Will virtual trade shows replace in-person events?
Photo: @RLTheis via Twenty20

Will virtual trade shows replace in-person events?

Shoptalk last week became the latest conference to roll out virtual events, as numerous in-person gatherings have been canceled or postponed due to directives to avoid unnecessary travel.

Trade shows, fairs and conferences on down to annual meetings and company get-togethers are all quickly being reimagined as digital-only. Even if in-person events are able to return by the fall, it is assumed conferences will be required to implement social distancing practices, such as providing ample space between booths, one-way aisles and limiting the number of attendees.

Educational sessions are expected to translate more easily online than exhibit floor activities. Pre-recorded sessions can be watched at the viewer’s optimal time.

Livestreaming also promises more interactivity for digital audiences versus the occasional texted-quizzes at seminars. America’s fumbling with Zoom sessions, however, points to some challenges. Avi Reichental, founder of XponentialWorks, an advisory firm specializing in artificial intelligence and 3D printing, told Forbes, “Some people are naturally better on video than others and some people might unintentionally ‘showboat’ or talk over others when connected remotely.” 

Shorter sessions are also expected to be necessary for a laptop-bound audience.

Conference producers are attempting to bring expo floors and networking to virtual life, as well. Beyond digital talks in large and intimate settings, Shoptalk is introducing an expanded video conference-enabled version of its Hosted Retailers & Brands Program that promises to bring “thousands of individuals from hundreds of retailers and brands together with thousands of individuals from hundreds of sponsoring companies for upwards of 10,000 onsite, one-to-one meetings each year.”

In launching its series of virtual seven-day market weeks, The Toy Association said, “Just as if walking a show floor, virtual market week attendees will be able to explore a calendar of daily events, browse exhibitors by category, and book appointments for virtual demos and chats.”

Beyond the value of seeing and feeling product at booths, face-to-face meetings have long been seen as critical to building trust.

“Trade shows are very sensory in nature,” Cathy Breden, CEO at Center for Exhibition Industry Research, told Crain’s. “You use all five senses to feel and experience them, whether that’s examining a new product or shaking someone’s hand to build a relationship.”

BrainTrust

"As more event companies and vendors 'perfect' virtual meetings, in some cases they will replace or augment some in-person events."

David Naumann

Marketing Strategy Lead - Retail, Travel & Distribution, Verizon


"Virtual trade shows, while absolutely necessary this year, will wind up feeling more like Amazon shopping with chatbots than a live event."

Ben Ball

Senior Vice President, Dechert-Hampe (retired)


Discussion Questions

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS: Will virtual conferences be a temporary solution addressing current realities or permanently replace many in-person events? What do you see as the keys to producing successful virtual conferences?

Poll

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Bethany Allee
Member
3 years ago

The cat is out of the bag, and beancounters now know business can be conducted effectively through virtual means. This means high-dollar programs and face-to-face engagements are likely to be scaled way back. The same goes for high-dollar expense accounts.

The hottest trend in events for the past five to 10 years is experience – and this will be the single most important factor when producing successful virtual conferences. Ensuring the audience feels engaged and enriched by the experience is no longer an enhancing feature. Give them a unique experience on top and you’ve got a recipe for success.

Richard Hernandez
Active Member
3 years ago

While I am all for technology and have done virtual conferences, etc. there has to be ground rules on bandwidth and etiquette while having these conferences. I can see this becoming a trainwreck really fast with people talking over each other, forgetting to mute phones, too many people online, etc.

Oliver Guy
Member
3 years ago

I feel this needs a lot of thought – the repercussions across so many industries are huge. Microsoft and Facebook both said they will not do any physical events until July 2021. At the same time we have seen major exhibitors pull out of the Baselworld Watch show in Switzerland and worries about the future of international motor shows.

