Goodbye 2020, the year of zero 20-20=0, Welcome 2021, a year of even worse negative-one 20-21=-1. 2021 is the year of Startup. It is really normal that any startup brings with a drop down flowchart in their fluctuating phase. Would Hybrid Event Management be a Top Trend for event industry in this 2021? “I would say “Yes” that 2021 Hybrid Event organization is the top trend.” Sam, an experienced travel and event expert in Cambodia to agree with hundreds of other event professionals and event experts from around the globe. To start giving some insights of the 2021 trend on Travel and Event from Siem Reap, Angkor, Cambodia perspective. SAM INSPIRE would like to define the meaning of the three most searched event terminologies including: Virtual Event (Online Event), Live Event (On-site / Face-to-Face Event), and Hybrid Event (Virtual + On-site Event).
What is Live Event, Virtual Event, and Hybrid Event?
Live event, Virtual event, and Hybrid event terms are not new at all. They have been existing all over the time in event and travel industry. However, these three terms (live, virtual, hybrid) have been boosted highly in the communities in this 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic. To those who are new to the industry, let’s discover the basic differences between Live event, Virtual event, and Hybrid event terms as following:
- Live Event is the traditional and common way of doing event. In which all the event attendees come together face to face in a physical location and at the time of the event happening. Please do not confuse the word “Live” here, it is nothing to do with Social Media Live streaming.
- Virtual Event is a live-streaming or online event. Every event participant or a small team of participants join the event ONLINE. The speakers just deliver speech and presentation from their own screen at their own place and broadcast to everyone’s own screen. Any interactions are produced online from their own screen using any online Virtual Communication Platforms such as Zoom, Google Classroom, Microsoft Team and a lot more other personalized software.
- Hybrid Event is the combination of Live Event and Virtual Event. If you have never heard about Hybrid in event term, you must have heard Hybrid system used in the Car like Toyota Pruis. The power supply is generated from the Engine and Battery automatically switching through a Hybrid system. The same for Hybrid in Event term, some event attendees will be participating the event in person, while other joining the event online.
Is Cambodia Safe to Travel and Organize Event 2021?
Naming one of the Safest travel destination Countries in the world, Cambodia could attract travelers back to Angkor as a cultural and historical destination in this 2021. Accordingly to enews released by Khmer Times (Cambodia is a safe tourist destination with the Kingdom ranked by the World Health Organization (WHO) as among the top nations in the world with the best COVID-19 containment and impact management.) And in parallel with this good news from Cambodia on Covid-19 safety, Emirates and Etihad Airways has partnered with the International Air Transport Association (IATA) to trial its Travel Pass mobile App. This Travel Pass app has been designed by IATA with the aim of “providing governments with the confidence to reopen borders without imposing quarantines on incoming travelers”, quoted by Travel Off Path news Released. Even though this news is not much to do with Cambodia directly yet but it is a global impact. Which is a good trial for the world modal and Cambodia will benefit of course.
Nevertheless, in this 2021 Cambodia has been already returned its ways of life to to normal a lot. Big cultural events have been allowed such as wedding ceremony and reception. The opening also applied to entertainments, dining, and accommodating venues. Therefore Live Events are also allowed officially with all the basic Covid-19 SOPs (Covid-19 Standard Operating Procedures) – Check this SOPs unofficial Translation by Sam and posted on his AFK NGO site.
Moreover, with the Covid-19 Vaccination rapid progress globally in this 2021. As for Cambodia will receive its first support of 300,000 doses of China’s Sinopharm Vaccine in this February 2021. And not less than 500,000.00 Cambodians got Covid-19 vaccinated in the first half of 2021, as committed by the Royal Government of the Kingdom of Cambodia.
Covid-19 Travel Restriction To and From Cambodia
According to the information imposed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation on Covid-19 combating. Travel Restriction TO and FROM Cambodia are as following quotes:
As of 20th May 2020, the Royal Government of Cambodia has mandated a 14-day quarantine for all passengers, both Cambodian and foreign nationals, for entry into Cambodia.
Upon arrival in the Kingdom of Cambodia, all passengers must undergo a thermal scanning. They must present their health insurance voucher with the minimum medical coverage of 50,000USD (fifty thousand US dollars) or purchase a health insurance package for Covid-19 treatment, with a cost of 90USD (ninety US dollars) that is valid for 20days. This insurance package can be purchased from FORTE Insurance Company.
Then they must make a deposit (by cash or credit card) of 2,000USD (two thousand US dollars) with a designated commercial bank at point of entry. The deposit will be deducted for payment of any services during the implementation of health insurance.
Then passengers will be accompanied to designated holding center for Covid-19 testing, and wait up to 24 hours for their results before being allowed to enter the country.
