Elton Lee Hesketh

Should you be concerned about cybersecurity and your event? The answer is YES! The events industry is a fertile hunting ground for hackers. Large amounts of data are recorded for event management purposes, from ticket purchases and e-commerce transactions to forms filled with personal information. This information is valuable to cybercriminals who steal it for fraudulent purposes and financial gain. Here are some important insights for understanding cyber security threats in the context of events, and what you can do to keep clients, guests, suppliers, and employees cyber safe.

Conferences are just the types of events most likely to be influenced by the metaverse. Virtual attendees won’t simply be able to talk to brands or keynote speakers via social media and virtual breakout rooms.Instead, they will be able to interact with them directly in 3D or holographic form. With its roots in video games, the metaverse will help to boost energy and engagement through gamification. Even before the metaverse, gamification left 87% of workers feeling more socially connected.

The global events industry has taken a severe beating since the COVID-19 pandemic emerged but there are glimmers of hope for the industry, predicted to be valued at $1,552.9 billion by 2028. Forward thinking brands continue to use events to connect with their customers, suppliers and partners, with technology advancements enabling innovation in the way that meetings, conferences, product launches and other experiences are delivered. 

Kings of Leon’s NFT drops serve as an indication of NFTs’ potential to disrupt the world of events and entertainment as we know it. Imagine owning front-row tickets to all of their concerts for the rest of your life?One of the big reasons that NFTs are significant for brands is that they can be used to present any form of digital file, from photographs, videos and audio to virtual tickets to events. They also have exciting scope to represent other types of creative work like virtual real estate, virtual worlds, clothing, and electronic games’ characters.NFTs give marketers special opportunity to create unique brand experiences that inspire interest and interaction. Because NFTs can provide a small sense of ownership, they become valuable when they carry meaning for a person. 

After 18 months of the worldwide coronavirus pandemic, the global events and exhibitions industry has had some time to experiment and adapt their strategies – and things are looking up. Surveys suggest that by the last quarter of 2021, most people will be comfortable attending in-person events if safety precautions are taken and numbers are controlled.