I really respect Microsoft and Facebook’s approach because they can invest the time (and money) in making really good virtual events rather than having things cancelled at the last minute. If other companies adopt similar approaches it could be that major shows (like NRF’s Big Show for example) over the next 12+ months may struggle to attract exhibitors. Even 18 months from now it may well be that attitudes of the customers who attended these physical events has changed – meaning that the reason to actually invest in exhibiting is diminished.

David Naumann
Active Member
3 years ago

For the most part, virtual conferences are likely a temporary solution to address our current situation. However, as more event companies and vendors “perfect” virtual meetings, in some cases, they will replace or augment some in-person events.

With travel restrictions, webinars have become one of the most successful marketing tools for companies as we are seeing attendance for these events soar to levels never experienced before COVID-19.

The biggest challenge with virtual events and meetings is the constant occurrence of people talking over each other. Managing microphones of attendees and turning them on and off to let people talk when they “raise their hand” might be a potential solution.

Lee Kent
Lee Kent
Member
Reply to  David Naumann
3 years ago

Totally agree that virtual events will be a great way to augment some in-person events. Having worked in the event business for several years now, I have seen much tighter reins on the pocketbook. It used to be that you could put on a good show and people would come back. Now days there are so many events vying for the purse strings that companies are having to scale back to only the BEST events. Whatever that is for them.

I believe that it comes down to building loyalty to an event just like you would to a brand and augmenting a single event into multiple virtual events is a good way to start building that loyalty. And that’s my 2 cents.

Art Suriano
Member
3 years ago

Virtual conferences are being conducted every day, with many more since the pandemic. I see no reason to think that they will not be a temporary solution for trade shows. I also understand that when things return to normal, whatever the new norm will be, we will see more uses for video, whether it be conferences, further instructional opportunities, and more.

Many churches are streaming their Sunday masses. With that has begun a big debate on whether or not, once churches are allowed to reopen, they will continue to stream. Many have found they’ve been able to expand their audience because they no longer have geographical boundaries. They find new viewers each week and have been able to reconnect with parishioners how have moved away. So if churches will continue to stream, why wouldn’t we assume there will be new uses for video conferencing in all industries? It comes down to making sure you have something worth watching, the quality is excellent, and those viewing are getting something out of it. I expect this to become another part of the business world going forward.

Ben Ball
Member
3 years ago

Social media has its limits. I have worked from home for several years now and love it as many do. And remote client service and associate collaboration is definitely doable. But virtual happy hours don’t feel like a party. And virtual trade shows, while absolutely necessary this year, will wind up feeling more like Amazon shopping with chatbots than a live event. This pandemic will certainly push the slope of the remote interaction curve higher, but expect a significant regression to the mean as soon as people can get together in groups again safely.

Bob Amster
Trusted Member
3 years ago

There is very little that can substitute for interpersonal exchanges. They forge and strengthen relationships. Some convention hall conferences may be replaced completely by virtual conferences but many won’t because the reason to go to them, for many attendees, is to see and talk to partners and acquaintances. The talks given at most of these conferences, however, can become a combination of in-person attendance and pay to “attend” a live-streaming event.

Ralph Jacobson
Member
3 years ago

“Will virtual trade shows replace in-person events?” Yep. They already have. Just like millions of companies are finding out how much remote workers save the businesses money and actually become more productive, virtual events are also far more productive and less costly than face-to-face events. Humans will more likely sign up for a virtual event rather than deal with the travel logistics of being there onsite. I think long-term the convention center business is in jeopardy.

Jeff Sward
Noble Member
3 years ago

The whole trade show scene will find a new equilibrium with short, medium and long term solutions. With necessity being the mother of invention, the short term will mean a lot more video gathering, however imperfect it may be. And in a post-vaccine world, we can again consider physical gatherings again. In the meantime, my guess is that somebody is frantically at work on 3-D product presentations that will try to make up for some of what we will miss without engaging all five senses.

Jeff Weidauer
Jeff Weidauer
Member
3 years ago

While I don’t think trade shows will be completely replaced by virtual events, many will struggle unless they can demonstrate a compelling reason to attend live. Much like shopping, it’s all about the experience now. On the flipside, I think we will see many more virtual events created with smaller, more targeted audiences now that the barriers to entry are lower.

