Latest news with #eventtechnology
Associated Press
5 days ago
- Business
- Associated Press
Projection and Events DC Renew Audio-Visual Services Partnership
WASHINGTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jul 16, 2025-- Projection, a leading provider of event technology services, is thrilled to announce the renewal of its long-standing partnership with Events DC, the official convention and sports authority of Washington, DC and their venue, the Walter E. Washington Convention Center, through 2030. This extended collaboration ensures that Projection will continue to be the preferred in-house audiovisual services provider for clients hosting events at the Convention Center and other Events DC facilities. 'We are excited to build upon our strong relationship with Events DC and provide 'The Projection Difference' to our mutual clients,' said Larry Taylor, Corporate Vice President for the In-House Division at Projection. 'Our partnership reflects a shared commitment to delivering high-quality, innovative solutions that meet the evolving needs of event planners and attendees. Projection continues its long, successful history of helping clients execute seamless, turn-key meetings and events in Washington, D.C.' The renewed agreement further solidifies Projection's commitment to supporting the growth of Washington, DC as a premier destination for meetings and conventions. With over 50 years of experience in the event technology industry, Projection continues to innovate and adapt its services to deliver positive experiences. 'Projection has been a trusted partner in helping us deliver exceptional audiovisual experiences that elevate Washington, DC's as a world-class destination,' said Events DC President and CEO Angie M. Gates. 'This renewed partnership reflects our shared commitment to innovation, excellence and driving economic impact through premier meetings, conventions and events.' Projection's extensive portfolio of services, which includes cutting-edge audiovisual equipment, technical support, comprehensive event production and tailored event solutions plays a vital role in maintaining the city's reputation as a world-class destination for events of all sizes. The partnership with Events DC further solidifies the shared commitment to innovation, collaboration, and excellence, making Washington, DC a top choice for global meetings and conventions into the next decade. About Projection: Projection is a full-service event technology provider, specializing in audiovisual services, event production, and technical solutions for the meetings and events industry. With over 50 years of experience, Projection has built a reputation for delivering exceptional service and innovative solutions to clients across the country. Whether it's a small meeting or a large-scale convention, Projection offers customized services that ensure every event is a success. About Events DC: Events DC is the official convention and sports authority for the District of Columbia. Through its world-class venues, including the Walter E. Washington Convention Center, Events DC brings together diverse communities and organizations to create meaningful experiences that drive the economy and position Washington, DC as a premier global destination for events. View source version on CONTACT: For media inquiries, please contact:Media Inquiries / Contact: Erick Alsheimer Director of Sales, In-House Division [email protected] 617-212-7237 KEYWORD: UNITED STATES NORTH AMERICA DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA INDUSTRY KEYWORD: TECHNOLOGY OTHER SPORTS GENERAL SPORTS SPORTS ENTERTAINMENT OTHER TECHNOLOGY AUDIO/VIDEO EVENTS/CONCERTS GENERAL ENTERTAINMENT SOURCE: Projection Copyright Business Wire 2025. PUB: 07/16/2025 12:03 PM/DISC: 07/16/2025 12:03 PM
Forbes
01-07-2025
- Business
- Forbes
An Executive's Guide To Hosting Secure And Effective Hybrid Events
Michele Dobnikar, president of GlobalMeet, is a trailblazer who has built a reputable career in business technology over the last 30 years. As many executives confront mounting time constraints associated with travel, explore ways to expand their company's reach and navigate concerns around their health and safety, some companies may be considering hosting hybrid events instead of in-person ones. As president of an event technology platform, I've seen firsthand how virtual and hybrid events can deliver benefits for executives, but I've also learned that their success hinges on strategic planning and a clear understanding of key challenges that can make or break the experience. The Benefits Of Virtual And Hybrid Engagements Historically, in-person events have offered C-suite executives an opportunity to maintain visibility and foster deep connections with their stakeholders. But in recent years, particularly during the pandemic, virtual and hybrid events have gained increased traction as an event model. These events can help organizations reach a broad, diverse audience while the reducing travel, costs and time requirements associated with in-person events. Moreover, some leadership teams today have heightened security concerns, in addition to the challenge of acting as the face and key driver of an organization's strategic direction. Hybrid events can empower executives to connect and confidently communicate with stakeholders without requiring travel or visiting unsecured environments. With interactive Q&A tools and features like polling, livestreaming