Think of the experience of attending a live sporting event.
Thousands of people will show up for the live event, but millions tune in on TV and have a vastly different but equally enjoyable experience (probably more so if your team wins!). The TV viewing experience is designed, planned, and produced with engaging content, informative commentary, sound design (hearing the refs and/or the players), and other offerings not available to those in person.
Now, think about the last time you experienced a virtual event. Chances are, the live event had more of an impact on you. This is because humans are social creatures who crave interaction and engagement with other people.
Much like TV programs include a live studio audience, live events supply the content necessary to increase the engagement of the remote viewing audience. Add to this the advances in communication technology over the past two years and you have all the tools you need to create memorable virtual experiences with global reach.
Hybrid events are becoming an effective and profitable event strategy because they combine the intimacy and engagement of live events with the interactivity, flexibility, and global reach of virtual events. This promising approach combines two powerful experiences that can complement one another.