BEST VIRTUAL CONFERENCE
UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS LOWELL LEARN MORE | SUBMIT RFP
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Lowell, Massachusetts – The 2020 pandemic impacted many industries, especially the hospitality and events industry. Although we are proud of all of our client venues for their versatility and flexibility when in-person gatherings went virtual, the University of Massachusetts Lowell was voted Best Virtual Conference. Voters recognized their exceptional team, advanced technology, and continued adaptability in shifting events to a virtual platform for the safety of guests and attendees. At the beginning of the pandemic, UMass Lowell Hospitality & Event Services made an immediate shift to remote event support. Always thinking one step ahead, the team purchased use of the Hopin platform, anticipating the need for digital event spaces that pushed the limits of what other platforms could do. The team quickly went to work, meeting with the developers, spending extra hours honing skills, developing synergy in the virtual space, and creating standards and practices for a brand new type of event. What emerged only a few weeks later was a team of eight individuals across two departments who became a self-sufficient, full-scale virtual conference management team. Talk about making the best of every opportunity! 9
In 2020, UMass Lowell helped bring the Virtual UVAMC Conference to other event professionals seeking clarity in a time of uncertainty, setting a standard for what running virtual event operations could look like. With the shift to meeting virtually, the UVAMC Conference was able to reach more people than previous years. This helped set the stage for fully virtual or hybrid events during the next year and into the future. This new platform not only helped the Unique Venues team host their conference, but it also aided the university as they transitioned into a new hybrid school year. The team gave UMass Lowell students the chance to learn about campus organizations at multiple Engagement Fairs throughout the year. A cappella groups held concerts, departments showcased research, and external partners were able to virtually network. UMass Lowell's use of the Hopin platform set the stage early for other organizations and universities across the country to adopt the platform and understand what it meant to support a virtual conference or event.