Bob Phibbs
Trusted Member
3 years ago

The novelty of video conferencing is strong but I predict we are approaching Zoomfatigue. As a motivational speaker, I believe we will return to large gatherings at some point as there is an intangible value to coming together for those chance encounters in the hall or bar where attendees find their tribe, support, and encouragement. Virtual is fine if you’re just presenting product in a pinch but it’s not the same as holding, touching, and being in the moment. I might be off the stage for a while but, from the inquiries I’m getting, not all that long.

Gene Detroyer
Noble Member
Reply to  Bob Phibbs
3 years ago

I am already fatigued!

Neil Saunders
Famed Member
3 years ago

I am sure there will be more virtual conferences than before, once this crisis has abated. But no, I do not believe that virtual conferences will replace real ones entirely. Those who think they will fall into exactly the same trap as those who believe online will replace all physical retail sales: they ignore the fact that we are social creatures.

Very few people want to sit behind a screen all day. We want to go out into the world and experience things tangibly; we want to meet and greet each other in person. That is a natural human instinct and it will not be sated by doing everything virtually.

Suresh Chaganti
Suresh Chaganti
Member
3 years ago

Obviously there are going be significant headwinds at least for the next 12 months. Even after that I expect significant scrutiny at all levels – sponsors, exhibitors and attendees.

I think the industry has to come up with a better value proposition. Over the past two or three years I have been seeing conferences playing formal matchmaker/doing speed dating to match prospects with vendors. More initiatives in that direction could help.

Cathy Hotka
Trusted Member
3 years ago

I’ve been managing virtual meetings this spring, and structure is very important. The moderator needs to call on participants to speak, and advance planning is a must. Brevity is a plus. Online meetings aren’t organic; they have to be managed, top-down.

Zel Bianco
Zel Bianco
Active Member
3 years ago

When we get back to what may look like normal, there will be a mix of regular trade shows and virtual ones. When we feel more comfortable, most of us will be anxious to get back to some level of social interaction and that includes trade shows and conferences. I agree with some of my fellow BrainTrust commentators that using all your senses cannot be replaced virtually. This is especially true with trade shows like NACS, Expo West, Fancy Food Show and more where buyers want to feel, taste and smell products they may want to buy. This, of course, will present challenges like individually wrapping each product to be tried, etc., but we will find a way.

I also agree that it will be a good excuse for CFOs to say no to trade shows but perhaps organizers need to consider making them regional so that expenses can be controlled.

Gene Detroyer
Noble Member
3 years ago

I can see the continuation of virtual conferences or meetings. But a virtual trade show makes no sense to me. Oliver mentioned international auto shows. Can you imagine getting the same bang from introducing a car online as letting people actually see it?

I have been on both sides of trade shows. As an exhibitor, I always had to take deep breaths because of how much they cost. But I could never see an alternative. The personal interaction it creates with the product and the people is priceless. Given a choice to spend less or more, I always chose more.

And the same goes for the other side. You spend days walking aisles to find the one thing that fits your needs. As awful as those days were, I can’t even imagine how awful being online for days doing the same thing would be. And no, I don’t want some software to cull the exhibitors that I would see. That is like a streaming service suggesting the movies I would like based on what I watched. I might enjoy some of those movies that the algorithm failed to suggest and I certainly don’t always enjoy some of the provided recommendations.

Oliver Guy
Member
Reply to  Gene Detroyer
3 years ago

I do agree with you regarding difficult getting a “bang” from an online event, however, there are alternatives to reveals at auto shows.

I actually believe Jaguar Land Rover have pioneered some interesting ideas in this area — the current Discovery was launched by driving it across a Lego model of Tower Bridge and while there was an audience in attendance it was streamed live on the internet. Equally the launch of the Range Rover was focused around a video of the car driving up a 999 step elevation. With the right planning and imagination, I feel any type of business can make a decent attempt at launching via a different format — and I feel we are likely to see some massive innovation in this area coming from Microsoft and Facebook in the next 15 months.

