Press

Hofburg Vienna – Let’s go digital!

The Congress and Event Center in the heart of Vienna was among the first locations to successfully host – small but perfectly staged – Covid-compliant events. We are already hard at work preparing for the events planned for the second half of the year. Let’s go digital! Rather than being seen as just an interim solution to help us through the pandemic, hybrid formats will continue to be a way to add an extra dimension to events going forward.

The “other normal” - live and digital

The markeding fair for promotional advertising, which attracted around 1,000 participants, the Hermes business gala and the Vienna Tourism Conference all confirmed the effectiveness of our strict safety and prevention plan. Testing lanes set up ahead of the events and a raft of other precautions all helped ensure that the events were a complete success, something that organisers were quick to confirm in their overwhelmingly positive feedback.

All of which confirms that the “other normal” really is viable. There were no barriers to interactivity either, with participants patched in from elsewhere under the new hybrid set-up. Excellent internet as well as perfect sound and video quality courtesy of professional cameras and microphones delivered a state-of-the-art experience for everyone following remotely. Staff on site – who know the equipment inside out – are all part of the package. In future, technical equipment will no longer be a question of using whatever the specialists have access to shortly before the event, instead it will be a critical part of facilitating virtual and face-to-face encounters.

It is important to keep looking ahead and playing an active role in shaping the industry’s evolution. The Hofburg Vienna is famous for being a pioneer and our event organisers cannot wait to start hosting get-togethers in the world-famous state rooms once again.

Looking ahead – breaking with traditional structures

A clear trend is emerging: events are becoming smaller and fitting in more over a shorter space of time, making them more valuable than ever before. In future, large-scale gatherings will no longer enjoy the cachet they once had. Consumer behaviour and perceptions will continue to shift, with quality taking precedence over quantity. This is something that more and more people have taken to heart during the pandemic.

And even though at first glance it might appear to be at odds with the flexibility demanded by organisers right now, a venue so rich in traditions as the Hofburg Vienna has exactly what it takes – thanks to its ingrained appreciation of quality and clear focus on its core values. The company has always been something of an early adopter, particularly as far as new event technologies and spotting trends are concerned.

So we couldn’t be happier that organisers are continuing to face down the difficulties of the pandemic, and will be back bringing their plans to life as soon as the authorities allow them to do so. Just a short time ago, we spoke to M.A.C. Hoffmann Managing Director Alexandra Graski-Hoffmann, who confirmed: “We’re still every bit as committed to the dates we have booked at the Hofburg Vienna. Adaptable prevention plans have already proved their worth, keeping visitors safe at a wide range of events during the summer and autumn. And this marks a new beginning for the future of events.

VieVinum – Austria’s largest wine industry expo – is scheduled to take place from 29 to 31 May and has the opportunity to show the way forward for the entire wine industry. Best practice tasting set-ups have evolved over the course of many years, and we are taking them a step further to develop Covid-compliant formats. After taking the necessary measures into account, we will be in a position to stage tasting events safely in future. Access control measures and bespoke hybrid concepts for workshops and seminars in particular will pave the way for plenty of fresh and positive developments when it comes to managing new event formats.”

Tradition and high tech – where supply meets design

Past experience has shown that the added dimension of real-time communications makes it possible for events to retain their “live” character and, in turn, to act as multipliers.

Just a short time ago, the Hofburg Vienna extended its live streaming facilities. The in-house event streaming studio provides a versatile sophisticated broadcast facility integrated into the distinctive architecture of the Hofburg state rooms. One centre of the action was the Zeremoniensaal with its live broadcasts and an ingenious filming set-up for company presentations. Professional editing is an essential component of any successful hybrid meeting. Different experiences such as interactive modules for online audiences have been created by our technical experts to increase engagement. The Let’s go digital service is being increasingly used by our customers as they plan their events at the Hofburg Vienna.

Hybrid events are also helping to create a new kind of attendee journey, which now gives participants the opportunity to participate digitally in forums, panel discussions and workshops before coming to the venue for the on-site experience. They can also use “matchmaking” software to get in touch with other attendees who are interested in the same topics before meeting in person.

The congress itself then gives precedence to highlights such as results presentations, specialist workshops and keynotes. Our technical and sales team will be more than happy to draw up the ideal solution for your event!

