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Life – at long last – is beginning to return to normal. But not everything will be as it was before.
The corporate events industry survived by going online; hybrid and virtual events blossomed. But as great as they can be, we’ve all been missing in-person events.
However, 73% of event planners believe that virtual and hybrid events will continue to be a dominant fixture in the world of corporate events.
Therefore, the challenge for event planners is to make these events better for virtual attendees. And one of the best answers to this so far is the satellite event.
What is a Satellite Event?
A satellite event could theoretically take place on one of the 3,372 active satellites orbiting the earth.
But what we really mean is an event that takes place at more than one location simultaneously. It’s as simple as that. Our definition also includes virtual attendees.
This concept emphasises that all of these locations feel like they are part of one complete event, as opposed to copy-and-paste events that happen to be on at the same time.
It’s an extraordinary and bold event to pull off. It can be pulled off as a public event, or an internal event for international or transnational companies. If the head office is too far away, this could be the perfect idea to bring a company together.
So now you’re thinking, what makes a satellite event different to a hybrid event? That’s a good question because there are indeed some similarities. And if we’re being honest, a satellite event is an extension of a hybrid event.
How they differ comes down to one simple thing: more than one physical event location. So, for example, if you have a hybrid conference in Frankfurt, you can turn it into a satellite conference by having a sister location in London or anywhere else.
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Why Satellite Events Are Good For Your Guests
- Less Travelling
Less travelling means that attending your event will be cheaper and more convenient for your potential guests. It means they can take less time out of their lives and save money on accommodation and travel. It could be the difference that turns a might-be-attending to a yes-attending.
- Increased Engagement
The intrinsic problem event planners have with hybrid, and virtual events are with attendee engagement. As many as 71% of event planners say it’s their most significant issue with these kinds of events.
The thing is, virtual attendees are essentially one box on a screen of many. The increased options in a satellite event make it a more personal, dynamic, and accessible experience.
As for what that experience is, well, satellite events are highly versatile. You can host any kind of event you please. For some inspiration, check out these unique corporate event ideas.
- They’re Just Exciting
It might be a superfluous reason, but events can and should be about more than just networking opportunities. They should be an experience. If you can offer your guests a simultaneous, immersive and dynamic event with people in different countries, it’s just more magical, and that’s of value in and of itself.
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Why Satellite Events Are Good For Event Planners
- Larger Reach: More Money, More Dissemination
Satellite event venues are good for event planners because you have much more potential attendees. More attendees can mean either increased revenue, more exposure, increased dissemination or all of the above.
It’s really as simple as that. Pulling in attendees is half the battle; monetising it effectively is the other. So if you need pointers on how to increase the revenue of your virtual event, check out this handy guide by our friends at Spacehuntr.
- Easing Back From Covid
Satellite events are also a super stepping stone back into live global events. Because although the world is slowly bouncing back from Covid-19, international travel is still an issue and will be for some time.
Offering in-person events closer to home makes your event safer, cheaper and more accessible. In short, regional satellite locations retain the demeanour of an international occasion without the hassle.
And what’s more, splitting up your event into smaller regional locations means smaller in person capacities, which means it’s more covid friendly by nature. Where is the flaw, we ask?
- Impressive in Scope
And finally, it’s good for your company because it’s just impressive. Anyone can arrange an event in any city at any time. But to pull off an international satellite event is more impressive.
That’s going to get more people talking. That natural word of mouth traction is hard to cultivate! And to really get your name out there, read this guide on how to spread the word about an event by tapping into psychology.
Wrapping up
So to wrap up, satellite events are a welcome new sub-genre in the category of virtual and hybrid events. And the great thing is, they’re not just a quick fix to bridge the industry back into international events; they’ve got value in and of themselves.