More information and update from the Inter-Ministerial Committee to combat Covid-19, please keep Checking MFAIC page: https://www.mfaic.gov.kh/covid-19
Hybrid Event Management Top Trend 2021 Cambodia
With the above facts on the Travel and Event Restriction Loosening in this 2021. We believe Hybrid Event Organization will become a top Trend in the travel and event industry from 2021 onward. Because not everyone is feeling comfortable about travelling yet due to the uncertainties of Covid-19. On the other hand, not everyone could be available to travel miles away for just a dinner or a 10-minute speech. The host company can also save a lot from the travel logistic cost. But yes, there is also Cons that the Socializing Productivity would be not as much as meeting Face to Face in the Live event.
The experiments of Virtual Event management in 2020 has brought the corporate companies and event company the norms of Digital way of life. This norm made the event style compulsory to have a backup of Virtual Arrangements even they just do a Live Event only. This is just like the event organizer order Bilingual Interpreters and a lot of Audio sets in the Multi-lingual conference. While almost no one uses the headsets, because everyone understand the language of the speakers which is mostly in English.
As for 2021, Sam is so convinced that getting yourself ready to be capable with Hybrid event organization would be a big plus to be out of your event competitors.
Reliable Virtual and Hybrid Companies in Cambodia
While reading through this article. You might thought that SAM INSPIRE should be a reliable and capable company to appoint for your upcoming event in Siem Reap, Cambodia. Unfortunately, Sam Inspire is not a company yet, Sam Inspire is just an independent individual event and travel consultant and blogger in Siem Reap, Angkor. The writer, Sam placed himself in the Travel and Event industry for almost two decades from basic staff to top management level. You may contract Sam to consult your travel and event here in Siem Reap and around Cambodia. As an independent and freelancer, Sam has all the reliable contacts and relationship with all those specialized institutions and individuals. From teambuilding programs, dining venues, conference venues, POS production, AV and Staging Production as well as the Virtual Production companies.
At least but not last, Sam’s top area of expertise is Teambuilding event organization. He has almost no sample products because all his products are depending on the customers’ needs and styles. Therefore, they are Customized and Personalized to the Customers’ event themes.
Interested in having Sam to be your local event ambassador. Let’s get in touch with him now.
Walking you another concrete step ahead, Sam Inspire would like to list the best known Event Companies and Destination DMCs with its own Specialties in Alphabetical Orders as following:
ABOUTAsia Travel – a local Destination Management Company (DMC) with head office in Siem Reap. In related to event, ABOUTAsia has interrelationship with Villa Chandara and Samsara Boat as event venues in a local village, with their own crews and services.
ALL DREAMS Cambodia – a local Destination Management Company (DMC) with head office in Phnom Penh. In related to event, its offers are mostly Incentive Travel, and this 2021, the company tries to include Teambuilding to the specialties. What you need to be sure with, is whether that your contact persons will be with you through the event from first contact till closing. This company normally have their sales team in the head office in Phnom Penh and key operation office in Siem Reap.
ASIA Natural Tours (ANT) – a Cambodian owned Destination Management Company (DMC) with head office in Siem Reap. As the youngest company, ANT merges itself in the market with Teambuilding and corporate event coordination like award event, meeting, team event, travel incentive event…
Asian Trails Cambodia – local Destination Management Company (DMC) with head of MICE department in Siem Reap . In related to event, its offers are mostly Incentive Travel in which many specialized theme dinner and lunches could be incorporated. What is great about this company, they have sisters companies in most Asian countries.
BEUNITE teambuilding – beunite has its main office in Thailand. But they charted their services to most of Southeast Asian countries. Cambodia is their top country after Thailand. Beunite is the only best Indoor and Outdoor Teambuilding company that you should not miss to send your RFPs.
EXO Travel – local Destination Management Company (DMC) with head of MICE department in Siem Reap . In related to event, its offers are mostly Incentive Travel in which many specialized theme dinner and lunches could be incorporated. What is great about this company, they have sisters companies in most Asian countries.
KILAT Events – is true Event Management Company that specializes in concept design, planning, audio visual, lighting, staging, event crews and event manager, virtual tools, media and press contact… It is a one-stop of all event related production and supplies. However, what Kilat is not your choice is any travel related event styles like incentive travel event, teambuilding event… In this case, it is best to combine Kilat with the above DMC services providers.
Kulen Printings & Signs Advertising – this is a miscellaneous company. Kulen is not an event nor travel company but an expert that you can trust for event POS marketing material. All kinds of visual arts printings are here with Kulen.
Please note that all these are just for your information. Sam Inspire takes no responsibility over their properties. Therefore, it is best to shop around and evaluate by your expertise.
SAM INSPIRE family hopes you find this information useful to your research. This article is the reflection of Mr. Sam’s knowledge and experience. If you need further support, please feel free to contact Sam, he will be so happy to do more steps to help you out.
If you find value in this article and wish to support Sam to do more, please feel free to pay him a coffee to his bank below. Thanks for being part of Sam’s journey, Sam Inspire – the Power of 3 E’s, Energize, Educate, Empower.
