Bizzabo, Kaltura Partner On Virtual Event Platform

Event planning and management platform Bizzabo is growing its suite of solutions to include a virtual experience tool in partnership with global video technology provider Kaltura. The launch comes as businesses are grappling with the financial fallout of canceled in-person conferences and networking events due to COVID-19.

Bizzabo serves publishers such as CNBC, The Atlantic, Wall Street Journal and Dow Jones Media, among others, counting the industry as 10% of its business.

According to research recently conducted by the platform, its publishers hosted a total of 342 events last year — an average of seven events per publisher on average — and generate roughly $22 million in revenue through event registrations.

The most popular events hosted by publishers in 2019 included conferences and conventions, which accounted for 56%, and meeting and networking at 24%, with social gatherings, classes and workshops, awards, summits, expos and trade shows, among others, rounding out the rest.

Bizzabo estimates a canceled event could result in a loss of $3 million.

Alon Alroy, cofounder of Bizzabo, stated: “Publishers have long been folding events into their content plans, as events are one of the best opportunities for them to form relationships with readers, sponsors, media partners and advertisers.

"Our data supports that fact. As such, we believe brands and publishers will continue to work together, keeping their relationships strong for when this outbreak of COVID-19 eventually comes to an end.”

Through the new solution, Bizzabo users can monitor and analyze engagement in real time, review post-event performance and measure ROI, in addition to helping users engage in a deeper audience connection through tools like real-time chat, polling and Q&As.

“Nothing’s better than the power of in-person,” stated Alroy. “But, in certain situations, such as what we’re currently experiencing with COVID-19, it can unfortunately become a choice between having an event virtually, or not having one at all."
Next story loading loading..