BestCities and the International Association of Professional Congress Organisers (IAPCO) have come together to help associations articulate hybrid congress guidelines in a new resource.
In the wake of the pandemic, associations must rethink the design and delivery of events to ensure they can bring together international delegates safely and without travel if necessary.
The new, complimentary bid guidelines template articulates these new requirements to PCOs and CVBs, equipping them with the support to deliver hybrid event formats.
The template will address crucial points for the hosting of virtual event components including consideration of destination selection, appropriate software choices for streaming, capturing content and security, facilitation of networking, the cost for attendees, and promotion of the event.
Feedback on commitment to accessibility, diversity and impact through legacy ambitions are also central to the template and should be considered in both virtual and physical event delivery contexts.
Corne Koch, board chair, BestCities Global Alliance, said in a statement: “The past year has been incredibly challenging for our industry, but through knowledge sharing and a passion for delivering impactful work has seen innovation blossom through resilience and adapting to our new normal.
“It’s clear that virtual events or hybrid event formats are here to stay for some time to come, so in order to help associations receive proposals from PCOs and host destinations which take this into account, this new template will provide the first building block in designing a hybrid event.”
The template is available for download on IAPCO and BestCities websites.
