The effects of the COVID-19 pandemic have been felt keenly in all sectors, but for events planners particularly, lockdowns made the job of organising events impossible. For many of us, conferences were once a common part of our working lives, where we'd gather to listen and learn from key speakers and network with our peers, but uncertainty around COVID-19 brought an end to in-person gatherings.
The upshot has been an adjustment towards hybrid working practices, both in offices and in events. More than ever before, lots of people have health and safety concerns when it comes to attending in-person events; if you're organising a large conference these days, chances are you will find yourself with people who wish to attend in person, and lots who wish to take part remotely.
The good news is that you can accommodate both types of people by hosting a hybrid event - not only does this allow you to reach a much wider audience of guests who wouldn't ordinarily be able to attend, but you can still plan for those who will be there in person.
A good hybrid conference venue combines the set up required to seat lots of in-person guests with the technology infrastructure, high speed internet and cyber security to stream live speeches, as well as potentially handling a variety of ways to encourage virtual interaction with guests, whether that be Q&A sessions or user chat rooms. If you're planning a hybrid conference event of your own, be sure to check out guide to planning a hybrid event, complete with essential list of tips and tricks and helpful FAQs.
In the meantime, we've pulled together a list of London's best hybrid conferencing venues that pack the necessary audio-visual, technology and conferencing power to make your event a success. Or, you can take a look at our full list of conferencing venues in London to find something that works for you.