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: Naveeda Rameez
Company Name: Kyndryl Canada
Job Title: Event and Experience Manager
Years of Experience: 7
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?
I think I've been one of the lucky few whose career in Canada kickstarted in the pandemic. I moved here in 2020 October and by December I headed a Tamil sangam in Niagara Falls. In Feb, I also served as the Event services lead for the tennis venue for the Niagara Games. Fast forward to my current job, I got promoted before the end of my first day. Events weren't disrupted for me, it was just the approach that had change and the outcome has been phenomenal.
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 pandemic made me realize that virtual events can be as successful as In person. In my case, we do not have to wait months to get a venue booked. Instead we get them on board as a sponsor for the virtual event. It's a win-win for all. As for the process for in person events - health and safety protocol is given utmost importance. We have tried our best to minimize contact and invested more in Tech. Participants can register well in advance for an event and with a QR code the whole process is a breeze and less tedious for the management.
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?
Hybrid events give us the best of both worlds. In my experience I've found that hybrid events offer better audience engagement and experience. In certain instances they are more cost efficient too.
In your opinion, what do you think the biggest value for your attendees is in regards to returning to live events?
Being able to have a conversation with a human without having any technical glitches or delays. Sometimes business decisions are made faster and better.
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 hope we understand that no mater the mode of the event, having the right approach and TG will always work out in our favour
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.