that:
• 93 percent of planners say they meet or exceed their objectives when organizing a hybrid event;
• 70 percent of respondents say hybrid meetings will be an important part of meetings in the future; and
• 50 percent of respondents say they record their conference content for on-demand access by those unable to attend in person.
"This research clearly supports what we have known but lacked scientific data to support," said MPI COO and interim CEO Cindy D'Aoust. "By strategically using hybrid technology, the planner can expand the reach of their event, which increases the ability to drive business results — a far more valuable asset than merely controlling costs."
MPI's and Sonic Foundry's full research report provides a comprehensive look at the way hybrid events are currently carried out and how they are perceived within the meetings industry. The report includes: key fact about the future of hybrid meetings; case studies from companies such as eBay, Thrivent and the Society of Automotive Engineers; a how-to guide for understanding hybrid event formats, selecting technology vendors, building an effective hybrid event team, designing content and developing an engaging user experience; a lessons learned document with best practices from the field; and full quantitative survey results.
For more information, visit www.mpiweb.org/hybrid.