Three years ago, three Meeting Professional International Chapters (MPI) came together to create a new experience for their members called The EVENT. The inaugural event took place in Ottawa and promised to be a conference like no other. It did not disappoint. Montreal had the pleasure of hosting it in its second year, and the 3rd Chapter was slated for Toronto on April 2-4, 2020.
AV-CANADA was excited to be chosen as the audiovisual sponsor for the 2020 The EVENT. We had planned on creating an elaborate LED wall set-up in the main room to help showcase their Architect Partner, Edmonton Tourism. We had planned on providing them with an amazing experience through the use of audio visuals. Just as our graphics team began brainstorming the content and backgrounds for the wall, the Pandemic hit. Unfortunately, The EVENT had been postponed to 2021.
Sad to see it go, but we still considered ourselves as a Partner for the year. Not wanting tolet 2020 go to waste, we brought the suggestion to The EVENT Committee that we could add to our sponsorship by hosting a half-day virtual conference. By holding a new mini version of The EVENT it would allow themto show their members the importance of adaptability. It may not provide the same types of networking that planners and supplier are used to at face-to-face events but it does provide value. They could showcase all of their Partners that did not withdraw from their obligation, including ourselves, by providing them each with their own virtual tradeshow booth. They could also provide value through education to those attendees that did not ask for a refund, at no cost. It could also be the means of new revenue if they decide to charge their members, who were not previously registered, a nominal fee.
Currently, the reimagined 2020 the EVENT is scheduled to take place in September. AV-CANADA is excited to be working alongside the Committee once again on creating this virtual experience. In the end, we believe that the MPI Toronto, Ottawa and Montreal/Quebec Chapters will be proud of what we have done to help them reinvent the EVENT.
