Why virtual & hybrid will be key for running events in 2021

January 28, 2021 Guest User

The events and hospitality industry is barely recognisable from its pre-2020 iteration. With teams shrinking, venues closing and guestlists moved online, it would be easy to write it off as a Coronavirus casualty and move on to another sector. However, innovations in the ever-resilient hospitality sphere mean we are still able to thrive, by bringing hybrid events to our guests when we can’t bring guests to our events.

What is a hybrid event?

A hybrid event blends the personality and intimacy of a live, in-person event with the accessibility and capabilities of a virtual event or broadcast. While its current popularity may have been borne out of the coronavirus pandemic, it’s success will last far beyond, and will continue to grow and develop alongside clients’ and guests’ needs. Hybrid events offer an effective and flexible solution for many businesses to drive forward their communication strategies and event programmes, whether that’s a conference, award show, workshop, activity, seminar or even an all-staff meeting.

Like a livestream?

Yes and no! If your event needs to reach the furthest corners of the world via one platform and doesn’t require bespoke touches, by all means livestream it via social media or a webinar provider. However, if you’re welcoming speakers from different locations, allowing small mixed-household business groups or bubbles to attend in person (while remaining socially distanced) and want an event that showcases the creativity, versatility and professionalism of your brand – a tailored hybrid approach is ideal.

Unlike a classic livestream, a hybrid event combines a live in-person event with an online event. It’s a great way to meet specific people in person whilst also delivering your content online, and sharing live high-quality online content can drive up delegate attendance. By doing so, and attracting audiences from much further afield, this is also a great way to drive your online activity and harness and capture valuable attendee data and analytics (which can be integrated with the CRM and marketing automation apps you currently use, or we can recommend the best fit) with the added important benefit of improving your green footprint by minimising travel.

Hybrid awards ceremony in the Nash Room

How much can a hybrid event be tailored?

Unlike some restrictions you may come up against during face-to-face events, such as capacity, catering budgets, room size, resources, even the interior design or furniture present in your chosen venue – almost everything can be tailored to your needs with a hybrid event. Whether it’s a bespoke backdrop, screensaver, lighting, sound or a need for virtual breakout rooms or networking groups, this can all be organised to your specifications without the need to hire a full events, design or covid-security team.

The studio at 116 Pall Mall is equipped with the latest technology and safety measures to enable businesses to be highly effective and engaging with stakeholders, market products and services as well as increasing employee well-being. Our fully customisable presentation facilities create an immersive experience utilising screen, lighting and audio. Our events team will work with you to re-imagine your event and create the right experience for your community to ensure the event attendee experience is seamless. Alongside your live content, we can work with you to build in pre-recorded or historical footage to deliver your message, as well as entertainment and virtual event hampers sent out to your guests.

Where necessary, your hybrid event can be recorded and used for your own social media marketing or website, enabling the messages and content to have an increase in reach and usability; therefore increasing ROI. This is a bespoke element that will be factored into your overall package based on your requirements and timeframe.

What kinds of hybrid events have been hosted so far?

Here at 116 Pall Mall we love the flexibility, creativity and bespoke nature of hybrid events so much that we even threw our own Christmas Party online, with a magician, mixologist and cocktail kits delivered to our teams’ homes before the event!

Our events team Oxygen - who helped us with this article - have also hosted a Halloween themed event that included a live yoga class, interactive games, live DJ set and cocktail masterclass alongside their conference programme, as well as a remote Christmas party for a wine merchant split into 2-sections - the first an award shows with panellists, then an after-party that included party hampers sent to 1300 people and a choice of entertainment rooms including performances from Britain’s Got Talent winner, Richard Jones’ immersive virtual magic show, live DJ set and virtual event guest speakers.

How can I ensure everyone’s safety?

Hybrid events mean the majority – almost all, in most cases – of your speakers and guests do not attend the venue in person, eliminating any need to travel or mix with others. 116 Pall Mall holds up-to-date coronavirus secure certification, meaning the venue has been assessed on its social distancing, cleaning, sanitation and health and safety precautions. This means that you can be confident that the team at 116 Pall Mall coordinating and hosting your event virtually are safe, healthy and not at any risk while putting on your event, as well as any speakers or guests who attend the venue in person.

What about lockdown restrictions?

We understand that planning, booking and hosting an event in such uncertain times can be stressful, and not everyone is comfortable travelling to a hybrid meeting – even as restrictions change. The number of in-person attendees at a hybrid event depends on government guidance on groups and mixed-household allowances, but if this is not an option, fully virtual events are a great alternative. Our hybrid events space at 116 Pall Mall is available as a virtual studio set, with just as many bespoke options as a hybrid meeting, party, workshop or otherwise.

Spending the majority of the last year online means we’re all aware of the pitfalls of virtual sessions, whether that’s a drop in internet connection, log-in issues or those dreaded stuck-on-mute moments! Working with our hybrid and virtual events experts, you can be confident that these will be a thing of the past – your session will be moderated and managed by our team, allowing seamless transitions between speakers, slides and topics, as well as audio and video monitoring throughout.

How can I host a hybrid event at 116 Pall Mall?

To find out more about hybrid events and how to tailor your next presentation, party or AGM with the help of the team at 116 Pall Mall, visit or virtual events page, or contact us here.

Thanks to Jess and the team from Oxygen Events for sharing their expert knowledge and helping us to put together this article.

DID YOU KNOW YOU COULD HOLD YOUR MEETING, TRAINING COURSE OR CONFERENCE VIRTUALLY AT 116 PALL MALL?

Make the most of our state-of-the-art virtual and hybrid studio in the heart of the capital.

If you book your event to take place before March 2021, you can receive up to 30% discount on room hire and up to 10% on catering - just mention the offer when making your enquiry.

To book or for more information, make an enquiry