What Is A Virtual Event? The Ultimate Guide

A virtual event is an event that would have been held in a physical setting but is held online instead. A virtual event has scope to cover all events that businesses or organisations would have held in the past.

What are the different types of virtual events available? There’s Hybrid Events, Virtual Events, and Remote Events. A common question we receive at the moment are: What is the difference between these events, and which one should I choose for my next event? First, we must look at what each option entails.

What is a Hybrid event?

A hybrid event is a meeting that combines a live in-person event in conjunction with a virtual online component. A key element of hybrid events would involve having a limited number of guests attending. Hybrid events allow for face-to-face, in-person attendance at a specific location like our studio, but additionally they are setup to encourage attendees to gather, experience and interact with the event online via software like Zoom or Microsoft Teams.

What is a Virtual event?

A virtual event is run entirely online for those attending, there is no live audience and there is no in-person component to a virtual event. However, speakers and others involved in the event would be at the venue (i.e., VE Studio), and some participants may dial in. Attendees interact online and do not meet in a physical location.

What is a Remote event?

A remote event is run entirely online, for speakers and for those attending. There is no live speakers or audience at the venue. Instead, speakers and participants present remotely or are recorded remotely, and only interact online and do not meet in a physical location.

Which is the best option for you?

You must ask yourself the following questions:

When is your event going to occur?

Due to the current uncertainty surrounding Covid-19, if your event is due to take place in the next few weeks or months, what is the safest option for you to run your event? How many speakers would you have? You must consider the travel of participants etc.

As we progress towards more uncertainty around the safety of face-to-face meetings and with many people still being cautious, Hybrid Events are on hold for the foreseeable.

Virtual and remote events allow for larger numbers of attendees to attend your event. In this case, to ensure consistency for all your attendees you may like to consider offering a virtual option. Whether your event will be best run as a hybrid, virtual or remote event, we strongly advise that you still run your event. The reality is that we do not know when things will get back to normal. Even when we do, it is going to be a new normal. We must adapt and face the challenge head-on. People still need to meet, and at this time collaboration is more important than it has ever been.

Let’s work together. Contact us on info@eventplan.ie for queries or more information.