Learning Area

With more events move online, event organisers and managers of traditionally “offline” events are coming to realise that the landscape is much different.

In light of the challenges presented by COVID-19, more and more events are taking place online.

As a result of COVID-19, events and conferences across the globe are being cancelled en masses to help mitigate the virus’ spread.

For many event organisers, the solution has been to move events online – delivering smaller, more intimate sessions for delegates. The results have been overwhelmingly positive so far.

As an industry that relies upon travel and thrives on face-to-face interactions (conferences, seminars and talks), the coronavirus is a pressing concern for many event management professionals and delegates alike.

I was on a flight from Barcelona to London recently and found myself contemplating the predicament event organisers face today when it comes to the use of technology.

Everywhere you look, there is change across the events industry. Against a backdrop of technological disruption, a shift in the dynamics that define the relationships between brands, agencies and consumers is taking place. It can be overwhelming to navigate through this change and to identify what conference delegates find valuable, what is just hype, and what you now need to make an event successful. 

We attended IBTM World in Barcelona. Here are a few quick thoughts from Greg McEwan, head of communications, on several emerging trends. 

What is the future of interpretation? Will interpreters be replaced by technology? These are all increasingly common questions in an industry experiencing a flow of technology-based platforms. 

Interpreters live exciting lives. No two days are the same. They are always on the go and they are their own masters with a lot of freedom – and how about their life-work balance.