Hybrid Events
Background
From small group meetings and seminars to large-scale conferences, during most of 2020, in-person live events were replaced by fully virtual ones. As the economy reopens and people return to work, the gains and efficiencies from virtual events should not be ignored. The goal of this challenge is to accelerate technologies and solutions that can deliver event experiences in a hybrid setting. These solutions will be able to seamlessly integrate in-person experiences with virtual ones to deliver equivalent value to users in both domains.
Problems
Inability to open live event venues and conduct in-person events safely
Translating in-person experiences and performances to a virtual environment
Maintaining similar levels of engagement with both in-person and virtual audiences
Emerging Risks
New variants that are resistant to current vaccines
Unvaccinated or non-vaccine eligible customers (e.g., children)
Potential downstream logistical disruptions that can affect operations
Communities Affected
All public venues including theaters, museums, convention centers and attractions.
Large scale event organizers
Educational institutions such as schools and universities
Potential Impact
Impact - Government mandated shutdowns decimate revenue
Impact - Shutdown of performing arts and other events negatively impacts the cultural ethos
Impact - Loss of public trust decreases consumer demand
Opportunity - Ability to engage more customers around the world
Opportunity - Improved accessibility and inclusion
About
The COVID-19 pandemic severely affected the Pacific Northwest’s Tourism, Performing Arts, Travel and Hospitality (TPATH) sectors. Startups, industry experts and government leaders can each play a pivotal role in the journey to recovery and resilience.
Process
We reached out to various organizations in the TPATH sector to understand their technology needs to facilitate quick recovery. Their needs are illustrated as a set of challenges that startups and industry experts can drive solutions for, accelerated by Congregate.
Community
Our partner network is a diverse group of public and private organizations with a range of expertise in the TPATH sector. Explore the benefits of partnering with us and contributing to the recovery of the region.