In the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, some trade shows have started becoming virtual instead of cancelling the event completely. While this is still uncharted territory, some trade show companies have seen huge success with their online events and believe this will be the way of the future, even after the pandemic is over.
Successful Virtual Conferences
Anna Knight, Global Licensing Group Vice President, Informa Markets, helped organize the first-ever Licensing Week Virtual which took place on June 15-19, 2020. The virtual conference and exhibition secured 4,477 attendees globally from the United States, United Kingdom, and Mexico, among others.
“I think it was a really good turnout for us,” Knight said. “The attendee numbers definitely surpassed our expectations, and the overall statistics were positive in terms of content engagement from our attendees, meetings coordinated through our Matchmaking Service, and the hours spent on the platform. Everything was really positive.”
NoCo Hemp Expo, in conjunction with Let’s Talk Hemp Media, hosted its first-ever EARTH WEEK Virtual Conference and Trade Show on April 22, 2020. The show opened with a virtual live conference and included 25 companies in the virtual expo hall. During the show, viewers could find pre-recorded video presentations from more than twenty nationally acclaimed industry experts as well as other notable features.
“We’re forever grateful for the amazing feedback and tremendous support NoCo Hemp Expo received during our EARTH WEEK Virtual Conference and Trade Show. After the successful turnout of EARTH WEEK, we realized that our community needs opportunities to gather, whether it’s in a virtual or live setting. Let’s Talk Hemp is proud to provide a platform where people can continue to learn, thrive, and network,” said Morris Beegle, Let’s Talk Hemp Media Co-founder and Producer of NoCo Hemp Expo, in a press release.
Virtual Events Are Here to Stay
There is something to be said about live events and being able to meet with industry professionals in person to make lasting connections, but with more practice of virtual trade shows, both exhibitors and attendees will be able to do everything online that they can in person. Attendees also won’t have to spend all the extra money on travel expenses and accommodations since the process can be done from the comfort of their homes.
“Virtual trade shows can really bring the events to those who might not be able to make a live event, whether they can’t travel, or it’s inconvenient, or they have other priorities and can’t give up that much time,” Knight said. “Virtual trade shows certainly help to expand the reach and exclusivity side of the events. I think they are here to stay, even when live events come back up and running again.”
Complementing Live Trade Shows
Just because virtual trade shows are showing huge success during the pandemic doesn’t mean that live events are withering out any time soon. They’re still a great way to view products in person and make lasting relationships between buyers and sellers. But, virtual trade shows can help to bring more attendees to those who wouldn’t be able to make the live event. So with more experimentation in this field, trade shows can become even that more popular.