and translation capabilities, virtual and hybrid events can also foster meaningful engagement that enables leadership to interact with attendees in an impactful way. Hybrid and virtual models also eliminate geographical barriers, which could increase attendee participation while reducing time and resource limitations. Common Missteps—And How To Avoid Them When hosting virtual or hybrid events, companies often fall into common traps that can diminish their impact and reach. Three frequent—and avoidable—missteps include failing to properly integrate and engage with virtual audiences during hybrid events, overlooking cybersecurity measures and neglecting to account for time zone and language differences. Each of these issues can lead to a disengaged audience, technical vulnerabilities and lower engagement. One of the biggest missteps companies make during hybrid events is failing to actively engage virtual attendees on the same level as in-person guests. When remote participants are treated more like spectators than active contributors, it can lead to poor engagement and ultimately a reduced return on investment. What to do instead: Use interactive tools, and provide a high-quality experience. Simply broadcasting an event without incorporating interactive tools—such as live polls, Q&As or chat features—misses the opportunity to foster connection and participation. Virtual audiences need intentional engagement strategies. Otherwise, they're less likely to return for future events or take desired follow-up actions. Additionally, keep in mind that today's audiences expect high-quality video and audio with minimal glitches and interactive opportunities to connect with speakers and other participants. This shift places greater demands on businesses, highlighting the need for robust and versatile event tech tools that can support a smooth and engaging experience. While AI tools can enhance the experience by automating key tasks like scheduling, translation or security monitoring, a smooth event requires more than just smart software. Choosing a reliable event platform with a strong track record—one known for uptime and minimal crashes—is critical. It's just as important to ensure the platform has 24/7 customer support, so any issues can be handled quickly without throwing the whole event off track. Cybersecurity is often an overlooked element in event planning, but for virtual and hybrid models, it's a critical consideration. Virtual events can open the door to serious threats like data breaches, phishing attacks and unauthorized access to proprietary content. Hackers might exploit weak password protections, infiltrate livestreams or harvest attendee data if proper safeguards aren't in place. To avoid damage to brand reputation, planners must treat cybersecurity with the same regard as safety for an in-person setting. What to do instead: Make cybersecurity a top priority. To combat online security breaches, such as cyberattacks, organizations can use encrypted communication, identity verification, access controls and real-time monitoring. Encrypted communication ensures sensitive information, such as login credentials or proprietary data, is protected. Identity verification methods, like two-factor authentication or biometric logins, help confirm that only authorized participants can access the event platform, which can reduce the risk of impersonation, particularly of executives with high security clearance. Finally, real-time monitoring can detect unusual activity, such as multiple login attempts or access from unfamiliar IP addresses, allowing organizers to respond quickly to potential threats. Another frequent misstep in planning virtual and hybrid events is not addressing the needs of international audiences, especially regarding time zones and language accessibility. Hosting live sessions at times that only suit one region can limit overall engagement and event satisfaction. Similarly, failing to provide language options such as subtitles or live translation can create barriers for non-native speakers. What to do instead: Plan for international audiences. To address time zone differences and language barriers among attendees, event planners should take proactive steps to ensure all attendees feel included. Staggering key sessions can help accommodate different regions and encourage real-time engagement across time zones. Providing on-demand playback options can also allow attendees to catch up on sessions they might have missed due to scheduling conflicts. Additionally, offering subtitles (captions), transcription, translations and event materials, such as slide decks and downloadable resources in multiple languages, ensures greater accessibility and a more inclusive experience for all participants. Final Thoughts In today's evolving business landscape, virtual and hybrid events can be a valuable option for companies seeking to expand their reach while maintaining safety and flexibility. But these formats demand thoughtful execution. By prioritizing cybersecurity, planning for accessibility and delivering a seamless experience, companies can transform their events into dynamic, memorable experiences that drive lasting engagement. With a thoughtful approach and the right tools, hybrid and virtual experiences can deliver engagement, reach and a long-term return on investment. Forbes Business Council is the foremost growth and networking organization for business owners and leaders. Do I qualify?
