Will Remote Events Replace Physical Seminars?

Updated on 28-08-2023 | Event purchasing (MICE) and framework agreements

Cover image
For over a year now, most companies have been operating via video conference for meetings, training, team building... which greatly puts events aside. With cancellations upon cancellations since last March, MICE sector professionals are worried: will it go back to the way it was? Is this the end of face-to-face events?

The habit of videoconferencing has become established…

No more study days and residential seminars in the mountains, in the green and by the sea, make way for remote learning!
If for most of us the word "remote" seemed unknown more than a year ago, today it is more than topical. Some companies only swear by this method of "gathering" which allows them to maintain a link between employees while taking the necessary precautions.

Even if 100% remote has become a reality today, the digital trend has already been present and anchored in our daily lives for a few years (even if the technology was less advanced). Nowadays everything is easier thanks to the arrival of a multitude of video conferencing tools such as Teams, Zoom, Google Meet and others that are essential to us today.

Also, video conferences are a monumental saving of time and money for companies affected by the crisis. Remote events require much less budget and thus less or no travel at all.

This new way of working is worrying professionals in the MICE sector who find themselves powerless in the face of this situation. Many of them have had no choice but to adapt and offer, in the realm of the possible, their service(s) remotely.

A general weariness

While some are pessimistic about the return of face-to-face meetings, others are less so and believe in a return to normal.
Indeed, video conference meetings already existed before the health crisis and have never replaced physical meetings. It has always been a plus in our daily lives. This is explained by the concentration that decreases after a certain time in video. Microphone that does not work, connection bugs… It quickly becomes tiring and in the long term, leads to a decrease in productivity among your employees.

In addition, whether in a personal or professional setting, it is important to maintain physical contact. Physical meetings and events are essential to convey messages to your employees effectively. Managing, motivating, communicating, valuing the work of your teams has much more effect face-to-face than remotely. These events are an opportunity to propose an active gathering unlike remote learning where participants are rather passive.
This is also the MICE objectives to meet these needs and that is why, in normal times, companies consider this as an investment to be made.

Finally, it has now been more than a year that all companies have been operating by video conference for meetings, which is subject to frustration and general weariness. Everyone is taking it upon themselves while waiting for a return to normal.
That's why there is no need to worry, nothing can replace a residential seminar in the green or in the mountains between employees.

A gradual return to face-to-face

Even though video conferencing has greatly facilitated our task during this health crisis, companies are waiting for business to resume so they can resume their physical events.
Indeed, remote meetings are a temporary solution but have never and will never be able to replace a seminar in an atypical and exotic setting such as a loft, a castle, a chalet...

So yes, the recovery will be slow and gradual because most companies will have to make savings (events are not a priority for them) but they are showing a real interest in bringing their teams together in the future.

Events in general are a necessity in the interest of companies and it is more than essential in terms of management to meet physically.

So don't panic, everything will go back to the way it was, technological solutions will only temporarily replace physical meetings.

To prepare for this recovery, Alfred Meeting is helping you now in your search for seminars and Team Building... Whether remotely or in person, in the city or in the countryside!
See our seminar venues throughout France
design_carte
Our News
Recommendation 1
What if Remote Work Promoted Seminars and Quality Moments?
Remote work became one of the buzzwords during lockdown. And there is no doubt that it will continue to progress thanks to serious arguments. During periods of change, you have to be smart and take advantage of the opportunities offered. But then what changes will this imply? Is it a source of savings for the company? Will we create virtual links with our colleagues and only know their faces in 2 dimensions? Let's take a look...
See article
Recommendation 2
Raising Ecological Awareness Among Company Employees
Ecological awareness is now making its way into companies and is no longer limited to the private sphere or large polluting groups. Small and medium-sized enterprises are concerned by the environmental issue, whether externally (image, relationship with customers and employees, etc.) or internally (measures taken, employees' interest in ecology, etc.). What is the link between employees and ecology in the office? How can we raise their awareness further?
See article
Réunionite
Meetingitis: When Too Many Meetings Kill Productivity

You know, those endless meetings where we discuss for hours without really making progress, where we get lost in unimportant details, and where, in the end, we wonder if it was really worth it.

Meetingitis is not only a source of frustration for employees, it can also significantly harm the overall productivity of the company. Imagine all those hours spent in meetings that could have been devoted to truly productive tasks! It's a more widespread problem than we think, and it's high time to fix it.

In this article, we will explore in detail what meetingitis is, why it manifests, and above all, how to remedy it. We will examine the warning signs of this occupational disease, its harmful consequences on productivity and team morale, and finally, we will offer you effective strategies to reduce the time spent in meetings.

And because corporate seminars can sometimes turn into real meeting marathons, we will dedicate a special section to them to understand how to make them both productive and enriching.

See article