Georganne Bender
Noble Member
3 years ago

My partner Rich and I make our living speaking at trade shows and corporate meetings. Currently we are doing a lot of virtual work, and while it’s good, it’s just not the same. People need face-to-face interaction.

I definitely think the virtual world will be with us for a while, and in a different capacity when the COVID-19 pandemic is over. But just as consumers will still crave the brick-and-mortar experience, we will return to physical trade shows. Can you imagine NRF’s Big Show on a computer screen? I, for one, cannot.

Tony Orlando
Member
3 years ago

The larger conventions like NGA will continue, and smaller venues will shrink over time. I am working on a virtual food show with Lipari as we speak and it is somewhat intimidating to work through the process, but we shall see how this goes. No Show Food Shows have been around forever and, if you participate, than you get some great deals without leaving your store. If you can build trust with the sales reps, then working virtually through the deals is a piece of cake. The face-to-face convention style shows are still popular, and hopefully they will continue. The one suggestion I have made in the past to the NGA staff is the follow-up on the vendor’s part to make sure the potential customers get all of their questions asked afterwards. If that gets better, all of us benefit from the show — either virtual or face-to-face.

Steve Montgomery
Steve Montgomery
Member
3 years ago

There are many reasons to attend a trade show. One of those that cannot be replaced by a virtual show is networking between attendees and exhibitors, and between attendees and other attendees. Zoom meeting may have advantages over phone calls but pale in comparison to face-to-face discussions. I can see virtual meetings as a temporary solution but not as a permanent solution.

Ryan Grogman
Member
3 years ago

When I ask most attendees what they get out of trade conferences, the most common answers I receive revolve around reconnecting with members of one’s network in person or making new connections with colleagues or prospects (although perhaps now people would say in retrospect that it’s the endless amount of branded hand sanitizers that can be grabbed). For certain conferences, virtual may make more sense going forward as travel budgets will be tight on all fronts in the next year or two. However, I think most conferences will return to in-person venues. Even today’s technology cannot replace the experience of walking an expo hall for product demos and the informal, spontaneous conversations with small groups. It will be interesting to see how in-person events evolve to address potentially long-lasting implications of the current pandemic environment: will social distancing limit some of the packed-in sessions, will there be less “hands on” evaluation of tangible products on show floors, and will other cities replace NYC or Las Vegas as key conference hubs?

Dave Wendland
Active Member
3 years ago

There is a place for both virtual trade events and in-person conferences. Although I don’t see in-person events completely going away, I foresee significant change to their purpose, their structure, and their value. It has also become undeniably apparent that virtual conferences, presentations, and certain meetings can definitely survive (and thrive) virtually. The other certainty that is becoming evident as a result of the circumstances we face, is travel IS NOT always necessary to have a productive meeting, exchange of ideas, or to advance a business relationship. I predict the face of travel and the intent and value of face-to-face meetings and conferences will come under increased scrutiny.

Richard J. George, Ph.D.
Active Member
3 years ago

Both. Some will be temporary and some will permanently replace in-person events. The extent to which it becomes permanent will be a function of the available technology and the need to involve multiple senses. For example, food shows rely on most of our senses and make virtual conferences a challenge. However the ability to chat with the chef, watch virtual demos, download the menu and ingredients, etc., may make for a hybrid model of an in-person (trust building) and virtual (safe information sharing) conference or, in this case, food show. The keys to this model are brevity of presentations and interactive capabilities.

Ryan Mathews
Trusted Member
3 years ago

The answer is, it depends on the show and the industry, but – at best – virtual conferencing is a bridge to whatever comes next. The ugly, quiet truth is that many trade shows no longer have the value they once did, for either vendors or attendees. My guess is that whenever all this is over, companies will take a hard look at events that have been “grandfathered in” seemingly in perpetuity and pare down their spend according to their needs and market. I think we will see the “middle” players in many markets and categories just go away in the post-COVID world. We’re also likely to see accelerated levels of post-pandemic M&As, further consolidating a number of industries. And the more those middle ground players fall away and the more industries consolidate, the less you will need trade shows, virtual or physical.