Forbes
10-06-2025
- Business
- Forbes
Cvent App May End Bad Conference Notes And Blurry Screen Photos
AI-driven text capture and summarization technology from Cvent can replace most traditional ... More conference note-taking. Picture this: You're sitting in a dimly lit conference room or convention ballroom, listening to a speaker who has something interesting to say. You are frantically scribbling notes while trying to photograph slides displayed on a distant screen. Later, back at your hotel, you're squinting at blurry photos and deciphering handwriting that looks like it was written during an earthquake. Sound familiar? This frustrating ritual is repeated millions of times at business events worldwide. The good news is that it may finally be obsolete thanks to a breakthrough from event technology company Cvent. Today, I saw a new product in use at their annual Cvent Connect conference in San Antonio. In a packed ballroom with thousands of attendees, the company demonstrated a major advance in conference note-taking. Cvent's new feature transforms the traditional note-taking experience through real-time speech transcription combined with intelligent content capture. Attendees can now see a live, accurate transcript of the speaker's words directly in the event app. Amazingly, there was virtually zero lag between spoken words and displayed text. Seeing the text appear as the words came out of the speakers's mouth seemed almost magical at first. Here's how it solves most of the note-taking problem: instead of frantically writing illegible script, attendees simply tap a button when they hear something worth remembering. The system automatically captures not just that moment, but a full minute of the speaker's words. "Instead of scribbling notes on a notepad, they're just clicking a button," explains McNeel Keenan, Cvent's VP of Product Management. "We capture the last 40 seconds, and since maybe that speaker hasn't finished their point yet, we're going to capture the next 20 seconds." Raw transcripts aren't particularly helpful buried in a phone app weeks later. That's where artificial intelligence transforms captured content into something genuinely useful. The system automatically generates concise summaries of each captured segment and creates descriptive labels, eliminating the need for attendees to organize their own notes. "We use AI to make it valuable for the attendee," Keenan notes. "We summarize what was in that minute and we give it a little label so they don't have to label their own notes." The company plans to expand the feature to automatically capture whatever appears on screen when attendees hit the "snapshot" button—potentially ending the epidemic of blurry PowerPoint photos forever. No more stretching to photograph slides from the back of the room, or missing the slide completely because your phone went to sleep. From an attendee experience perspective, Cvent's innovation addresses a classic friction point that most people considerd unavoidable. Conference note-taking has remained stubbornly analog, creating unnecessary effort and often disappointing results. Writing notes and taking screen photos while trying to absorb complex information is far from ideal. The cognitive load of simultaneously listening, writing, and photographing content often means missing important nuances or connections. By eliminating the mechanical aspects of most note-taking, the new system allows attendees to focus entirely on listening and engaging with content. The technology reduces the effort required while improving the quality of preserved information. Early implementation at Cvent Connect demonstrated impressive technical performance. The transcription accuracy appeared remarkably high, even in a large venue with ambient noise, and the response time was virtually instantaneous. "I was amazed at how fast it was," Keenan observed. "It was coming in like 2 to 300 milliseconds, right behind the speaker." Perhaps more importantly, the system requires no additional effort from speakers or event organizers. Unlike previous attempts at presentation transcription that required speakers to use unfamiliar software or upload materials in advance, this event app-based solution works with any presentation style or technology setup. The new technology will also simplify the dreaded 'summarize for the boss' or 'share the highlights with the team' phase of the event. As Keenan explains, "When people get back to their office, they don't need to send a big email to their boss justifying the dollars they spent. They can share the key takeaways, they can share with their colleagues, and hopefully that'll be the reason that they get to bring two other colleagues next year." It's easy to imagine the app or its output being used to further distill the notes into useful summaries, even podcast-like audio