In late June, CEN reported that Event Tech Live, the annual London, U.K.-based trade show and conference dedicated to event technology, would take place as a hybrid event. However, due to new gathering restrictions in response to rising COVID-19 infections across the U.K., coupled with travel restrictions for international exhibitors, the decision was made to push the show to virtual only.

Now, ETL is scheduled to take place virtually from Nov. 2-6, with plans for a hybrid event in 2021. In normal years, the face-to-face event offers educational programming across six stages, showcases event tech providers and introduces new players to the market through start-up competitions. 

So far, the ETL has already confirmed a wealth of new international exhibitors and speakers, with more than 50 percent of registrations heralding from outside the U.K. thus far, demonstrating how powerful virtual events can be in attracting a global audience to an event brand.

“With even more content available to us from corners of the world typically out of reach of London, we’re confident Event Tech Live ‘20 will be able to deliver its traditional mix of ingenuity, novelty, problem solving and interaction,” said ETL Co-Founder Adam Parry.

“Technology has helped to push businesses of all sectors, sizes and kinds around the corner in terms of their communication/interaction strategy during the pandemic, so it’s an ideal time to demonstrate tech’s next steps at ETL [and] how it’s coloring in the virtual floor plan.”

Parry added that ETL Virtual will maintain the show’s commitment to independent content. Using matchmaking software, visitors can specify which of the more than 100 educational sessions and event tech demonstrations they want to watch as well as arrange meetings with exhibitors and industry peers.

According to Tech Evangelist Dahlia El Gazzar, who is a regular speaker at ETL, the show is now more relevant for event professionals than ever before, especially for those trying to figure out what their future events and experiences are going to look like. 

“Now you can participate in the sessions, discussions, schedule time with other peers that are going through the same hamster wheel, and more so, take a look at the event tech companies that are changing up how events will be going forward,” El Gazzar said. “I challenge all event profs to reach out to the tech companies as strategic partners and advisors – don’t only ask about the features of their platform. Ask them how they can make you acquire and retain audiences, and their attention, and how to monetize your events going forward.”

Confirmed event tech companies at ETL Virtual will include U.S.-based companies including Hubilo, Socio, Swoogo, InEvent and EventCore, together with top tech businesses across the U.K. and Europe.

“The hybrid show will be back next year and having designed ETL across the dimensions since January, we’re in a great position to make it fully virtual meantime,” Parry added.

Learn more or register for Event Tech Live 2020 here.