Information
HOFBURG Vienna Heldenplatz, 1014 Wien
Monika Scheinost, Leiterin Marketing & Sales
T +43 1 5873666 600, F +43 1 5356426
E-mail: m.scheinost@hofburg.com, www.hofburg.com

HTML

<BODY><strong>The Congress and Event Center in the heart of Vienna was among the first locations to successfully host – small but perfectly staged – Covid-compliant events. We are already hard at work preparing for the events planned for the second half of the year. Let’s go digital! Rather than being seen as just an interim solution to help us through the pandemic, hybrid formats will continue to be a way to add an extra dimension to events going forward.</strong><br /><br /><strong>The “other normal” - live and digital</strong><br /><br />The markeding fair for promotional advertising, which attracted around 1,000 participants, the Hermes business gala and the Vienna Tourism Conference all confirmed the effectiveness of our strict safety and prevention plan. Testing lanes set up ahead of the events and a raft of other precautions all helped ensure that the events were a complete success, something that organisers were quick to confirm in their overwhelmingly positive feedback.<br /><br />All of which confirms that the “other normal” really is viable. There were no barriers to interactivity either, with participants patched in from elsewhere under the new hybrid set-up. Excellent internet as well as perfect sound and video quality courtesy of professional cameras and microphones delivered a state-of-the-art experience for everyone following remotely. Staff on site – who know the equipment inside out – are all part of the package. In future, technical equipment will no longer be a question of using whatever the specialists have access to shortly before the event, instead it will be a critical part of facilitating virtual and face-to-face encounters.<br /><br />It is important to keep looking ahead and playing an active role in shaping the industry’s evolution. The Hofburg Vienna is famous for being a pioneer and our event organisers cannot wait to start hosting get-togethers in the world-famous state rooms once again.<br /><br /><strong>Looking ahead – breaking with traditional structures</strong><br /><br />A clear trend is emerging: events are becoming smaller and fitting in more over a shorter space of time, making them more valuable than ever before. In future, large-scale gatherings will no longer enjoy the cachet they once had. Consumer behaviour and perceptions will continue to shift, with quality taking precedence over quantity. This is something that more and more people have taken to heart during the pandemic.<br /><br />And even though at first glance it might appear to be at odds with the flexibility demanded by organisers right now, a venue so rich in traditions as the Hofburg Vienna has exactly what it takes – thanks to its ingrained appreciation of quality and clear focus on its core values. The company has always been something of an early adopter, particularly as far as new event technologies and spotting trends are concerned.<br /><br />So we couldn’t be happier that organisers are continuing to face down the difficulties of the pandemic, and will be back bringing their plans to life as soon as the authorities allow them to do so. Just a short time ago, we spoke to M.A.C. Hoffmann Managing Director Alexandra Graski-Hoffmann, who confirmed: “We’re still every bit as committed to the dates we have booked at the Hofburg Vienna. Adaptable prevention plans have already proved their worth, keeping visitors safe at a wide range of events during the summer and autumn. And this marks a new beginning for the future of events.<br /><br /><a href="https://www.vievinum.com/">VieVinum</a> – Austria’s largest wine industry expo – is scheduled to take place from 29 to 31 May and has the opportunity to show the way forward for the entire wine industry. Best practice tasting set-ups have evolved over the course of many years, and we are taking them a step further to develop Covid-compliant formats. After taking the necessary measures into account, we will be in a position to stage tasting events safely in future. Access control measures and bespoke hybrid concepts for workshops and seminars in particular will pave the way for plenty of fresh and positive developments when it comes to managing new event formats.”<br /><br /><strong>Tradition and high tech – where supply meets design</strong><br /><br />Past experience has shown that the added dimension of real-time communications makes it possible for events to retain their “live” character and, in turn, to act as multipliers.<br /><br />Just a short time ago, the Hofburg Vienna extended its live streaming facilities. The in-house event streaming studio provides a versatile sophisticated broadcast facility integrated into the distinctive architecture of the Hofburg state rooms. One centre of the action was the Zeremoniensaal with its live broadcasts and an ingenious filming set-up for company presentations. Professional editing is an essential component of any successful hybrid meeting. Different experiences such as interactive modules for online audiences have been created by our technical experts to increase engagement. The <a href="main.jart?rel=de&amp;content-id=1592245806577">Let’s go digital</a> service is being increasingly used by our customers as they plan their events at the Hofburg Vienna.<br /><br />Hybrid events are also helping to create a new kind of attendee journey, which now gives participants the opportunity to participate digitally in forums, panel discussions and workshops before coming to the venue for the on-site experience. They can also use “matchmaking” software to get in touch with other attendees who are interested in the same topics before meeting in person.<br /><br />The congress itself then gives precedence to highlights such as results presentations, specialist workshops and keynotes. Our technical and sales team will be more than happy to draw up the ideal solution for your event!<br /><br /><br /><strong>Information</strong><br />HOFBURG Vienna Heldenplatz, 1014 Wien<br />Monika Scheinost, Leiterin Marketing &amp; Sales<br />T +43 1 5873666 600, F +43 1 5356426<br />E-mail: <a href="mailto:m.scheinost@hofburg.com">m.scheinost@hofburg.com</a>, www.hofburg.com</BODY>