2019 meeting technology trends are about new uses for—and refinements to—the tools we are already using.
We turned to the experts for the top 2019 meeting technology trends. What we see is the same technology making waves right now, but being used in new and innovative ways.
Drones for Hotspots and Security
The Federal Aviation Administration predicts that up to 7 million drones will be flying by 2020. Over the next 12 months, we will see drones taking a more functional role, rather than flashy. For example, drones can actually be utilized as mobile hotspots. If your event needs better internet speed or network connections, adding a drone hotspot can make a big difference. Also, drones will become a powerful tool in event security. Drones fitted with cameras offer the possibility of continuous aerial monitoring, allowing for the detection of security violations or suspicious behavior. Source: Hubb Event Management Solutions
Chatbots as Personnel
Chatbots will take off in the hotel industry. The Cosmopolitan Hotel in Las Vegas, for example, uses a VIP virtual host that goes by the name of Rose. With a sense of humor, Rose can respond quickly to amenity requests and give out recommendations for local bars and restaurants. At the Clarion Hotel in Amsterdam, guests are introduced to their AI-enabled chatbot butler, an in-room assistant based on Amazon Echo. Equipped with power features, it is designed to help guests with many of their requirements such as hailing taxis, ordering room service, finding information online and other hotel-related operations. Source: BCD Meetings & Events
“Phygital” Events
Are virtual meetings set to replace live events? The answer to that is a resounding no, but for increasingly complex events at multiple locations around the globe, virtual and hybrid meetings—also known as “phygital,” a cross between physical and digital—are the future. Meeting Professionals International’s latest outlook finds that 60 percent of meeting and event professionals feel virtual events have a positive influence on live event attendance. Source: CWT 2019 Meeting & Events Forecast
360-Degree Reporting
Many planners are drawing event data from various technologies, not all of which are integrated: event management software, registration systems, event apps, post-event surveys. An optimized data dashboard, such as Ontrac, can consolidate relevant data and extract actionable KPIs. The goal is to get a 360-degree view of attendees’ experiences by bringing together the disparate technology tools used throughout the planning and executing process to build a useful picture of the event’s effectiveness based on the full range of data points available. Source: Omnience Event Management
Live Events Via Social Media
Another option for social media is to broadcast an event, or part of the event, live. Although live video feeds have been around for some time, the next frontier provides a more immersive experience. New technology that debuted at the Golden Globe awards involved some attendees wearing special wireless video cameras that were synced with Snapchat’s Spectacles service. This meant circular videos featuring 115-degree fields of view could be beamed directly to users’ feeds. Source: &Meetings
