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: Cassie McIvor
Company Name: Essentia Health
Job Title: Event Planner/ Marketing Associate
Years of Experience: 14
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?
By adding more tools to my tool box. Learning, researching and strategizing new ways to engage guests.
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 word "broadcasting" is now part of our regular vocabulary. Hybrid options are being offered, virtual keynotes (in the past they have been in person, virtual was never an option usually.), Having these events be two way communication between online and live guests being able to interact and ask questions.
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?
There are many benefits that a hybrid option can bring to an event. For us, most importantly, it can bring increased reach as guests can essentially attend nationwide. It allows our organization, which stretches across 3 states, to connect employees and/or patients together for celebration, information or other gatherings.
In your opinion, what do you think the biggest value for your attendees is in regards to returning to live events?
We all know that connecting with people virtually is not the same as a face to face conversation. Nothing can replace the energy that you feel at a live 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.