overviews to be shared or used to refresh one's memory. I'd personally feed them to a model like Claude to suggest applications for the ideas, identify quick wins, etc. While the immediate benefit focuses on attendee experience, the technology creates something potentially more valuable: unprecedented insight into what actually resonates with audiences during presentations. As a speaker, I know when I see lots of audience members raise their phones to capture one of my slides that I've said something that resonates. What I can't do is remember later which slides got the most interest, much less quantify that attention. With this app, every time someone taps to save content, they're essentially voting for that moment as particularly valuable or interesting. This creates a real-time feedback loop that conference organizers and speakers have never had access to before. This revealed preference data represents a significant advance over traditional post-event surveys, which suffer from poor response rates and recall bias. Instead sketchy reports from a few attendees about what they found valuable, organizers can see exactly which moments sparked enough interest to warrant saving. The real test will be adoption and refinement of the technology as it scales beyond Cvent's own events. But for anyone who has ever returned from a conference with a collection of illegible notes and unusable photos, the promise is clear: better technology can preserve more value with significantly less effort. In a follow-up article, I'll explore how this seemingly simple innovation could reshape conference programming and speaker selection through the unprecedented audience engagement data it generates.
Travel Daily News
09-06-2025
- Business
- Travel Daily News
Long Beach Convention Center chooses Boldyn Networks for Wi-Fi
Boldyn Networks upgrades Long Beach Convention Center with Wi-Fi 6E, enhancing connectivity, analytics, and flexible services for organizers and attendees. LONG BEACH, CA – Boldyn Networks (Boldyn), one of the world's leading neutral host providers, is transforming the digital experience at the Long Beach Convention & Entertainment Center through a new partnership with venue operator ASM Global. The upgraded Wi-Fi 6E network and dedicated Convention Network Services now make it easier than ever for event organizers and attendees to log on, purchase, and stay connected with premium wireless services right from their phones or booths, in just a few clicks. As one of Southern California's premier event destinations hosting marquee events like Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach, Formula Drift, Coastal Country Jam, and Cali Vibes, the Long Beach Convention & Entertainment Center now features a future-ready wireless network designed for speed, reliability, and simplicity. 'Connectivity is essential for our clients and their attendees, and Boldyn simplified the process with blazing speeds, allowing clients to focus on the other aspects of delivering an exceptional experience at their events,' said Robert Smit, General Manager, Long Beach Convention & Entertainment Center. 'Boldyn also enabled flexible pricing options that tailors the experience and our revenue opportunity, while delivering data insights that help us serve our partners even better.' Boldyn's Wi-Fi 6E infrastructure provides significantly faster speeds and greater reliability in high-density environments, ensuring every device stays connected. With a reimagined experience in mind, the captive portal enables seamless logon and allows attendees and exhibitors to easily purchase premium Wi-Fi on-demand, right from their booth or section through a simplified, self-service process. The platform also captures detailed Wi-Fi usage data to share with show management and exhibitors at the conclusion of each event – giving them valuable insights for planning and enabling repeat or growth purchases based on historical needs. These data analytics enable organizers to tailor connectivity packages and better serve exhibitor relationships with exactly what they need. 'Partnering with the Long Beach Convention Center and ASM Global reflects our commitment to delivering smarter, faster, and more flexible connectivity in world-class venues,' said Jason Caliento, Chief Commercial Officer, US at Boldyn Networks. 'We listened to the needs of LBCC to deliver solutions like seamless logon, data analytics, and flexible pricing models to enhance the experience for their customers, optimize flexibility for the venue, and create opportunities for LBCC to attract new business.' Boldyn's Convention Network Services also include on-site technicians to support both wired and wireless needs throughout each event. From setup to real-time troubleshooting, exhibitors and show organizers can count on fast, reliable support every step of the way.
