Reduce Your Carbon Footprint by Shifting to Hybrid Events

As the world is adjusting to a “new normal” and many workers return to an office environment, there are no guarantees for tomorrow. Any sense of predictability has left the business world. Organizations must plan for the unforeseen and prepare for the unpredictable.

Hybrid and virtual events make it easy to bring some level of certainty to events, meetings, conventions, and other events. The convention industry is expected to grow more than 11% within the next decade. But it will look vastly different than it has in past decades.

Some events will always require an in-person component. That’s where hybrid events leverage the benefits of both formats — live and virtual — to deliver what every attendee and participant needs.

See the Difference Hybrid Events Can Make For the Planet

As webcasting, virtual events, and hybrid events shift to part of the new normal organizations are set to embrace, planet Earth emerges the clear winner. Many companies don’t adopt hybrid events with an eye on sustainability — although some do. The more people attend a conference or meeting, the greater the environmental impact.

The Benefits are Well-Documented and Far-Reaching:

Hybrid events (with no more than half of the attendees online) reduce an event’s carbon footprint by 67%
Virtual events reduce carbon footprint by 94%
Virtual events can reduce energy use by 90%
By hosting hybrid events in carefully selected hub cities, companies can further reduce carbon emissions related to travel

What can Add to Carbon Emissions?

By contrast, the energy and equipment use required for virtual and hybrid events doesn’t come close to the impact of a real-world event. Real-world events add carbon emissions not just from travel but from:

Printed brochures, handouts, and signage
Energy for food production and waste from food
Water use
Energy use
Municipal and solid waste

Benefits of Virtual and Hybrid Events

Streamline operations and reduce costs with hybrid events

It costs a lot to rent a venue, provide food and amenities, promote a real-world event, and then send your staff out to run the event. Hybrid events can help you reduce costs with a smaller venue and less staff.

Preserve (or increase) revenue

Hybrid events are clearly better for the planet. But business owners are realizing that hybrid events also help their bottom line in tangible, measurable ways. Businesses that embrace hybrid events will enjoy reduced costs, increased efficiency, and enhanced employee productivity.

Save employees’ time

The days leading up to and following a tradeshow or large-scale event are often rife with stress, anticipation, and, finally, detailed follow-ups. Consider the time spent sorting and reconciling expense receipts and issuing payments as just one example. Travel arrangements also require time and staff. If you reduce your attendees by half, you are reducing the necessary workloads and expenses, as well.

Reduce business risks

You always take a chance and face liability when people gather for an event you’re hosting. While event insurance should cover your organization and the venue, you further reduce risk and liability if attendees tune in from their own homes or offices.

Increase productivity

Time spent traveling to an event takes up time and also drains workers’ energy. Logging into a virtual event means employees and attendees can quickly shift gears, attend your event, and then ramp up their productivity for daily tasks when the event is over.

Eliminate jetlag

While it may not be a big consideration for local events, global events or even conferences that span the US can cause issues for attendees suffering from jetlag. You may not get the best out of every attendee or presenter if they aren’t operating at their peak times due to cross-country or international travel.

Make events more inclusive

Many people cannot travel to events due to physical limitations, cost concerns, or the timing of events. Hybrid webcasts could make your events more accessible to working parents, people with disabilities, and anyone who may find it hard to leave their home region.

Why Hybrid Instead of Virtual?

Even with all these benefits of virtual events, there remains a time and place for events with a physical component. That’s where hybrid events come in as the perfect blend of sustainability, cost savings, and real-world interaction.

Having in-person, live presenters and select audience members in a live setting can increase the energy of an event (in a positive way) while keeping the carbon footprint down. There’s no reason to choose a virtual or a live event: Hybrid events deliver the best of both worlds.

Benefits of Hybrid Events:

Real-world interaction
On-site networking
Increased ambiance and excitement
Reduced carbon footprint
On-demand recordings available after the event
Inclusiveness

How GlobalMeet Can Help with Your Next Hybrid Event?

If you’re reading this, hybrid events may seem like a new trend. But GlobalMeet has been producing hybrid events for more than 20 years. When you use GlobalMeet for your hybrid event, our expert team can assist with: