In turn, the event industry is adapting to the new hybrid meeting formats. Visit Palais des Festivals et des Congrès de Cannes intends to meet this demand with a new solution that is being presented as a major first in the exhibition and congress industry: the "Cannes Virtual Events" event space, a 3D universe that reproduces the environment of a physical event.
In partnership with immersive technology specialist Laval Virtual, the Cannes Convention Centre is offering organisers a platform that provides an interactive experience by enabling participants to move around in a 3D world, chat with other guests, make presentations on any medium (promotional video, brochures, PowerPoint, etc.) or even make appointments. Operated by Laval Virtual, this platform is based on technology developed by Virbela, a designer of collaborative virtual worlds.
" We have been testing this solution since last April, organising over 80 events of varying sizes.said Laurent Chrétien, Managing Director of Laval Virtual, which organises the world's leading international trade fair for virtual and augmented reality. The virtual worlds we have been operating for a year now are based on one of the most successful solutions for large-scale events, such as those organised at the Palais des Festivals et des Congrès in Cannes.. " Jean-Michel Arnaud, President of the Palais des Festivals et des Congrès de Cannes, said: " We're proud to be able to offer our customers this new solution and to support them as they move towards hybrid events, offering innovative and sustainable technologies to increase the audience for their events. "
In the same vein, at the beginning of April, the town of Cannes and its convention centre joined the Hybrid Cities Alliance. A group of business destinations determined to meet the new expectations of the events market, the Hybrid City Alliance aims to offer innovative solutions to organisers wishing to hold events simultaneously in several destinations. In addition to Cannes, the alliance has already united 12 cities around this objective: The Hague and Antwerp in the Benelux countries, Geneva, Lausanne, Montreux, Zurich and Bern in Switzerland, Prague in Europe, Seoul and Sydney in Asia-Pacific, Durban in Africa and Ottawa and Edmonton in North America. " Hybrid events have become an indispensable alternative to encourage the return of face-to-face trade fairs. Membership of the Hybrid City Alliance consolidates Cannes' offer to support organisers in the renewal of event formats." said David Lisnard, Mayor of Cannes.
