This post is part of the HopSkip Planner Spotlight Series where HopSkip spotlight's planners across the industry to bring awareness of how they adapted to COVID-19, communicating and lessons learned and sharing how they are viewing the meetings and events industry in a post-pandemic world.
Name: Brian Wachtel
Company Name: National Foundation for Cancer Research
Job Title: Executive Director
Years of Experience: 12
How do you think you are positioned, after months of persevering with the pandemic, to take advantage of our new and disrupted meetings/events landscape?
We are better positioned now with the ability to host hybrid events, as well as online only events, with the use of our NFCR Metaverse.
As our community moves forward with planning in-person meetings, what new technologies or processes are you implementing that you may have not looked at before?
The use of our NFCR Oncology Metaverse. This immersive digital experience is hosted on the dynamic event Cloud platform of NFCR’s strategic technology partner, Rooom, and enables us to build a meeting ground to serve the NFCR Cancer-Fighting Community better. This community space gives access to past events and will serve as a place to connect researchers, physicians, and the cancer population with oncologists who can help them understand what they are facing.
As we see virtual meetings transition back to face to face, hybrid meetings are beginning to be the vehicle to return to normalcy. What are your thoughts on hybrid meetings versus traditional fully in-person meetings?
We experimented with this last fall and had great success hosting an in-person event for 100 people, while providing a platform for people all across the world to attend at the same time virtually. It allows us to branch out and engage a larger audience in real-time.
In your opinion, what do you think the biggest value for your attendees is in regards to returning to live events?
I still like the idea of meeting donors face-to-face, engaging sponsors in-person, and having personal interaction at a live event. While virtual allows you to continue hosting in a safe and health way, we will return to a new normal in which we can shake hands and hold personal conversations with key stakeholders.
As the pandemic fades away and we return to face-to-face events what do you hope changes, either for planners or hoteliers, in the traditional RFP and proposal process as a result of all of the learnings from the last 20+ months?
I am hoping that venues and hotels welcome back their clients, can offer specials to engage them and encourage them to want to come back. I don't see much changing with traditional RFPs or proposals, except that the hybrid style event will be more prevalent and will have to be incorporated by venues when event planners look to host their next event
This post is part of the HopSkip Planner Spotlight Series where HopSkip spotlight's planners across the industry to bring awareness of how they adapted to COVID-19, communicating and lessons learned and sharing how they are viewing the meetings and events industry in a post-pandemic world.