Will Coronavirus Mark the Dominance of Virtual Events

Business events have long been an important way for professionals to share knowledge, market their products and develop new business relationships. From intimate roundtable dinners to busy conferences, many senior executives rely heavily on events to connect with their peers, stay abreast of industry trends and find solutions to their business challenges.

However, the global outbreak of COVID-19 has had a significant impact on the events industry. Countless events worldwide have been cancelled or postponed following government measures to reduce the spread of the virus.

With social distancing and travel restrictions in place, many professionals are turning to virtual events to engage in their important business discussions. Online alternatives such as Virtual Roundtables enable business leaders to learn from their peers and discover innovative solutions without the need to travel or meet in person.

Virtual Roundtables offer executives an efficient way to address their business challenges during the global pandemic. Senior corporate leaders are able to engage in thought-leading discussion using video conferencing technology, staying connected to industry trends at a time when many are working from home. Professionals can use the virtual meetings software from any location with their chosen device.

While the Coronavirus pandemic has drawn attention to some key benefits of virtual events, their popularity was already increasing. With a flexible, time-efficient format, many business leaders have found Virtual Roundtables to be a convenient alternative to attending a physical event. Taking part in a business conference usually requires a full day away from the office, but a 90-minute Virtual Roundtable session can be scheduled around other commitments.

Although the unique benefits of virtual events are likely to have a long-standing impact after the threat of Coronavirus subsides, physical events will still hold an important place in business engagement. Face-to-face interaction delivers a personalised, memorable experience that is extremely valuable in both professional networking and marketing. Physical conferences can include live educational workshops, informative one-to-one meetings and inspiring panel discussions which many professionals like to experience in person – as well as enjoying the opportunity to network with their peers at a luxury venue.

As the world recovers from the COVID-19 crisis, it is likely that the business events industry will become much more of a hybrid: combining physical events with innovative virtual alternatives to provide meaningful engagement that fits with all schedules and circumstances.

Learn more about what Virtual Roundtables are and how they might benefit you here: