I found SAP’s hybrid event approach particularly interesting. By combining both in-person and online event formats, attendees are able to engage with an even broader and more diverse audience. When feasible, offering an option for face-to-face engagement is important for the local audience, and the online channels provide a unique way for the remote audience to transcend location and even time.

Most importantly, these types of events leave a lasting impression with those who attend, resulting in increased loyalty, reputation, profitability and overall success!

Best,
Katie S., Omni Hotels & Resorts
@omnimeetings

Noodling on this for a bit….

Thanks for reading and commenting. For the purposes of this post, it was to get people to look toward the hybrid audience that was beyond the room. Maybe I could have stated it more clearly.

In general, I agree with your approach. In B-school, we used to say – structure follows strategy.

Nice post. I tend to focus less on where something should happen and more of what we want to have happening. if it can happen in a room, fine by me. Hallways, field trips, online, coffeehouse, bar? Sure, why not. If we focus on the experiences we want to create and the results they should produce, the space questions answer themselves I think.

Joan

(And how DO I add my photo?)

Thanks for such thoughtful comments. I can always imagine the energy and passion inside your comments – when you post. It motivates me!

I agree with you about showing people the future. Not just one time – but many times. These alternative formats need to become so familiar that they are basically second nature.

Technology is sometimes a component, sometimes not. I’ve done a small (up to 50 people) gathering for 7 years that has experimented with all kinds of things. We’ve learned and have lots of learning to share .. if only others (MPI, PCMA, ASAE, etc.) were listening.

(Sam: how do I add my photo to your blog?)

Grrrrr… such a hot button for me.

Why can’t WE all just have our own meeting (I know .. EC is one example – it’s not the only one!}

What needs to happen:
1) Take all learners/participants into account – some want to be _in_ the room with a standard set and a lecture. They should have that. Others of us, as do all who are part of meetings, want different models at different times for our own learning. MPI (and PCMA and ASAE, etc.) should be using VARK or other learning inventory to find out styles and design partly around those.

2) Hotels, conv. centers, even some conference centers and other venues and their owners and management cos. need to be more learned about the impact of space on what happens. We need to have sessions at industry meetings about adult learning; we need Paul Radde to teach ALL venues about how to set rooms better; we need to work w/ fire marshals on how to do this better and safely; we need to talk w/ furniture designers (as IACC once did) about better/different furniture to accommodate different sets. Alas, some of us have said this since .. well, when did Jack Kemp speak at MPI in Baltimore?

3) Let’s have smaller, more intimate meetings that can go to conference centers (www.iacconline.org or http://www.uniquevenues.com) and use outdoor space – use small gathering space in housing buildings. Why mammoth gatherings? [Note to MPI: Please no outdoor gatherings in Orlando in the summer – or at least something else for those of us who cannot be out in the sun or heat for medical reasons.]

4) One size does NOT fit all.

And we could go on, couldn’t we?

Someone else’s turn now.

Thanks for your comment and the confirmation that MPI is spreading this message globally. I agree with you – it’s important.

Regarding experiential agencies: I think we are always going to find great things coming from experiential agencies. Most are remarkably creative and innovative – with client’s that can afford to pay for it.

On the B2E (Business to Employee) side, I think the strategy consultants (OD Consultants) are innovating on another level entirely. If you look at the large group processes – they are engaging groups in collaborative projects all the time. Thinking outside the room – shouldn’t be that hard.

Training and Development groups are thinking outside the room, but still haven’t mastered the engagement and collaboration pieces, yet. I think the “E-learning” experts will get this figured out sooner or later. (Actually they have figured it out – but it will take time to make it standard.)

Flemming’s Wizerize, Inc. is an excellent marriage between great process and technology. I work with them and have seen how they can marry process and the technology together to transform people and businesses. They, also, think and work outside the room: http://bit.ly/8ZKlpK)