Rich Kizer
Member
3 years ago

Virtual meetings take place every day in our lives. But business shows are serious business. Shopping in a virtual store never will give us all the information, let alone ideas on what we can find or how to SELL the product. Thus the trade show offers a much more thorough experience with vendors dedicated to the success of their customers. Interacting with representatives of products at trade shows offers a wealth of specific information tailored to the attendee’s particular need. And very importantly, attendees have the opportunities to meet with others in a similar line of businesses and share success strategies, great deals and products they find at the show, as well as the opportunity of creating ongoing of working relationships and sharing ideas all year long. That’s power!

Paula Rosenblum
Noble Member
3 years ago

Personally I’ve felt the “death march” of conferences for many years now — they have started to seem like an outmoded concept.

Smaller events where you can actually learn things, or vendor visits to interested retailers are just more cost-effective than burning your marketing budget on what trade shows have become.

I may be in the minority, and that’s fine, but I think the huge event is an anachronism that companies keep doing “because they always have.” There are better ways to spend marketing dollars.

Ed Rosenbaum
Ed Rosenbaum
Member
Reply to  Paula Rosenblum
3 years ago

Many vendors have limited budgets that is better off spent in other ways. But they are forced to attend the events because their larger customers are attending, and they can’t afford to have others working to take their business.

Lee Peterson
Member
3 years ago

I go to these events to meet people, so let’s hope this year is an anomaly (for a lot of things!). Also, as a speaker, you have to love that live audience. If not, you shouldn’t be doing it.

Cynthia Holcomb
Member
3 years ago

Nothing replaces human-to-human interactions. In a pandemic, virtual trade shows keep some of the momentum going, but they will never replace the intricacies and opportunities of one-to-one physical world interactions and conversations which, by their very existence, light the dynamic spread of “aha” moments and goodwill. These things are only found at physical world conferences.

Ed Rosenbaum
Ed Rosenbaum
Member
3 years ago

Virtual conferencing is an excellent temporary replacement for face to face meetings. After the dust settles we will continue to see more virtual meetings conducted during the sales process. The one thing that cannot be accomplished by these virtual meetings is chemistry. Chemistry is important to develop during the sales process. It is often the one thing that will separate one company from another with all other factors (but chemistry) being equal.

Sheri Blattel
3 years ago

I predict a balance of both physical and virtual that will vary across industries. There are some inherent benefits to a virtual platform for quick-hitting informational webinars and brief presentations. Those have been standard practice for some time.

The volume of people gathering in close proximity will transition over time as we adopt new physical distancing protocols resulting in a phased re-entry to hosting large scale conferences and trade shows. Personal interaction cannot be replaced, it must exist in some form. Some of the best contacts and opportunities in my career have been a result of the informal exchange in the coffee line or introducing yourself to the attendee sitting next to you in a presentation.

Mel Kleiman
Member
3 years ago

My vote says virtual will not replace in-person events for a couple of reasons:

  1. On the educational side. Some of the best learning that takes place at events is not what the presenters have to say but the interaction with other attendees.
  2. Virtual can never replace the touch and feel when it comes to experiencing are judging a product.
Liz Adamson
3 years ago

We may see an increase in virtual events as the lower overhead and increased familiarity may encourage more organizers to try it out. However virtual events will never completely replace in-person conferences. As someone who has worked from a home office for almost 10 years and who has attended both virtual and in-person conferences, there is an obvious difference between the two and in-person lends itself to being a much more rich experience.

Craig Sundstrom
Craig Sundstrom
Noble Member
3 years ago

Temporary. (Though this isn’t “HospitalityWire” — the mere thought is likely to induce ER visits in that industry).

I believe people will find that while they CAN do things virtually, they won’t want to.