The Challenges
The British Canoeing Delivery Partner Conference faced a few challenges that they had to address in order to deliver a successful virtual event. One of the main challenges was to ensure that the virtual platform was engaging and interactive enough to keep the attendees interested throughout the event. As virtual events lack the physical presence and social interactions that in-person events offer, there was a risk that attendees could lose interest and become disengaged.
Another challenge was to provide the attendees with an immersive experience, just like they would have had in an in-person event. This included ensuring that the virtual platform was user-friendly and accessible to everyone, regardless of their technical skills. The organizers also had to consider the different time zones of the attendees and provide them with an opportunity to catch up on the content if they missed any sessions.
Furthermore, the British Canoeing Delivery Partner Conference had to ensure that the virtual platform they selected could cater to the needs of their diverse audience, which included sole traders, activity centers, hire providers, small and large organizations, etc. They had to ensure that the content presented was relevant and useful to all the attendees, and that they could network and connect with like-minded businesses.
Another challenge was to ensure that the content presented at the conference was engaging, informative, and useful to the attendees. The conference included topical workshops on various subjects related to paddlesports, and it was essential to ensure that the attendees found the content relevant and interesting.
Finally, the organizers had to ensure that they could gather feedback from the attendees to understand their experience and identify areas for improvement. This feedback was crucial to ensure that the next virtual Delivery Partner Conference could be even more successful than the first.
The Solution
Event Gallery
To address the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, the British Canoeing Delivery Partner team decided to host their first virtual conference. They chose vFairs as their technology provider, which offered a range of features to make the event engaging, interactive, and easy to navigate. Here are some of the key features used in the event:
Virtual Booths
The event featured virtual booths, which allowed attendees to visit different sponsors, exhibitors, and partners. This feature recreated the experience of browsing through physical booths and provided attendees with a chance to learn about the latest products and services offered by different companies. Attendees could also chat with booth representatives and schedule one-on-one video meetings.
Webinars
The event featured a range of webinars that covered diverse topics related to paddlesport activities. Attendees could join the webinars of their choice, and the sessions were recorded and made available for later viewing. This feature helped overcome the challenge of accommodating attendees from different time zones and allowed them to watch the sessions at a convenient time.
Chat and Video Calls
The chat and video call feature allowed attendees to interact with each other and with the event organizers. Attendees could join group discussions or click on a user name for an individual chat or to schedule a video meeting. This feature helped attendees network with like-minded businesses and build connections with others in the paddlesport community.
Photo Booth
The photo booth was a popular feature that allowed attendees to take pictures of themselves and share them on social media. This feature created a fun and engaging experience for attendees and helped recreate the social aspect of physical events.
Swag Bag
Attendees could fill their virtual swag bags with over 500 items, including brochures, product samples, and promotional offers. This feature provided attendees with a range of materials to browse through and learn more about the different products and services offered by sponsors and partners.
The Results
The Delivery Partner Conference 2022 was a success, with 100% satisfaction rate according to feedback gathered at the event. Attendees filled their swag bags with over 500 items, and 94% of people surveyed appreciated the event’s ease of use, while 97% were happy with the content presented.
