Event firm expands with virtual events division

YORKSHIRE-based event company ivent management has expanded its offering with the launch of a virtual events division.

The York-based company’s new division, virtual ivent, offers advanced virtual event solutions combining the best of both 2D and 3D immersive virtual event platforms.

Virtual ivent has joined forces with 3D web experts Kohdspace to manage the design and delivery of a range of virtual event solutions including expos, conferences, seminars, product launches and exhibitions.

Virtual ivent’s director Gavin Newman is one of the UK’s pioneers in the emerging virtual event sector in the UK.

He said: “Virtual events allow companies to reduce their event costs by up to 98%, to help support their green credentials and to significantly increase ROI on their events programmes.

“This technology has been around for a while but we have developed one of the most advanced systems in the world with our partners Kohdspace that places us at the vanguard of this revolution in the events business.”

This leap to the front of the pack is a result of virtual ivent’s recent win of an exclusive UK reseller contract with American company Venuegen, which has spent more than three years developing a sophisticated virtual meetings and events platform.

The virtual events market is expected to be worth around £12bn globally by 2013. Its rapid growth has been forecast as a result of enterprise seeking less costly and more efficient ways of running their businesses in an increasingly competitive and difficult economy.

Virtual event solutions also give niche business sectors the chance to host exhibitions and events where cost would previously have been prohibitive.  

Mr Newman said: “We are going to be competing with current remote and virtual solutions such as video conferencing and webex, however, the virtual platform we have engineered allows for a more immersive and engaging experience and at a price point that is competitive. It also helps support the green agenda.

“If you consider that from an environmental standpoint, the typical virtual show eliminates about 3,300 tonnes of carbon emissions and saves 17,000 trees then we only see the market growing substantially over the coming years.”