In today’s world, virtual reality is not just about video games. It is popping up everywhere in art, music, sports and more. If you are building a house, you can put yourself in a room to fully understand the look and feel. If you are hosting a global meeting, you can invite guests from all over the world without having to put anyone on a plane. If you are training to be a doctor, you can practice surgeries and procedures on a virtual patient. If you suffer from PTSD, virtual reality can be used as therapy to help you recount and discuss traumatic events. The possibilities really are endless and we are just scratching the surface on how virtual reality can be used across any industry.
Virtual Reality & Corporate Events
Corporate events are not immune from these evolving trends. Virtual reality is the most exciting method of presenting brands, products, ideas, and key information. Presenters can create engaging and innovative experiences for attendees that were not previously possible. Essentially, they can trap attendees in a virtual world they cannot escape and provide an out-of-this-world experience they will never forget.
Below are our Top 5 ways to use virtual reality at events:
1 – Demo Products at Your Event
Using virtual reality at events allows you to fully immerse prospective buyers in a product. This enhances engagement with the product and increases the likelihood that a buyer will purchase a product by up to 135%. An example of this was Merrell’s Oculus Rift virtual reality experience using motion capture technology. They were able to create a virtual hike that made people feel like they were hiking on tumultuous mountain terrain. You can see in the video below just how powerful this experience was and how impactful this type of brand marketing can be.
2 – Event Marketing
Attending conferences is often costly and potential attendees may need an incentive to attend. More and more event planners are recommending using virtual reality to entice people to attend, thus increasing ticket sales. Event planners can show potential attendees around the venue, into the VIP area, and backstage to meet the speakers. There is no better way to promote an event!
3 – Virtual Attendance
What would be better than being able to attend any event anywhere in the world without having to leave the comfort of your own home? From an attendee perspective, virtual reality saves time, money, and opens up the possibility of attending anything. From the perspective of an event planner, virtual reality gives you access to a much larger audience.
With a virtual reality event, there is no limit to the number of seats in a venue, hotel rooms in a city, etc. It’s possible to include people from all over the world with no consideration of time or money. In fact, some think that virtual reality will eventually replace physical attendance at events. The world is changing so keeping ahead of the trends is important if you are in an innovative, forward-thinking space.
4 – Blur the Lines Between Fantasy & Reality
Virtual reality can be used to distort reality and add elements to the virtual environment. One example of this was at San Diego’s Comic Con. The American Horror Story virtual reality experience did this by inviting fans to become part of the show. Fans wore VR headsets and headphones which took them back to some of the show’s most memorable moments. To get a feel for this experience, take a look at the trailer below.
This blend of reality and virtual reality creates a realistic and truly horrific (yet memorable) experience.
5 – Create a Truly Memorable Experience
Virtual reality at events can create an amazing experience, leaving guests wow’ed and wanting more. Coca-Cola, a company known for it’s genius marketing campaigns created an unforgettable experience with the introduction of Santa’s Sleigh Ride VR. They were able to take thousands of customers on a ride through the North Pole, complete with polar bears and snow drifts. This was definitely an unforgettable ride – see for yourself!
Virtual Reality Is Here to Stay
When planning your next event, remember, virtual reality is here to stay. It is not only a way to enhance your event experience, but it is a way to expand your audience, increase brand awareness and affinity, create exciting and engaging experiences, and ultimately increase sales. We are sure that we are going to see more and more ways to use virtual reality in events in 2019 so watch this space!
