Engage Attendees with these 5 Tech Trends

5 event technology trends to love right now that both wow and engage your attendees.

Events today are all about experiences. Death by PowerPoint is no longer tolerated and attendees want to be wowed. Here are 5 of my favorite tech trends that give off both the wow-factor attendees want and the engagement you need.

1. Catch box

It’s a bird. It’s a plane. It’s CATCHBOX, a throw-able microphone. I have used this nifty gadget for events both big and small. It not only keeps attendees engaged and interacting but leaves them with that memorable experience they crave. Perfect for that after lunch slump. It is light and soft and senses when in motion so to temporarily switch off the audio for when the device is thrown, caught or dropped. It can even be customized and branded. Sheer genius. No one will dare nod off during your meeting. Just remember to DUCK!

2. Hinged Self-Closing Chafers

Hoteliers, caterers, venues listen up!! These are amazing. I saw one for the first time at the Tangla hotel in Brussels, Belgium and was like a kid in a candy store. I couldn’t stop playing with it.  Yes, Event Geek, Capital G.

The dome cover is attached with a hinge, keeping the food warm and covered at all times, while the see-through glass window allowed for the quick identification of the contents inside without even lifting the lid. Once you pressed down on the lid, it slowly descended on its own, as if by magic, until it was closed. You know, like the fancy kitchen cabinets that close now with just a tap. Relieving your ears of the slamming thud and the clattering unrest of the silverware inside.

Here too, our event-going ears are saved of the ting and ping of the closing, oh so awkward, chaffer lid of yesterday. If that wasn’t enough, we now no longer need to hunt for a place to put it or require 3 hands to lift it, hold the plate, and shovel the food. Food stays hot and germs stay at bay.

Sanitary, sleek, classy and just FUN! Everyone was talking about it. Just make sure event geeks like me are in the back of the buffet line or we’ll slow down the flow.

3. Poll Everywhere

Ever been at a Conference and the Presenter asks a question and no one responds or raises their hand? Awkward. Enter, Poll Everywhere. This little tech saver alleviates that conference killer.

The audience gets asked a question. They answer via text message or the web. And then the results appear live in your web browser or PowerPoint. It immediately fosters discussion and increases engagement and relevance.

Meanwhile, attendees’ answers stay anonymous and speakers get the instant feedback they need. Easy, fast, and flexible. A Meeting Planner Mantra. One word of caution…just make sure the venue has the bandwidth to support! Lesson learned.

4. Click Share

Ran into this little gem at the Charlotte Marriott City Center. ClickShare allows for multiple presenters to share presentation control with a mere click of a button. No wires, no unplugging, no meeting delays. It has a base unit that plugs into your display, and buttons that plug into your USB port. You simply click to gain priority and share your content. Works on laptops, smartphones, and tablets and without software installation. Now you may be thinking, doesn’t this encourage the dreaded death-by-PowerPoint? On the contrary. Allowing for multiple presenters opens the door for a collaborative environment that gets more people interacting and engaging in the content. All seamlessly.

5. Digital Signage

Once you have hosted an event at a venue where you can display your own branded digital signage, it is hard to turn back.

Media Installations create a superior attendee experience. The Intercontinental, Miami on Biscayne Bay is just crawling with them, from the hotel lobby to the elevator banks, to the meeting registration desk. Each unique location showcases branded content that matters and engages. It’s visually appealing, creates less waste, and eliminates shipping hassles. This Planner gives 2 thumbs up!

For a comprehensive guide to understand how event technology is used in events, check out the Event Manager Blog’s Event Technology Formula: Strategies, Tactics, and Tools that Work. What event tech trends are you seeing out there? Please comment and share your favorites…

Eventfully, Angela

Eventfully Angela is a premier independent event management partner specializing in Corporate Events. Based in Charlotte, NC, Eventfully Angela fills the resource gaps of businesses both large and small, with premium and customized services. Specialties include full-service planning, sourcing and venue selection, on-site day of support, consulting and contract audits, event marketing, experiential event design, and fully customized event registration websites. 704-754-2627 angela@eventfullyangela.com

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